Afon Crawnon facts for kids
The Afon Crawnon is a beautiful river found in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Powys, Wales. It starts high up in the hills north of a place called Trefil. From there, the river flows northeast through a valley known as Dyffryn Crawnon. After about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles), it joins another river, the River Usk, just west of Llangynidr.
The name "Dyffryn Crawnon" comes from the Welsh language. It means "Valley of the Garlic River." This valley is also special because it's part of an important project called "The Three Green Valleys." This project aims to create clean energy. It includes building several small power stations that use the river's water to make electricity. These are called micro-hydro schemes.
The Rocks of the Valley
The Afon Crawnon river has carved its way through a valley over many years. The rocks you can see here are mostly mudstones and sandstones. These types of rocks are known as the Old Red Sandstone. They were formed a very, very long time ago, during a period in Earth's history called the Devonian period. Imagine ancient rivers and seas depositing layers of sand and mud that eventually turned into these solid rocks!
Exploring the Valley
If you want to visit the Afon Crawnon valley, there's a public road that goes part of the way. It's a dead-end road, meaning it doesn't go all the way through. However, there are many paths for walking and riding horses or bikes. These paths climb up the sides of the valley, offering great views.
One special path connects to another route at the end of the valley. This path is thought to be the original route of an old railway line called the Brinore Tramroad. It was used a long time ago to move goods. Also, a famous long-distance walking trail called the Beacons Way goes along the northern edge of the Dyffryn Crawnon valley. It's a great way to explore the stunning scenery of the Brecon Beacons.
