Allt yr Esgair facts for kids
Allt yr Esgair is a hill located in the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park in Powys, Wales. Locals often call it simply 'The Allt'. Its name in the Welsh language means 'wooded slope of the ridge'.
This hill is shaped like a long ridge that runs from northwest to southeast. It reaches a height of 393 meters (about 1,289 feet). From its top, you can look down over the River Usk valley to the west and south. If you look northeast, you'll see amazing views across Llangorse Lake towards the Black Mountains. There's even a special viewfinder on the summit. It was put there to honor Eirene Lloyd White, a Baroness. Allt yr Esgair is also known as a Marilyn, which means it's a hill with a certain height and a significant drop on all sides.
What is Allt yr Esgair Made Of?
This hill is mostly made from types of rock called sandstones and mudstones. These rocks are part of something called the Senni Formation. They were formed a very long time ago during the Devonian period, which is part of the Old Red Sandstone era.
The lower parts of the hill are made from slightly older mudstones and sandstones. You might see some old, unused sandstone quarries on the slopes. Scientists believe that during the last ice age, Allt yr Esgair probably stood out above the huge glaciers that filled the Usk Valley. Later, as the ice melted, water from a much larger Llangorse Lake flowed through the low points (called cols) at each end of the ridge, into the Usk river system.
How to Explore Allt yr Esgair
There are several paths on Allt yr Esgair that are open to everyone. These paths are called bridleways. They are great for walkers, horse riders, and mountain bikers.
The very top of the hill and the woods to the northeast are also open for walkers to explore freely. If you want to visit, there's a car park right off the A40 road, just south of the hill. It's a handy spot to start your adventure!
History on the Hill
Allt yr Esgair has some cool history! The very top of the hill has an Iron Age hillfort. This was a fortified settlement built by people living here thousands of years ago. It's one of several such hillforts found in the Usk Valley.
Also, an old Roman road used to run along this ridge. This road connected two Roman forts: CICVCIVM near Y Gaer, Brecon and Gobannium at Abergavenny. Today, a modern bridleway follows the same path as that ancient Roman road.
