Black Mountains Summits Hay-on-Wye Crickhowell Tourist Information

Black Mountains Summits (Mynyddoedd Duon)

The Black Mountains (not to be confused with the Black Mountain in the west or the peak called the Black Mountain within this range - no prizes for imaginative names here then!) dominate the skyline wherever you are in the eastern part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The highest mountain in this range is Waun Fach at 811 metres. Other hills include Ysgyryd Fawr, Mynydd Troed, Graig Syfyrddin, Allt yr Esgair, Myarth, Mynydd Llangorse, Bryn Arw, Black Mountain and Sugar Loaf with its distinctive conical tip, apparently named after the sugar loaves produced locally which were a similar shape.

These are quieter than the Beacons in the centre of the National Park, but still offer excellent walking terrain. The mountains are predominantly old red sandstone except from the solitary outcrop of limestone at Pen Cerrig-calch north of Crickhowell. There are still some wild feeling areas in the Black Mountains where the lower valleys contain the majority of human inhabitation with the small towns and villages nestling amongst woodland and the agriculturally improved countryside leaving the uplands to the sometimes harsh climate and the sheep.

The most popular walk taking in some of the most well-known summits is one east of the mountains along the southern band of peaks Pen Cerrig-calch, Table Mountain and the Sugar Loaf.

Wildlife in the East Brecon Beacons National Park, Llangorse Lake (Llyn Syfaddan)

Llangorse Lake is a large, shallow eutrophic lake lying in a kettle hole in Old Red Sandstone drift. It is the largest natural lowland water in South Wales and one of the few eutrophic lakes in Wales. Around its fringe are extensive reedbeds that are important for thousands of starlings. The lake attracts a wide variety of waterfowl including teal, tufted duck, pochard, great crested grebe, mute swan, canada goose, moorhen, coot and curlew. There have been problems in the past with effluent polluting the lake and although this has now ceased. However, there are still some intense recreational pressures which could endanger the wildlife here, particularly from power-boating. This site is not only a nationally protected site, but is also protected under European legislation.

This is a lake with a long history attached to it. A local legend claimed that a city lay submerged beneath the waters of the lake. In 1925 a remarkably well preserved dug-out canoe dating from 800 AD was found. It can now be seen in Brecknock Museum and Art Gallery in Brecon. In 1990, archaeologists made an unexpected discovery around Llangorse Lake a remnant of a magnificently decorated textile that is over a thousand years old. This is thought to be among the most important finds of early medieval textile found in Britain. The textile appears to be part of a garment like a tunic or dress, it has a hem and a belt loop, but too little survives to indicate its detailed shape.

Craig y Cilau National Nature Reserve

This site can be reached via the old tramway which is the easiest route into the reserve, bout a mile from Crickhowell on the A4077. It is a large arch shaped escarpment of limestone cliffs, some of which are entirely natural while others have been affected by 18th and 19th century quarrying. These are amongst the highest inland limestone cliffs in South Wales reaching a height of 450m above sea level.

The limestone provides a nutrient-rich habitat in which many interesting plants occur including a wide variety of whitebeams that grow on the cliffs, some of them rare such as least whitebeam which only occurs in the National Park. There is also a network of caves that have been created by the action of water eroding the limestone away. The most famous entrance, Agen Allwedd, leads to 20 miles of surveyed passages and is only accessible to experienced cavers. There is a second cave entrance at Eglwys Faen that is open and accessible from the tramway. If you're planning on exploring this cave make sure you re suitably equipped and accompanied by an experienced caver. The caves are also special as they re home to a large colony of the rare lesser horsehoe bats.

Other species recorded here include redstart, six species of tits, ring ouzel, peregrine falcons and ravens. Many species of invertebrates have been recorded on this reserve, including 25 different kinds of butterfly. There are several recommended footpaths that are detailed in the Countryside Council for Wales leaflet about the Nature Reserve.

Coed y Cerrig National Nature Reserve

This is a site with varied types of broadleaved woodland ranging from wet woodland in the valley bottom to ash woodland on the slopes. It is tucked away in a valley in the shadow of the Black Mountains, just west of Llanvihangel. There is a short circular walk through the drier woodland and a section of boardwalk that enable you to see some of the wet woodland.

The tree species differ according to what sort of habitat they're in - alder and willow dominate the wetter woodland while ash, birch and hazel are found up the slopes with mature oak, ash and beech on the flat plateau at the top of the slopes. Interesting species found here include greater pond sedge and greater tussock sedge in the valley bottoms, nettle-leaved bellflower and the parasitic toothwort on the drier slopes. At the top where it is heavily shaded by the mature trees few plants are able to survive here but birds-nest orchid can cope as it is an unusual plant that only requires other dead organic matter on which to survive. In Autumn a wide variety of fungi can also be seen here. This site is not only a nationally protected site but is also protected under European legislation.

Pwll y Wrach Nature Reserve

Pwllywrach Nature Reserve near Talgarth is owned and managed by the Brecknock Wildlife Trust.

It contains 8.5 hectares of broadleaved woodland, set in a narrow steep-sided valley. As it is influenced by the varied soil types there is a range of woodland types. The areas affected by limestone contain restricted species such as spindle, dogwood and herb paris. Bluebells carpet the ground in spring. Wood warbler, woodpeckers and pied flycatcher are found in the woodland, with dipper and grey wagtail associated with the stream. The wood is also home to the most important colony of dormouse in the region and otters are occasionally seen. The reserve also contains a waterfall, some quarry faces and an old tramway

There is a geology trail and leaflet to the geological features. The wood is about half a mile south-east of Talgarth, on the north bank of the River Enig. About 650 yards of the path to the waterfall are suitable for wheelchairs. Fuller directions and information are available from Brecknock Wildlife Trust s website opposite and a leaflet they produce.