Ysgyryd Fawr

Ysgyryd Fawr, known in English as the Skirrid, stands in Monmouthshire as the easternmost outlier of the Black Mountains. It forms part of the Brecon Beacons National Park and rises to 486 metres, lying just north-east of Abergavenny. The hill’s distinctive shape comes from ice-age landslips that left a jagged western side. Its upper slopes consist of Devonian-age sandstones, while weaker mudstones beneath have caused further instability. A smaller hill called Ysgyryd Fach lies about four kilometres to the south. The Skirrid holds deep Christian significance as a traditional pilgrimage site. Local legend claims part of the hill broke off at the crucifixion, and earth from its slopes was once taken to fertilise fields and bury the dead. A ruined medieval chapel dedicated to St Michael stands at the summit, alongside remains of an Iron Age hillfort. During the 17th century, the hill became a refuge for Catholics persecuted under Henry VIII, with Jesuits holding secret services there. Pope Clement X granted a plenary indulgence to those who climbed it on Michaelmas Eve in 1676. Visitors reach the summit along the Beacons Way, which follows the ridge north from a car park beside the B4521 Ross Road. The initial climb through woodland is steep, but the path soon opens to gentler ground. At the top, remains of the chapel and a trig point mark the highest point, with views towards the Sugar Loaf and Blorenge. A rough lower path circles the hill’s base, offering a quieter route around the landslip scars. The jagged outline and rocky edges give the hill a dramatic presence against the surrounding landscape.