Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr

Nearest town:
Brecon (12km NE)
OS reference:
SN95341970
OS sheet:
160
Latitude:
51° 51' 56.09 N
Longitude:
3° 31' 12.62 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Looking over the eastern cairn towards Ystradfellte reservoir.

Image credit: A. Brookes (7.2.2018)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Mar 6, 2018
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The top of the eastern cairn, looking down on Nant Mawr itself.

Image credit: A. Brookes (7.2.2018)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Mar 6, 2018
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Nant Mawr itself, facing Fan Llia. It’s scarcely conceivable that the placement of these two cairns either side of the stream does not directly connect with the watercourse itself.

Image credit: A. Brookes (7.2.2018)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Mar 5, 2018
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The partially frozen Nant Mawr, with the southwestern cairn above to the right.

Image credit: A. Brookes (7.2.2018)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Mar 5, 2018
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Looking across the southwestern cairn towards the Ystradfellte reservoir.

Image credit: A. Brookes (7.2.2018)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Mar 5, 2018
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The southwestern cairn, looking up Nant Mawr. The northeastern cairn is just beyond the crest to the left of the stream.

Image credit: A. Brookes (7.2.2018)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Mar 5, 2018
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The position of the cairns in their valley, seen from Fan Fawr.

Image credit: A. Brookes (7.2.2018)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Mar 4, 2018
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Seen from Fan Dringarth the two monuments are exquisitely positioned either side of the deep gash in the landscape carved by the Nant Mawr. Corn Du and Pen y Fan clad in snowy raiment rise above to the left.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jan 8, 2018
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Retrospective pause struggling to regain Fan Dringarth at the end of the day...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Mar 16, 2016
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

SN95211957 – Presumably the cairn’s situation wasn’t always as precarious as now?

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Mar 16, 2016
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

SN95211957 – looking approx east along the course of the Nant Mawr

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Mar 16, 2016
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

SN95211957, looking approx north across the Nant Mawr’s pretty substantial gulley.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Mar 16, 2016
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

The second cairn, overlooking the Nant Mawr’s southern bank at SN95211957 – above and to the right of the hardy tree.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Mar 16, 2016
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

SN95341970 – into the sun toward the Ystradfellte Reservoir. In retrospect probably the least arduous route here...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Mar 8, 2016
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

SN95341970 – Fan Fawr looms beyond..

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Mar 8, 2016
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Sunburst upon the cairn at SN95341970. An exquisite location.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Mar 8, 2016
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Approaching from the approx east along the Nant Mawr...

The more impressive of the monuments (SN95341970) can be seen above to the right, the smaller cairn (SN95211957) perched immediately above the river’s left hand bank, centre left. Fan Dringarth’s deeply riven flank rises above, Fan Llia sweeping away top left.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Mar 8, 2016
Image of Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Approaching from high upon Fan Dringarth the relationship of the two round cairns to the plunging Nant Mawr couldn’t be clearer... Corn Du and Pen y Fan would rise above – to the left of Fan Fawr – if not for the cloud mantle.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Mar 8, 2016

Articles

Miscellaneous

Nant Mawr, Fforest Fawr
Cairn(s)
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jan 9, 2018

Not shown on either the current 1:25k or 1:50k OS maps, I had RCAHMW to thank for highlighting these two wondrously sited cairns. Located upon either bank of the deep gash in the hillside carved by the Nant Mawr as it joins the Nant y Gaseg, Nant y Gwair and numerous other seasonal watercourses in assisting the nascent Afon Dringarth feed the Ystradfellte Reservoir, there are, in my opinion, few less congested spots in the entire National Park.

The downside to this isolation is reaching the cairns in the first place. As it was I approached from the west, ascending the northern aspect of Fan Dringarth to descend steeply toward the prominent sheep folds a little south (downstream) of the Nant Mawr’s confluence with The Afon Dringarth... needless to say this meant ascending the mountain once again upon the return. But there you are. And besides, there is a superb aerial view from Fan Dringarth as compensation. Punters wishing to avoid mountain climbing might wish to consider an approach from the reservoir itself.

Anyway, according to David Leighton (RCAHMW, 17/07/2008):

1) Northern cairn – “...The stony mound... measures 12m in diameter and rises to 1.5m high. An edge set slab on its east side suggests a possible kerb otherwise obscured...”

2) Southern cairn – “...The slightly oval stony mound measures 8m (E-W) by 7.5m and 0.75m high... The interior has been robbed out leaving a hollow of irregular shape about 3m across.”

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