Nant Llech
Waterfall
The most famous feature of the river is Henrhyd Falls (Sgwd Henrhyd or Rhaeadr Henrhyd in Welsh), a 27m/90 ft high fall where the river plunges over the edge of a band of hard sandstone known as the 'Farewell Rock' into a deep plunge pool. The river continues below in a steep wooded gorge cut into mudstones and sandstones of the Carboniferous age Coal Measures. The falls are owned and managed by the National Trust which provides a free car park off the minor road between Coelbren and Pen-y-cae for visitors wanting to explore the area.
A public footpath runs the length of the valley though part runs across a landslip area which has been active in recent years. The river gorge is a site of special scientific interest. Sir William Edmond Logan, first director of the Geological Survey of Canada discovered some fossil trees near the base of the falls. These are now on display outside Swansea Museum.
References
- ^ Ordnance Survey Explorer map OL12 'Brecon Beacons National Park: western area'
- ^ British Geological Survey 1:50,000 sheet 231 'Merthyr Tydfil' & accompanying memoir
- ^ www.ccw.gov.uk