Garth Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Garth Hill |
|
|---|---|
| Mynydd y Garth | |
.jpg) |
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 307 m (1,007 ft) |
| Prominence | 211 m (692 ft) |
| Listing | Marilyn, County top |
| Geography | |
 Garth Hill
Location in Wales
|
|
| Location | Taff Ely, Wales |
| OS grid | ST103835 |
Garth Hill, often called The Garth or Garth Mountain, is a well-known hill in Wales. Its Welsh name is Mynydd y Garth. This hill stands between the communities of Llantwit Fardre and Pentyrch.
You can see Garth Hill from most of the city of Cardiff. On a clear day, you might even spot Weston-super-Mare across the Bristol Channel in England. The hill is next to the Taff Valley. It looks down on the small villages of Gwaelod-y-Garth and Taff's Well.
Contents
What Makes Garth Hill Special?
Garth Hill is known as a "Marilyn." This is a special term for a hill in the British Isles that is at least 150 meters (about 492 feet) high. It also has a drop of at least 150 meters on all sides.
Ancient Burial Sites
On top of Garth Hill, there are several ancient burial mounds called tumuli. These are like small hills made by people long ago. They were used as burial places during the early to middle Bronze Age. This was a time when people first started using bronze tools and weapons.
Amazing Views
From the top of Garth Hill, you get fantastic views. You can see the city of Cardiff spread out below. You can also see the beautiful River Taff valley winding through the landscape. It's a great spot for taking photos or just enjoying nature.
The Garth's Sister Hill
Garth Hill has a smaller companion called the Lesser Garth. These two hills are quite different.
How the Hills Were Formed
The Lesser Garth is made of limestone. This type of rock is often dug up for building materials. In the past, people also mined iron ore from the Lesser Garth. The valley between the two hills was formed by softer rocks like coal and shales wearing away. Garth Hill itself is made of strong Pennant sandstone. This hard rock helps it stand tall.
History of Mining on Garth Hill
For a long time, the area around Garth Hill was busy with mining.
Coal Mining Past
Until the 1800s, the valley and lower slopes of Garth Hill were full of small coal mines. These mines supplied coal to the ironworks in the River Taff valley. Today, you can hardly see any signs of these old mines. However, the entrance to Y Lan Colliery has been partly fixed up. It now serves as a memorial to a mining accident that happened there in 1875. A path leads to this spot near the local primary school.
Garth Hill in the Movies
Garth Hill became famous thanks to a popular book and movie.
The Story of Ffynnon Garw
Christopher Monger, who grew up in Taff's Well, wrote a novel called The Englishman who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain. In his story, a fictional mountain named Ffynnon Garw is located above his home village. This suggests that Garth Hill was the inspiration for the story's mountain. The mound where the trigonometrical point (a marker used for mapping) stands on Garth Hill is thought to be the Bronze Age burial mound from the story.
From Book to Film
Christopher Monger later turned his book into a movie with the same name in 1995. He also directed the film. Because of the movie's popularity, many visitors now climb Garth Mountain. They want to see the real-life location that inspired the story.
