The Afon Pyrddin is a
river forming a short section of the boundary between the counties of
Brecknockshire
, image_flag=
, HQ= Brecon
, Government= Brecknockshire County Council (1889-1974)
, Origin= Brycheiniog
, Status=
, Start= 1535
, End= ...
and
Glamorgan
, HQ = Cardiff
, Government = Glamorgan County Council (1889–1974)
, Origin=
, Code = GLA
, CodeName = Chapman code
, Replace =
* West Glamorgan
* Mid Glamorgan
* South Glamorgan
, Motto ...
in
Wales,
Great Britain. It also forms a part of the boundary of the
Brecon Beacons National Park, and the boundary of the unitary authorities of
Powys and
Neath Port Talbot. The river and its
waterfalls are one of the key attractions of the
Fforest Fawr Geopark designated in 2005.
The name could mean 'river by the striking fortress' or 'sweet-flowing river'.
The streams of Nant y Bryn, Nant y Fedwen and Nant Hir come together to form the Pyrddin which flows south-eastwards for 3 miles (5 km) to its
confluence
In geography, a confluence (also: ''conflux'') occurs where two or more flowing bodies of water join to form a single channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main stem); o ...
with the
Nedd Fechan (sometimes also known historically in an Englished form "Neath Vaughan"; at one time this would have been a fair indication of the Welsh pronunciation in English spelling, but with changes in English pronunciation it has now diverged considerably)).
Waterfalls
The Pyrddin is best known for two spectacular waterfalls, Sgwd Gwladus (sometimes 'Gwladys') and Sgwd Einion Gam, meaning the 'fall of Gwladus' and the 'fall of crooked Einion' respectively. Both Gwladus and Einion are personal names. Sgwd Gwladus is formed where a band of erosion-resistant gritstone known as the '
Twelve Foot Sandstone' creates a lip over which the river plunges. It is easily accessible by footpath from
Pontneddfechan
Pontneddfechan, also known as Pontneathvaughan (pronounced ) ("bridge over the Little Neath" in Welsh) is the southernmost village in the county of Brecknockshire, Wales, within the Vale of Neath, in the community of Ystradfellte and in the prin ...
(also known as Pontneathvaughan). A notable feature above the fall is an erratic block of gritstone which was balanced so that it rocked - at least until Victorian times when it was displaced. The ruins of a small building close to the falls are thought to be those of a corn-mill.
Sgwd Einion Gam, which is a further half mile, upstream can be accessed only by crossing and re-crossing the river itself. This fall is caused by the presence of a geological
fault which brings another hard sandstone known as the '
Farewell Rock' up against softer mudstones.
Habitat protection
The steep and wooded gorge of the Pyrddin – like that of its neighbours, the
Nedd Fechan,
Afon Mellte, and
Afon Hepste – is home to many rare
bryophytes
The Bryophyta s.l. are a proposed taxonomic division containing three groups of non-vascular land plants (embryophytes): the liverworts, hornworts and mosses. Bryophyta s.s. consists of the mosses only. They are characteristically limited i ...
which enjoy the cool humid conditions which exist here. Accordingly, it has been designated as both a
site of special scientific interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Great Britain or an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle of ...
and a
special area of conservation.
Natural Resources Wales / Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru website
/ref>
See also
* Waterfall Country (Wales)
References
External links
Photos of the Afon Pyrddin on geograph.org.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pyrddin
Afon Pyrddin
The Afon Pyrddin is a river forming a short section of the boundary between the counties of Brecknockshire and Glamorgan in Wales, Great Britain. It also forms a part of the boundary of the Brecon Beacons National Park, and the boundary of the unit ...
Rivers of the Brecon Beacons National Park
Rivers of Neath Port Talbot
Rivers of Powys