Nant Llech
The Nant Llech is a minor river in Brecknockshire, running off the southern slopes of the hills of Fforest Fawr and all within the Brecon Beacons National Park. The name ‘Nant Llech’ means 'slab stream', presumably in reference to the sandstones across which it runs.
The headwater streams of this river, the Nant Llech Pellaf and the Nant Llech Isaf, join theor waters at Blaen Llech ('source of the Llech') and then continue westwards as the Nant Llech for two miles until the river joins the waters of the River Tawe, just east of the village of Abercraf.
Waterfall and gorge
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The most famous feature of the river is the Henrhyd Falls, a waterfall 90 feet high where the river plunges over the edge of a band of hard sandstone known as the 'Farewell Rock' into a deep plunge pool.
The river continues below in a steep wooded gorge cut into mudstones and sandstones of the Carboniferous age Coal Measures.[1]
The falls are owned and managed by the National Trust which provides a free car park off the minor road between Coelbren and Pen-y-cae for visitors wanting to explore the area.
A public footpath runs the length of the valley though part runs across a landslip area which has been active in recent years. The river gorge is a site of special scientific interest.[2] Sir William Edmond Logan, first director of the Geological Survey of Canada discovered some fossil trees near the base of the falls. These are now on display outside Swansea Museum.
Location
- Location map: 51°48’5"N, 3°41’32"W