Sugar Loaf, Monmouthshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sugar Loaf |
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| Mynydd Pen-y-fâl | |
The Sugar Loaf from the north-west, with the village of Llanbedr in the valley below
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 596 m (1,955 ft) |
| Prominence | 411 m (1,348 ft) |
| Parent peak | Waun Fach |
| Listing | Marilyn |
| Geography | |
| Location | Monmouthshire, United Kingdom |
| Parent range | Black Mountains |
| OS grid | SO272187 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 161 |
The Sugar Loaf is a famous hill in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located about 2 miles (3 km) north-west of Abergavenny. This hill is part of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The Sugar Loaf is the most southern peak of the Black Mountains. It stands 1,955 feet (596 metres) tall. A special person named Lady Rhondda gave the Sugar Loaf to the National Trust. She was a suffragette, which means she worked for women's right to vote.
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What's in a Name?
The Welsh name for the hill is Mynydd Pen-y-fâl. This name is probably older than the English one. In English, it means 'mountain of the head of the peak'.
The name Sugar Loaf is used for many hills that look like a "sugarloaf." A sugarloaf was a cone-shaped block of sugar used a long time ago. The closest hill with the same name is the Sugar Loaf, Carmarthenshire.
Ancient History
In the 1990s, old tools were found on a smaller hill near Sugar Loaf called Y Graig. These tools were made of flint. They show that people lived here during the Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Bronze Ages. These periods were thousands of years ago!
How the Hill Was Formed
Many people think the Sugar Loaf is an extinct volcano. This is because it looks like a cone, especially from the east. But this idea is not true!
The Sugar Loaf is actually made of sedimentary rocks. These rocks formed from layers of sand and mud over millions of years. Most of the hill is made of Old Red Sandstone. This rock formed during the Devonian Period.
The lower parts of the hill are made of mudstones and sandstones. The top part is made of a rock called Quartz Conglomerate. You can also see some landslips on its sides. These are places where parts of the hill have slid down.
What Lives on the Hill?
The National Trust owns most of the Sugar Loaf. They help manage the land, especially for Welsh mountain sheep that graze there.
The lower slopes have many deciduous trees. These are trees that lose their leaves in autumn. You can also find ferns, heather, and bilberry plants. Bilberries are also called whinberries by local people. The wooded areas on the hill are a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This means they are important for nature.
There is even a vineyard at the bottom of the mountain! It is called Dummar Farm and makes Sugar Loaf wine.
Walking and Amazing Views
The Sugar Loaf is a very popular place for walkers. Many people enjoy climbing to the top. From the summit, you can see incredible views!
You can see the Black Mountains to the north. To the east, you might spot the Cotswolds. Looking west, you can see parts of the Brecon Beacons, including Pen y Fan and Corn Du. On a clear day, you can even see the Bristol Channel to the south. The Skirrid hill is also easy to see nearby.
It's easy to walk up the Sugar Loaf from the car park, which is about 1,000 feet high. You can also start longer walks from towns like Abergavenny, Crickhowell, or Llangenny.
