Ysgyryd Fach facts for kids

Ysgyryd Fach is a small hill located about one mile east of Abergavenny. This town is in the county of Monmouthshire, which is in beautiful south Wales. People often call it 'Little Skirrid' or 'Skirrid Fach' in English. It's like a smaller version of the famous Skirrid mountain nearby! The very top of the hill, called the summit, is about 270 meters high. That's roughly the height of a 90-story building! Much of the hill is covered with a forest of conifer trees. Ysgyryd Fach is special because it's known as one of the 'seven hills of Abergavenny'.

How Ysgyryd Fach Was Formed (Geology)

Ysgyryd Fach is made mostly of a type of rock called mudstone. These mudstones are part of something called the St Maughans Formation. They were laid down a very long time ago, during the Devonian period. This period is part of the Old Red Sandstone time, when much of Wales was covered by rivers and lakes.

You can also find thin layers of a special kind of limestone on the hill. This limestone is called calcrete. It formed on land, not in the sea, which is quite interesting! The very top of Ysgyryd Fach has sandstone from the Senni Formation. There aren't many places where the bare rock shows through. The lower parts of the hill are covered by glacial till. This is a mix of rocks and soil left behind by ancient glaciers.

Getting to Ysgyryd Fach (Access)

It's easy to explore Ysgyryd Fach! There's a public walking path that goes right over the top of the hill. This path runs from east to west. It connects a small road on the east side to the Abergavenny Railway Station. So, you can walk from the station right up to the summit! There's also another path that goes around the southern edge of the hill. These paths make it simple for people to enjoy the views and nature around Ysgyryd Fach.