Sgwd Henrhyd
Encyclopedia
Sgwd Henrhyd in Powys
, Wales
, is the tallest waterfall in South Wales with a drop of 90 feet (27.4 m). It lies on National Trust
land on the southern edge of the Brecon Beacons
National Park.
The falls occur where the small river, the Nant Llech
drops over the faulted edge of a hard sandstone known as the Farewell Rock
. The nearest settlement to it is Coelbren
, on the road between Glynneath
and Abercraf
. Though not in the core of the area, it is considered by many to constitute a part of South Wales' celebrated Waterfall Country
.
The waterfall is reached after a steep walk down into the valley from the car park established by the National Trust, and is a popular spot to visit. One of the area's most famous visitors was Sir William Edmond Logan
(later head of the Geological Survey of Canada), who carried out detailed geological survey work in the area, discovering near the foot of the falls the fossil
trees which now stand outside Swansea
Museum.
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, is the tallest waterfall in South Wales with a drop of 90 feet (27.4 m). It lies on National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
land on the southern edge of the Brecon Beacons
Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons is a mountain range in South Wales. In a narrow sense, the name refers to the range of popular peaks south of Brecon, including South Wales' highest mountain, Pen y Fan, and which together form the central section of the Brecon Beacons National Park...
National Park.
The falls occur where the small river, the Nant Llech
Nant Llech
The Nant Llech is a minor river in Powys, Wales and which lies wholly within the Brecon Beacons National Park. The name means 'slab stream', presumably in reference to the sandstones across which it runs...
drops over the faulted edge of a hard sandstone known as the Farewell Rock
Farewell Rock
The Farewell Rock is the name given to a series of sandstones which lie at the boundary of the Coal Measures with the underlying Marros Group in South Wales. Once thought to be a single sandstone, it is now accepted that the same name has been applied to several different sandstones of similar age...
. The nearest settlement to it is Coelbren
Coelbren
Coelbren may mean:* Coelbren, Powys, a village in the south-west of the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales.* Coelbren , a supposed "druidic" alphabet invented by Iolo Morganwg ....
, on the road between Glynneath
Glynneath
Glynneath , also spelt Glyn Neath, is a small town, community and electoral ward lying on the River Neath in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It was formerly in the historic county of Glamorgan...
and Abercraf
Abercraf
Abercraf is a village within the historic boundaries of Brecknockshire, Powys, mid Wales.- Location :Abercraf lies in the extreme south of the county, in the Upper Swansea Valley 2.5 miles northeast of the small town of Ystradgynlais...
. Though not in the core of the area, it is considered by many to constitute a part of South Wales' celebrated Waterfall Country
Waterfall Country (Wales)
Waterfall Country is the name given to an area around the head of the Vale of Neath in South Wales where an unusually large number of spectacular and publicly accessible falls are to be found...
.
The waterfall is reached after a steep walk down into the valley from the car park established by the National Trust, and is a popular spot to visit. One of the area's most famous visitors was Sir William Edmond Logan
William Edmond Logan
Sir William Edmond Logan was a Scottish-Canadian geologist.Logan was born in Montreal, Quebec, and educated at the High School in Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh . He started teaching himself geology in 1831, when he took over the running of a copper works in Swansea. He produced a...
(later head of the Geological Survey of Canada), who carried out detailed geological survey work in the area, discovering near the foot of the falls the fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
trees which now stand outside Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
Museum.