Bannau Brycheiniog National Park

Waterfalls and caves in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park

Waterfalls and Caves of Wales

This collection highlights the geological diversity of the Brecon Beacons National Park, featuring the 17-kilometre Dan-yr-Ogof cave system and the celebrated Four Waterfalls Walk. The list includes Sgwd yr Eira, where a public path leads directly behind the curtain of water. Beyond these natural features, the selection encompasses historic industrial engineering, including the 18th-century Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal and several expansive reservoirs and dams that define the region's upland landscape and water management history.

Waterfalls and Caves of Wales — Map

Sloman / Public domain

A

Dan-Yr-Ogof Showcaves

Dan yr Ogof, at the National Showcaves Centre for Wales, is a 17-kilometre long cave system in south Wales, about 5 miles north of…

B

Sgwd Uchaf Clun Gwyn

The first major drop on the Four Waterfalls Walk, where the River Mellte falls over a broad sandstone ledge into a deep pool.

C

Scwd Ddwli

Located on the River Nedd Fechan along the Elidir Trail, this waterfall consists of a series of wide cascades flowing over stepped rock formations.

D

Sgwd yr Eira

One of Wales' most famous falls, featuring a 50-foot drop. A natural ledge behind the torrent allows walkers to pass under the falling water.

E

Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

A historic 35-mile waterway built between 1792 and 1812 to transport coal and iron. It is notable for its manual lift bridges and rural scenery.

SNappa2006 / CC BY 2.0

F

Llyn y Fan Fach

Llyn y Fan Fach is a lake of approximately 10 hectares on the northern margin of the Black Mountain in Carmarthenshire, South Wales and…

G

Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

This section of the 18th-century canal features several Grade II listed bridges and stone aqueducts used to navigate the undulating terrain of the Usk Valley.

H

Talybont Aqueduct

A historic stone structure that carries the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal over the Caerfanell river, dating back to the canal's early 19th-century construction.

I

Cefn Brynich Canal Bridge Aqueduct

A significant four-arched stone aqueduct built around 1800 to carry the canal over the River Usk. It is a key example of early industrial civil engineering.

Bibeyjj / CC BY-SA 4.0

J

Llyn y Fan Fawr

Llyn y Fan Fawr is a natural lake in the county of Powys, Wales. It lies at the foot of Fan Brycheiniog, the highest peak of the Black…

K

Usk Reservoir

Completed in 1955, this 280-acre body of water is a major reservoir in the western Brecon Beacons and is a designated Dark Sky Discovery Site.

L

Cray Reservoir Dam

A massive stone-faced gravity dam completed in 1906 to supply water to Swansea. It features distinctive Gothic-style architectural details.

M

Usk Reservoir Dam

An earth-fill dam at the northern end of the Usk Reservoir, constructed in the mid-20th century to create one of the largest lakes in the National Park.

N

Talybont Reservoir Dam

An embankment dam completed in 1939 that flooded the village of Aberclydach. It now serves as a significant water source and birdwatching location.

O

Beacons Reservoir

The northernmost reservoir in the Taff Fawr valley, completed in 1897. It sits at the foot of the Pen y Fan and Corn Du peaks.

P

Nant Hir Reservoir

A 19th-century upland reservoir located near Aberdare, originally constructed to provide water for local coal mining communities.

Q

Ystradfellte Reservoir Dam

A concrete gravity dam completed in 1913 that impounds the River Dringarth. It features a distinctive spillway and supplies water to the Neath Valley.

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