Cadair Fawr facts for kids

Cadair Fawr is a special hill located in the northern part of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It's a great place to explore! This hill is part of two important natural areas: the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Fforest Fawr Geopark.

The top of Cadair Fawr is 485 meters (about 1,591 feet) high. You'll find a trig point there, which is a special marker used by mapmakers. Cadair Fawr is the highest point of a long ridge called Cefn Cadlan. This ridge forms the northern edge of a valley known as Cwm Cadlan. The valley stretches east from the village of Penderyn. The name Cadair Fawr means 'big chair', and Cefn Cadlan means 'ridge of the battlefield'.

What is Cadair Fawr Made Of?

The very top of Cadair Fawr is made from a type of rock called Carboniferous Limestone. This rock formed a very long time ago during the Carboniferous period. Much of the Cefn Cadlan ridge, which slopes to the west, is made of another ancient rock. This rock is called Twrch Sandstone. It also formed during the Carboniferous period.

Cracks and Holes in the Rock

You might notice some small cracks in the rocks of the hill. These are called faults. Some faults run from northwest to southeast. Others, like the Coed Hir Fault, run from northeast to southwest. These faults are similar to a larger one that runs through Cwm Cadlan.

The surface of Cadair Fawr has many natural holes. These holes are called shakeholes. They are like natural sinkholes. The biggest shakeholes are found where the sandstone rock is on the surface. In the past, people dug for rocks in quarries on the hill. However, no quarries are active there today.

Ancient Discoveries on Cadair Fawr

Cadair Fawr is home to some very old and important sites. These sites are protected as "scheduled ancient monuments." They tell us about people who lived here long ago.

Cadair Fawr Round Cairn

Near the top of Cadair Fawr, you'll find a large pile of stones called a cairn. This is known as the Cadair Fawr Round Cairn. It is about 9 meters (30 feet) wide. People built cairns for different reasons, sometimes as burial places.

Pant-y-Gadair Hut Circle Settlement

On the northern slopes of Cadair Fawr, there's an ancient hut circle. This is what remains of a prehistoric house. It is about 6 meters (20 feet) across. Its walls were made from natural limestone stones.

Cadair Fawr Settlement

East of the hill's summit, there's a group of old house foundations. This area is called the Cadair Fawr settlement. These foundations are from the medieval period or even later. They show us where people used to live centuries ago.

Visiting Cadair Fawr

Cadair Fawr is a great place for walking and exploring. It is considered "open country," which means you can freely walk across it. It's easy to get to the hill from the A4059 road. This road runs along the northern edge of the hill. It connects Hirwaun to the A470 road, which is south of Storey Arms.