Fan Frynych facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fan Frynych |
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Fan Frynych from the summit of Craig Cerrig-gleisiad
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 629 m (2,064 ft) |
| Prominence | 74 m (243 ft) |
| Parent peak | Fan Fawr |
| Listing | Hewitt, Nuttall |
| Naming | |
| Language of name | Welsh |
| Geography | |
| Location | Powys, United Kingdom |
| Parent range | Brecon Beacons |
| OS grid | SN969193 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 160 |
Fan Frynych is a mountain peak located in South Wales. It is the most northern part of the Fforest Fawr area. This mountain is found within the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park. Fan Frynych is seen as a smaller peak connected to Fan Fawr, which is a taller mountain nearby. It also forms half of the Craig Cerrig-gleisiad and Fan Frynych National Nature Reserve. Its partner peak in the reserve is Craig Cerrig-gleisiad.
The very top of Fan Frynych has a special marker called a trig point. A trig point is a pillar used by mapmakers to measure the land accurately. From this spot, you can get a great view of the northern side of Craig Cerrig-gleisiad.
How Fan Frynych Was Formed
The upper parts of Fan Frynych are made of brown sandstone. This rock is called the Senni Formation. Sandstone is a type of rock formed from tiny grains of sand that have been pressed together over millions of years.
Below the sandstone, on the lower northern slopes, you'll find mudstones. These rocks are from the St Maughans Formation. Mudstone is a softer rock that forms from hardened mud. Both of these rock types are part of the Lower Old Red Sandstone. They were formed a very long time ago, during the early Devonian period. This period was about 419 to 359 million years ago.
The layers of rock, called strata, generally tilt towards the southeast. A large crack in the Earth's crust, called the Cribarth Fault, runs along the northeastern side of the mountain. This fault is part of a bigger system called the Swansea Valley Disturbance. Many parts of the mountain's eastern slopes have been affected by landslips. Landslips happen when large amounts of soil and rock slide down a slope.
Exploring Fan Frynych
Fan Frynych is considered "open country." This means that people are allowed to walk freely across the entire mountain. This right is given by a law called the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
There are many paths and tracks that cross the top of the mountain. These paths connect to public rights of way on the east, west, and north sides. The 99-mile-long Beacons Way walking trail passes over Craig Cerrig-gleisiad, which is just south of Fan Frynych. From the Beacons Way, you can enjoy views over Fan Frynych's southern slopes. This trail also connects to a path that runs along the eastern side of the mountain's flat top.
