Fan y Big facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fan y Bîg |
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Fan y Bîg with Gwaun Cerrig Llwydion (behind) from Cribyn
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 716.7 m (2,351 ft) |
| Prominence | 28.5 m (94 ft) |
| Parent peak | Waun Rydd |
| Listing | Nuttall |
| Naming | |
| English translation | peak/beacon of the bill/beak |
| Language of name | Welsh |
| Geography | |
| Location | Powys, Wales |
| Parent range | Brecon Beacons |
| OS grid | SO036206 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 160 |
Fan y Bîg is a mountain peak located in the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park in southern Wales. It stands tall in the county of Powys. This peak is part of a larger mountain called Waun Rydd. Fan y Bîg is about 717 meters (2,352 feet) high. Many hikers enjoy climbing it as part of a famous route called the Horseshoe Walk. This walk takes you across four main peaks in the Brecon Beacons.
About Fan y Bîg
Fan y Bîg is located at the western edge of a flat, high area known as the Gwaun Cerrig Llwydion plateau. Its name comes from the Welsh words for 'point of the peak'. This name might describe its sharp, pointed shape when you see it from certain angles. The accent mark over the 'i' in Bîg makes the sound longer, so it's pronounced 'van-euh-beeg'.
The top of Fan y Bîg is smooth and covered in grass. You will find a pile of stones, called a cairn, marking the summit. This cairn sits right on the edge of the mountain's very steep western side. The view of this steep face from another nearby mountain, Cribyn, is quite amazing.
Hiking and Access
Fan y Bîg is easy to spot because it forms a clear part of the northern edge of the central Brecon Beacons. Three different walking paths meet right at the summit of the peak. All the land around the mountain is "open access." This means that walkers are allowed to explore almost anywhere they wish. However, if the weather is bad, sticking to the marked paths is the safest way to go.
Many hikers cross Fan y Bîg when they are heading towards other popular peaks like Cribyn, Pen y Fan, and Corn Du. The mountain is also a key part of the "Horseshoe Walk," which is a circular route that goes over four different peaks in the area. This route is also sometimes called the Fan dance.
How the Mountain Formed: Geology
Like other mountains in the Brecon Beacons, the upper parts of Fan y Bîg are made of a type of rock called sandstone. This sandstone belongs to something called the Brownstones Formation. It was formed a very long time ago during the Devonian period, which was an ancient time in Earth's history.
The lower parts of the mountain are made from different kinds of rock, including sandstones and mudstones. These rocks are part of the Senni Formation. All these layers of rock are gently tilted towards the south.
During the last ice age, small glaciers (huge sheets of ice) moved through the valleys to the northwest and east of the mountain. As these glaciers moved, they carved out the land. This process, called glacial erosion, created the very steep northern face that Fan y Bîg has today.
