Sawdde and surrounding area
The community comprises the settlements of Llanddeusant, Twynllanan and Talsarn within the modern county of Powys and in the former county of Brecknock.
The lie of the land
The Community ranges in height from about 75m in the Sawdde gorge at SN 722250 to 781m at Fan Foel (SN 821223). Other notable summits include:
- Picws Du 749m (SN 812218),
- Bannau Sir Gaer 677m (SN 798215)
- Carnau’r Garreg Las 635m (SN 777203).
It is drained by the NW-flowing Afon Sawdde and its tributaries the Sawdde Fechan and Nant Crynfe and the southward flowing Afon Twrch.
Solid rocks
The higher ground is formed from Old Red Sandstone rocks of Devonian age. Towards the north-west is the ‘Myddfai Steep belt’ in which the Silurian sandstones and mudstones dip steeply southeastwards.
Several major geological faults run NE-SW through the area.
The legacy of the Ice Ages
One of the finest glacial cirques in South Wales nestles under Bannau Sir Gaer. This rock hollow holds Llyn y Fan Fach. Immediately east are two further cwms – Pwll yr Henllyn and Pant y Bwlch beneath the steep cliffs of Picws Du. Their associated moraines are well seen from the ridge above.
Patches of glacial till cover parts of the lower ground.
Archaeology
There are a scatter of cairns across the uplands and the remains of a Roman camp at SN 8026
Maps
Geology
Sheets 212 ‘Llandovery’, 213 ‘Brecon’, 230 ‘Ammanford’ and 231 ‘Merthyr Tydfil’ of the British Geological Survey’s 1:50,000 geological map series together provide complete coverage of the bedrock and superficial geology of the Community. Sheets 212 and 213 are accompanied by a ‘sheet explanation’. Sheets 230 and 231 are available in two editions. A ‘memoir’ is published to accompany sheet 231.
General
The following Ordnance Survey maps cover the Community:
- Landranger sheet 160 ‘Brecon Beacons’ (1:50,000 scale)
- Explorer sheet OL12 ‘Brecon Beacons National Park/Western area’ (1:25,000 scale)
Public transport
The A4069 Llangadog-Brynaman road runs along the western edge of the community but no services currently operate along it. However both Llangadog and Llandovery are served by buses. The Heart of Wales Railway line runs to the north-west of the Community with stations at Llangadog and Llandovery.
See Traveline Cymru for bus and train services including stops, timetables and route-planning information.