Cefn Cul facts for kids
Cefn Cul is a hill located in the Fforest Fawr area of the Brecon Beacons National Park in southern Wales. This park is also known by its Welsh name, Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog. Cefn Cul is a long, wide ridge that stretches from the north-northeast to the south-southwest. Its highest point reaches 562 meters (about 1,844 feet) above sea level.
To the west of the hill, you'll find the upper valley of the River Tawe. An old road to Trecastle runs through this valley. To the east, there's a mountain pass called Bwlch Bryn-rhudd. The A4067 road uses this pass to travel from the Crai valley south towards the River Tawe.
What is Cefn Cul Made Of? (Geology)
Cefn Cul is made up of different types of rock, mainly sandstones and mudstones. These rocks belong to the Senni Beds and Brownstones Formations. They were formed during a very old time period called the Devonian period, which is part of the Old Red Sandstone era.
Even though the rock layers generally tilt towards the south, they can vary in direction in this specific area. The hill itself sits on top of a broad, upward-folding rock structure called an anticline. Cefn Cul is also part of the Fforest Fawr Geopark, an area recognized in 2005 for its important geological features.
Discovering History on Cefn Cul (Archaeology)
Cefn Cul holds some interesting clues about the past. Near the southern end of the hill, you can find an ancient stone pile known as a cairn. A standing stone also stands just above the smaller road to the west of Cefn Cul.
Perhaps the most unique features on the hill are the many pillow mounds scattered across its southern slopes and lower eastern side, above Cray Reservoir. These mounds were built in the 1800s. People used them to raise rabbits for their fur and meat.
Exploring Cefn Cul (Access)
Cefn Cul is considered "open country." This means that walkers are welcome to explore the hill freely. However, there are several fences and walls that cross the hill. Visitors need to be careful when crossing them to avoid causing any damage.
