Cefn Gwyngul facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cefn Gwyngul |
|
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 470 m (1,540 ft) |
| Naming | |
| Language of name | Welsh |
| Geography | |
| Location | Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales |
| OS grid | ST 012974 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 170 / Explorer 166 |
Cefn Gwyngul is a long, wide ridge (a long, narrow hill) located in South Wales. It sits to the east of the Rhondda Fach valley, in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area.
This hill reaches 470 meters (about 1,542 feet) high. At its top, you'll find an ancient stone pile called Carn-y-Pigwn. There's also a newer trig point there, which is a special marker used for surveying maps.
Most of Cefn Gwyngul is covered by modern tree farms. However, the side facing southwest, between the towns of Porth and Ferndale, doesn't have these conifer trees. You can also find the earthworks (old remains in the ground) of a Roman camp on the ridge. This shows that people have been using this area for a very long time!
What is Cefn Gwyngul Made Of?
Cefn Gwyngul is located in the middle of the South Wales Coalfield. This means the hill is made up of layers of sandstone rock. These rocks were formed a very long time ago, during the late Carboniferous Period.
Many coal seams (layers of coal) are found within these rocks. People used to mine a lot of coal here in the past. Because of this, you can still see signs of old coalmining activity all over the area.
Exploring Cefn Gwyngul
You can reach the slopes of Cefn Gwyngul using small roads from towns like Ferndale, Ynysybwl, and Pontypridd. These roads all meet at a small village called Llanwonno, which is high up on the hill.
There are also many public rights of way (paths and tracks that anyone can use) that cross the hill. However, none of these paths go directly to the very top.
Part of the National Cycle Network, called Route 47, runs along the eastern side of the hill. It goes up the small road from Pontypridd to Llanwonno. Then, it continues northwest on forest tracks until it joins the A4233 road above Maerdy.
Areas of the forest owned by Natural Resources Wales are open for everyone to explore. Some open moorland areas are also open to the public, thanks to a law called the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. This means you can enjoy walking and exploring much of Cefn Gwyngul!
