Fan Fawr
The summit overlooks the steep eastern face and is marked by a cairn. Unusually, the trig point on this hill does not sit at the summit but 600 m to the south-west on a subsidiary spur. The hill is drained to the west by streams flowing into the Afon Dringarth and to the east by streams draining into the Taf Fawr. The Dringarth is dammed to the west to form Ystradfellte Reservoir as is the Taf Fawr east of the hill to form Beacons Reservoir. To the north-east water flows into the Afon Tarell, a tributary of the River Usk whilst to the south the headwaters of the Afon y Waun conduct water to the Afon Hepste and eventually to the River Neath.
Geology
The hill is largely formed from sandstones of the Brownstones Formation of the Old Red Sandstone which were laid down during the Devonian period. On the southern slopes of the hill, sandstones of the overlying Plateau Beds Formation occur. In common with other hills in the Brecon Beacons National Park Fan Fawr was subject to glacial action in the ice ages. The western cwm contains a fine late-glacial moraine known as Cefn Bach. The hill is within the Fforest Fawr Geopark designated in 2005 in recognition of the area's geological heritage.
Access
The entire hill is open country, enabling walkers to wander at will, although most choose to take a line up from the car parks beside the A470 at Storey Arms and Pont ar Daf.
References
- ^ Nuttall, John & Anne (1999). The Mountains of England & Wales - Volume 1: Wales (2nd edition ed.). Milnthorpe, Cumbria: Cicerone. ISBN 1-85284-304-7.
- ^ Ordnance Survey Explorer map OL12 'Brecon Beacons National Park: western area'
- ^ British Geological Survey 1:50,000 map sheet 231 'Merthyr Tydfil' & accompanying memoir