Mynydd y Betws 2011
A range of hills at the end of the South Wales Valleys.
The South Wales Valleys extend southwards from the Brecon Beacons, fanning outwards to reach the Severn Estuary between Newport and the Gower Peninsula. Geographically speaking, they are terminated on the eastern side by the Usk valley, and on the western side by the Llwchwr valley. This gallery covers the final set of hills that gives rise to the valleys, tucked between the Tawe and Llwchwr valleys, collectively known as Mynydd y Betws.
The buttresses of Mynydd Dinas/Twyn Disgwylfa (258 metres) and Mynydd Emroch (240 metres) at Port Talbot.
Some of the industrial works at Port Talbot, which give the area its distinctive smell of sulphur, and constant clouds of pollution.
Mushrooms on the steep slopes of Mynydd Brombil.
View over the lower Afon Llan towards the Banc Maestir-mawr ridge, at the southern edge of the hills.
The upper Afon Llan. On the right is Tor Clawdd (312 metres and 317 metres). On the ridge behind Banc Maestir-mawr are Mynydd Garn-Fach (297 metres) and Pentwyn Mawr (339 metres).
In the other direction is Cwm Clydach, the valley containing the Lower Clydach River. On the left is Penlle'rcastell (374 metres), the highest point in the hills. After that are the tiny Banc John (274 metres), Bryn Mawr (351 metres) and Mynydd Carnllechart (310 metres). Mynydd Uchaf (357) can just be seen peering over the ridge between the last two, with Garreg Lwyd (616 metres) in the Black Mountain range behind Banc John.
Sheep at Brynllefrith.
Tor Clawdd's scarp.
Head of the Afon Lliw; Tor Clawdd and Mynydd Garn-Fach, with the Upper Lliw Reservoir between them.
Upper Lliw Reservoir.
Obscured view from the summit, over the Afon Clydach valley. Just showing on the left are Banc Cwmhelen (320 metres) and Bancbryn (324 metres), which will soon be covered in wind turbines. On the right is Bryn Mawr, and in between them is Mynydd Uchaf. The rainswept mountains on the left are the Black Mountain range in the Brecon Beacons.
View at Blaen-y-cwm on Mynydd y Betws. From left to right are Penlle'rcastell, Pentwyn Mawr, Pen y Cwar (286 metres) and Mynydd y Betws (341 metres). The wind turbines will cover the area behind the camera (currently covered in pylons), ending on the right of the picture.
The Betws viewpoint, looking over Ammanford in the Llwchwr and Amman valleys. The South Wales Valleys have clearly ended, and the countryside reverts to rolling farmland, extending to the West coast. On the right are Tair Carn Isaf (460 metres) and Tair Carn Uchaf (482 metres) in the Black Mountain, the end of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Typical view of the hills from the M4 at the Llwchwr Estuary. On the left is the Graig Fawr scarp of Pen y Cwar's 276 metre top, Twyn Tyle (269 metres) and Cefn Drum (226 metres).
The buttresses of Mynydd Dinas/Twyn Disgwylfa (258 metres) and Mynydd Emroch (240 metres) at Port Talbot.
Some of the industrial works at Port Talbot, which give the area its distinctive smell of sulphur, and constant clouds of pollution.
Mushrooms on the steep slopes of Mynydd Brombil.
View over the lower Afon Llan towards the Banc Maestir-mawr ridge, at the southern edge of the hills.
The upper Afon Llan. On the right is Tor Clawdd (312 metres and 317 metres). On the ridge behind Banc Maestir-mawr are Mynydd Garn-Fach (297 metres) and Pentwyn Mawr (339 metres).
In the other direction is Cwm Clydach, the valley containing the Lower Clydach River. On the left is Penlle'rcastell (374 metres), the highest point in the hills. After that are the tiny Banc John (274 metres), Bryn Mawr (351 metres) and Mynydd Carnllechart (310 metres). Mynydd Uchaf (357) can just be seen peering over the ridge between the last two, with Garreg Lwyd (616 metres) in the Black Mountain range behind Banc John.
Sheep at Brynllefrith.
Tor Clawdd's scarp.
Head of the Afon Lliw; Tor Clawdd and Mynydd Garn-Fach, with the Upper Lliw Reservoir between them.
Upper Lliw Reservoir.
Obscured view from the summit, over the Afon Clydach valley. Just showing on the left are Banc Cwmhelen (320 metres) and Bancbryn (324 metres), which will soon be covered in wind turbines. On the right is Bryn Mawr, and in between them is Mynydd Uchaf. The rainswept mountains on the left are the Black Mountain range in the Brecon Beacons.
View at Blaen-y-cwm on Mynydd y Betws. From left to right are Penlle'rcastell, Pentwyn Mawr, Pen y Cwar (286 metres) and Mynydd y Betws (341 metres). The wind turbines will cover the area behind the camera (currently covered in pylons), ending on the right of the picture.
The Betws viewpoint, looking over Ammanford in the Llwchwr and Amman valleys. The South Wales Valleys have clearly ended, and the countryside reverts to rolling farmland, extending to the West coast. On the right are Tair Carn Isaf (460 metres) and Tair Carn Uchaf (482 metres) in the Black Mountain, the end of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Typical view of the hills from the M4 at the Llwchwr Estuary. On the left is the Graig Fawr scarp of Pen y Cwar's 276 metre top, Twyn Tyle (269 metres) and Cefn Drum (226 metres).