The Begwns facts for kids
The Begwns, sometimes called The Begwyns, is a small, hilly area in eastern Powys, Wales. It is located near the towns of Painscastle, Glasbury, and Clyro. You can find it north of a big bend in the River Wye valley, west of Hay-on-Wye. The name 'Begwns' comes from the English word 'beacons'.
This area covers 1293 acres of common land. This means many people can use it for things like grazing animals. The land was given to the National Trust in 1992. The National Trust helps protect special places. They manage The Begwns for grazing animals and for people to enjoy quietly. The land goes from about 250 meters high to 415 meters high. The highest point is called ‘The Roundabout’. This is a wooded hilltop in the middle of the area. Trees were planted here in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. A wall was built around them to keep them safe.
There are a few small ponds on The Begwns. The biggest one is called Monks Pond. These ponds are home to special plants. One is the pillwort, a rare aquatic fern. Another is the Tubular Water-dropwort. Many springs feed streams here. Some streams flow north to the Bachawy river. Others flow south directly into the River Wye.
Exploring The Begwns: Paths and Roads
The Begwns has many public footpaths and bridleways. These are paths for walking and horse riding. The entire area is also mapped as open access. This means walkers can explore almost anywhere on the land. There are also a few paved roads that cross the common. You can also find unpaved tracks. These are shown on maps as 'other routes with public access'.
The Rocks of The Begwns: A Look at Geology
Most of The Begwns is made of special rocks. These rocks are called siltstones and mudstones. They formed a very long time ago, during the Pridoli epoch. These rocks are part of something called the Old Red Sandstone. This type of rock is very common in the Brecon Beacons National Park. You can see this park to the south from The Begwns. There are also some bands of sandstone running across the hills.
The lower northern parts of The Begwns have older rocks. These rocks formed during the Wenlockian and Ludlovian periods. These are even older parts of the Silurian period. Sometimes, there are cracks in the rocks called faults. These faults cause parts of the ground to move up or down. The Begwns area is located between two large fault systems. These are the Church Stretton Fault Zone and the Swansea Valley Disturbance. You might also find small patches of peat. Peat is a type of soil made from decayed plants. There are also small areas of 'head'. This is a mix of pebbles, sand, silt, and clay.
Ancient Discoveries: Archaeology at The Begwns
The Begwns is home to several important ancient sites. These are protected as scheduled ancient monuments. One site is Maesgwyn mound. Experts believe this was a Bronze Age ritual site. The Bronze Age was a time when people used bronze tools. North of The Roundabout, there is a round cairn. A cairn is a pile of stones, often built as a monument. Nearby, you can also find a probable Bronze Age standing stone. This is a large stone placed upright by ancient people.
At the western end of the common, there is a place called Pentre Jack. Here, archaeologists have found signs of a large mediaeval settlement. This means people lived here during the Middle Ages, a long time ago.
