Fan Brycheiniog

Fan Brycheiniog stands at 802.5 metres in the Black Mountain within the Brecon Beacons National Park. Its summit holds a trig point and a stone shelter with a seat. The mountain lies just inside the historic county of Brecknockshire, which gives it its Welsh name. A nearby subsidiary top, Fan Foel, marks the highest point of Carmarthenshire. The range belongs to the Fforest Fawr Geopark, recognised for its geological heritage. Clear weather reveals sweeping views north across moorland and open country. Compared with the more popular Pen y Fan range to the east, the isolation of Fan Brycheiniog is striking. The Beacons Way long-distance footpath crosses the summit ridge before descending to Llyn y Fan Fawr. Stone pavements protect walkers from wet peat bogs along the route. A stone staircase leads from the escarpment down to the lake below. Beyond the summit, the path continues to Picws Du and Waun Lefrith above Llyn y Fan Fach. These two lakes are among the few natural bodies of water in the park. The ridge then turns northwest to Fan Foel, forming the Carmarthen Van. Fan Brycheiniog’s geology includes sandstones and mudstones from the Devonian period. Its summit and southern slopes are capped by hard-wearing Plateau Beds sandstones. Thin acidic soils support tussock grass, cotton grass, bilberry, heather and mosses. The cwm below drains into the River Usk, while southern slopes feed the Afon Twrch. At Fan Foel, a Bronze Age burial cairn was excavated between 2002 and 2004. The barrow contained two burials, including a stone cist with burnt bones and a Beaker-style pottery vessel. The summit also offers views of Pen y Fan and Corn Du on the horizon.