Fforest Fawr Geopark

Cymdeithas Parc Bannau Brycheiniog
Brecon Beacons Park Society
www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org

In October 2005, the Fforest Fawr Geopark situated within the Brecon Beacons National Park was awarded membership of the highly prestigious European Geopark Network and given UNESCO Global Geopark recognition. It is the 24th member of this UNESCO global network, the first Geopark in Wales and the first National Park in the UK to be so designated.

A European Geopark is a territory which includes a particular geological heritage and has a sustainable territorial development strategy supported by a European programme of promotion. It must have clearly defined boundaries and sufficient surface area for true territorial economic development.
A European Geopark must comprise a certain number of geological sites of particular importance in terms of their scientific quality, rarity, aesthetic appeal or educational value. The majority of the sites present on the territory of a European Geopark must be part of the geological heritage, but their interest may also be archaeological, ecological, historical or cultural.

The Fforest Fawr Geopark incorporates some of the most stunning natural and man-made attractions in Wales, including the breathtaking Carreg Cennen Castle, The National Showcaves Centre for Wales, Craig-y-nos Country Park, the wilderness area of the Black Mountain, Pen y Fan (the highest mountain in southern Britain), The Brecon Mountain Railway and the National Park’s reservoirs, rivers and waterfalls.

The area is blessed with one of the most geologically interesting landscapes in southern Britain – the rocks within the western area of the Brecon Beacons record 470 million years of geological history in some of the most outstanding scenery in the United Kingdom.
Situated within the Brecon Beacons National Park, 'Fforest Fawr' is Welsh for the 'Great Forest', and is the range of mountains between the Black Mountain and the Central Beacons. The Geopark also includes the whole of the western half of the National Park.

The wild mountains and hidden valleys of the Geopark are the result of nearly 500 million years of earth history. This special area contains evidence of ancient seas, mountain building and sea level and climate change scattered across a landscape that was shaped by the last ice age. There are famous waterfalls, amazing caves and the highest land-mass in southern Britain.

The landscape was carved into the shape seen today during the Ice Ages, from 2 million to 12,000 years ago. Glaciers were carved out the valleys of the Usk, Neath, Tawe and Cennen and rocks which were gouged out by the glaciers were deposited along the sides and bottoms of valleys, or randomly scattered across the upland landscape. Snow and ice collected on north facing slopes, developed into glaciers and gouged away the rock leaving the landscape largely as seen today.

The Geopark is also about people. They have been using the rocks for thousands of years - from dry-stone walls to keep animals in, to hill-forts and castles to keep the enemy out!

Limestone was especially valuable, used to make fertiliser to improve farmland and used in iron smelting during the Industrial Revolution.

There are many ways to explore the Fforest Fawr Geopark.

Vast cave networks tempt the experienced potholer, whilst the serious geologist will discover a paradise of text book features.

Walkers can explore the spectacular scenery of the mountains and the waterfalls on anything from a gentle stroll to a challenging hike.

Interesting rocks can be seen everywhere in the National Park, from roadside dry-stone walls, to village churchyards, or even in the fireplace of a local pub!

The caves at Dan-yr-Ogof are, perhaps, the easiest way to explore the exciting world beneath the Geopark. Underground streams have created an amazing labyrinth of tunnels and caverns.

Carreg Cennen Castle is one of the most spectacular places to see the way that rocks have been used by people. Not only is the castle built from local stone, but it stands on a dramatic cliff-top which would have daunted any attacker.