Mynydd Eglwysilan facts for kids

Mynydd Eglwysilan is a tall hill in South Wales. It stands 355 meters (about 1,165 feet) high. This hill is in the Caerphilly area, near towns like Nelson and Ystrad Mynach. To its south, you'll find Senghenydd in the Aber Valley.

The hill gets its name from a small village called Eglwysilan. This village is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) southwest of the hill. The church in Eglwysilan is named after a saint called Ilan.

You can also find an old earthwork on the hill. It's called Senghenydd Dyke. This long ditch and bank might have marked the edge of a large deer park. This park was used in the 1200s and was connected to the famous Caerphilly Castle.

How Mynydd Eglwysilan Was Formed

This hill is made mostly of a type of rock called Hughes Sandstone. This sandstone was formed a very long time ago. It happened during the Carboniferous Period, about 309 to 306 million years ago.

Below the main sandstone layer, you can find other rocks. These include siltstones and mudstones. They tell us more about how the land changed over millions of years.

Exploring the Hill

The top part of Mynydd Eglwysilan is open for everyone to explore. This is thanks to the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. It means you can walk freely across this area.

There are also some special paths called byways. These paths go along the eastern and southern edges of the hill's flat top. A small public road from Nelson to Senghenydd runs along the side of the hill. You can also find a rough track that leads to the trig point at the very top. A trig point is a marker used by mapmakers.