Ystradfellte (Welsh pronunciation: [ˌəstradˈvɛɬtɛ] ) is a village and community in Powys, Wales, about 6 miles (10 km) north of Hirwaun, with 556 inhabitants. It belongs to the historic county of Brecknockshire (Breconshire) and the Fforest Fawr area of the Brecon Beacons National Park, beside the Afon Mellte river. The village is linked by minor roads with Heol Senni to the north and the A4059 north of Penderyn, and with Pontneddfechan, which lies in the community, at the head of the Vale of Neath to the south.
| Ystradfellte | |
|---|---|
 Ystradfellte in 2005 | |
  Ystradfellte Location within Powys | |
| Population | 556 (2011)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SN929134 |
| Principal area | |
| Preserved county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ABERDARE |
| Postcode district | CF44 |
| Post town | NEATH |
| Postcode district | SA11 |
| Police | Dyfed-Powys |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| UK Parliament | |
| Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament | |
History
editYstradfellte is chiefly known in history as the place where the Welsh nobleman and rebel leader Llywelyn Bren surrendered at the end of his revolt of 1316. Llywelyn gave himself up on the condition that his men be spared, but was himself put to death in 1318 at Cardiff.[2]
The village was connected to mains electricity in 1960, as one of the last communities in the whole of England and Wales to be wired.[3] Outlying properties in the Nedd Fechan valley had to wait until December 2005 for their connection.[4]
Features
editThe village is a popular tourist centre for its hillwalking, waterfalls and caves along the nearby rivers. Ystradfellte has a public house, the New Inn, which provides camping facilities for visitors,[5] and Croydon Caving Club. It comes under Aberdare for postal purposes making it the only part of Powys that Ocado deliver to.
The surrounding area is renowned for its caves and karst scenery, making caving a popular activity. Some of the more famous caves near the village include:
- Porth yr Ogof, with the biggest cave entrance in Wales, into which the River Mellte flows.
- Little Neath River Cave.[6][7]
The area is seen as part of Waterfall Country. A popular attraction near the village is the Waterfalls Walk, an easier walk along the Afon Mellte past two main falls on the river, Sgwd Clun-gwyn and Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn, to Sgwd yr Eira on the Afon Hepste, where the footpath passes behind the waterfall.[8]
-
Sgwd Clun-gwyn, Afon Mellte -
Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn, Afon Mellte -
Sgwd y Pannwr, Afon Mellte -
Sgwd yr Eira, Afon Hepste
Notable people
edit- Evan Bevan (1803–1866), the Welsh-language poet, moved to Ystradfellte as a young adult.[9]
- Barbara Brooke, Baroness Brooke of Ystradfellte (1908–2000), a Conservative Party politician.
References
edit- ^ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Ystradfellte Parish (W04000355)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ Biography: Craig Owen Jones, Compact History of Welsh Heroes: Llywelyn Bren, Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, Llanrwst, 2007. ISBN 978-1845270988. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "Electricity comes to Ystradfellte". Youtube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- ^ Morris, Steven (2 December 2005). "Big switch-on as the valley time forgot leaves the dark ages". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "The New Inn Campsite". campsites.co.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ Trilobyte, Brendan Marris. "Little Neath River Cave – Photos and Description". Caves of South Wales.
- ^ Norton, M.G.; Savage, D.; Standing, P.A. (1967). "The Little Neath River Cave, South Wales" (PDF). Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spelæological Society. 11 (2): 186–200. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Ystradfellte Falls". wilderness-wales.co.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "BEVAN, EVAN (1803–1866), poet". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2016.