Pen-y-crug
Encyclopedia
Pen-y-crug is a hill in the Brecon Beacons National Park in the county of Powys
, south Wales
. It is commonly referred to locally as simply 'The Crug' (pronounced cree-g). The Welsh
name
signifies 'top of the mound'. It slopes are moderately gently on three sides; only to the west do they steepen somewhat. Its flat trig point
adorned summit at 331m overlooks the valley of the River Usk
to the south. To the southeast are panoramic views over Brecon
whilst eastwards are the Black Mountains
and south the Brecon Beacons
.
laid down during the Devonian period. The lower slopes are formed from mudstones and sandstones of the Raglan Mudstone Formation of late Silurian
age. A number of small sandstone quarries, now disused, adorn the upper slopes. The hill probably stood out above the Usk Valley glacier ice at times during the ice age.
, horseriders
and mountain-bikers
. A public footpath also leads to the summit from the edge of Brecon via Maen-du Well. The upper slopes are open access
for walkers. A small car park off the minor road to its north provides a convenient starting point for many walkers.
hillfort, one of several in the Usk Valley. There are the remains of a brick and tile works dating from Victorian times on its southeastern flank.
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is commonly referred to locally as simply 'The Crug' (pronounced cree-g). The Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
name
Welsh placenames
The placenames of Wales derive in most cases from the Welsh language, but have also been influenced by linguistic contact with the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Anglo-Normans and modern English...
signifies 'top of the mound'. It slopes are moderately gently on three sides; only to the west do they steepen somewhat. Its flat trig point
Trig point
A triangulation station, also known as a triangulation pillar, trigonometrical station, trigonometrical point, trig station, trig beacon or trig point, and sometimes informally as a trig, is a fixed surveying station, used in geodetic surveying and other surveying projects in its vicinity...
adorned summit at 331m overlooks the valley of the River Usk
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
to the south. To the southeast are panoramic views over Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
whilst eastwards are the Black Mountains
Black Mountains
There are several mountain ranges named the Black Mountains:* Black Mountains * Black Mountains * Black Mountains * Black Mountains * Black Mountains * Black Mountains...
and south the Brecon Beacons
Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons is a mountain range in South Wales. In a narrow sense, the name refers to the range of popular peaks south of Brecon, including South Wales' highest mountain, Pen y Fan, and which together form the central section of the Brecon Beacons National Park...
.
Geology
The hill is formed from sandstones and mudstones of the St. Maughans Formation of the Old Red SandstoneOld Red Sandstone
The Old Red Sandstone is a British rock formation of considerable importance to early paleontology. For convenience the short version of the term, 'ORS' is often used in literature on the subject.-Sedimentology:...
laid down during the Devonian period. The lower slopes are formed from mudstones and sandstones of the Raglan Mudstone Formation of late Silurian
Silurian
The Silurian is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Ordovician Period, about 443.7 ± 1.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Devonian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya . As with other geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period's start and end are well identified, but the...
age. A number of small sandstone quarries, now disused, adorn the upper slopes. The hill probably stood out above the Usk Valley glacier ice at times during the ice age.
Access
A bridleway runs northwestwards over the northern and eastern slopes of the hill from the B4520 road on the northern edge of Brecon giving access to walkersHillwalking
In the British Isles, the terms hillwalking or fellwalking are commonly used to describe the recreational outdoor activity of walking on hills and mountains, often with the intention of visiting their summits...
, horseriders
Trail riding
Trail riding sometimes called horse or pony trekking is riding outdoors on natural trails and roads as opposed to riding in an enclosed area such as a riding arena. The term may encompass those who travel on horses, on mountain bikes, or on motorcycles and other motorized all-terrain vehicles...
and mountain-bikers
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
. A public footpath also leads to the summit from the edge of Brecon via Maen-du Well. The upper slopes are open access
Open access
Open access refers to unrestricted access via the Internet to articles published in scholarly journals, and also increasingly to book chapters or monographs....
for walkers. A small car park off the minor road to its north provides a convenient starting point for many walkers.
Archaeology
The summit is crowned by an impressive Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hillfort, one of several in the Usk Valley. There are the remains of a brick and tile works dating from Victorian times on its southeastern flank.