Afon Cych facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Afon Cych |
|
|---|---|
| Native name | Afon Cuch |
| Location | Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | River Teifi |
| Length | 13 km (8.1 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | River Teifi |
The Afon Cych (also known as Afon Cuch in standard Welsh) is a river in south-west Wales. It's a smaller river that flows into the bigger River Teifi. The Afon Cych is about 13 kilometers (8 miles) long. It flows through a beautiful, quiet valley. This river is also famous for its connection to old Welsh legends.
Where Does the Afon Cych Flow?
The Afon Cych flows towards the north-west. It carves its way through a deep valley filled with trees. Eventually, it joins the River Teifi at a place called Abercych. The river is 13 kilometers (about 8 miles) long.
Many smaller streams flow into the Afon Cych. On its east side, it gets water from the Sylgen, Barddi, Mamog, Dwrog, and Lŵyd streams. On the west side, the Pedran, Cneifa, and Dulas streams join it.
For a long time, the Afon Cych has been an important boundary. In ancient times, it marked the edge between two areas called "commotes" (like old districts). Today, it forms part of the border between Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. The river passes through small places like Cwmorgan, Cwmcych, and the village of Abercych.
Bridges Over the Afon Cych
Several bridges cross the Afon Cych as it flows. Starting from upstream (closer to where the river begins), you'll find:
- Pont Cwmorgan
- Pont Wedwst
- Pont Newydd
- Pont Cych at Cwmcych (This bridge was built in 1737 and is a "Grade II listed" building. This means it's an important historical structure.)
- An unnamed bridge near Bridgend
- Pont Glancych
- Pont Treseli (This is also a Grade II listed bridge. It carries the B4332 road at Abercych. It has special holes in its side arches, similar to the famous Cenarth Bridge.)
Legends and History of the Afon Cych
The Afon Cych has been known for a long time. On a map of Pembrokeshire from 1583, its name was written in Latin as Keach flu..
The valley of the Afon Cych, known as Glyn Cuch, is very famous in Welsh stories. It's mentioned in the Mabinogi, which are ancient Welsh tales. In one of these stories, Pwyll, a prince, has an important meeting with Arawn, who is the Lord of a mythical otherworld. People used to think that rivers, especially those marking boundaries, could be magical doorways to other worlds.
