Radnor Forest

The massif is formed from argillaceous rocks of Ludlow age, i.e. late Silurian around 425 million years ago.[3] The strata are exposed around Harley Dingle and Whinyard Rocks. In 2020 the area was in course of being geologically mapped for the publication of the 'Knighton' 1:50,000 scale geological map by the British Geological Survey, no such work having been undertaken in this area since the middle of the nineteenth century.[4][5]

Radnor Forest from the south

Postal delivery in Radnor Forest

Part of the area is a designated and protected SSSI, with rare saxifrage and other plants. It covers the highest peaks and a rocky gorge near the centre.

The vegetation of the summit ridges is fairly uniform, and is dominated by a mixture of dwarf shrubs, heather, crowberry, and bilberry. Mixed with these dwarf shrubs are hare's-tail cottongrass, purple moor-grass, sedges such as Carex binervis and a number of mosses and lichens. The dwarf shrubs are very well grown and suggest the area has suffered little from fires in the recent past and that grazing pressures are light. Purple moor-grass is but thinly scattered and does not form the extensive stands so familiar only a few miles west. Peat pools support common cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium.

The steep-sided dingles and rock outcrops of the Forest's edge support rich plant communities, since these eastern Silurian shales are slightly calcareous. Mossy saxifrage and rock stonecrop are common on some cliff faces, with marjoram and a number of interesting mosses and liverworts.

A variety of typical upland breeding birds are present, including raptors such as the red kite and common buzzard, as well as red grouse, whinchat, stonechat, wheatear and the dipper at or near the many streams in the forest. Radnorshire Wildlife Trust maintain the 33 hectare Mynydd Ffoesidoes Nature Reserve on the summit plateau.[6]

The topmost parts of the forest exhibit several Bronze Age round barrows, and there are also several ring cairns in the area. Most occur on or near the peaks, such as Black Mixen and Bache Hill. Prehistoric settlement is shown by hut circles often present as distinctive platforms. The forest was exploited as a military training area in the last war, and has remnants of such activity such as bomb craters and slit trenches. Part of the site is still used for testing ammunition and ordnance; there are warning flags and signs at the boundaries of the Harley valley range. It includes a distinctive landscape feature known as "The Three Wriggles", a set of three gulleys running down the mountain slope on the western side of the Harley valley. There is also some evidence for mining activity.

The town of New Radnor was a planned Norman settlement, and there is a large mound just to the north of the town marking the site of a motte and bailey castle.

According to a legend, the local people built four churches in a circle around the Radnor Forest in order to contain the last dragon in Wales, who lay sleeping in the area. The churches, at Llanfihangel Cefnllys, Llanfihangel Rhydithon (Dolau), Llanfihangel Nant Melan and Llanfihangel Cascob, were all dedicated to St Michael (Welsh: Mihangel) victor over the dragon. Some people believed that the dragon would awaken if any of the four churches were destroyed.[7]

There are several small market towns at the feet of the hills, including the county town of Powys, Llandrindod Wells, Kington, Herefordshire, Knighton, Powys and Presteigne. The latter town is in Powys and was formerly the county town of Radnorshire. The village of New Radnor sits at the southern base of the hills, and there are several other villages nearby, such as Old Radnor, Gladestry and Cascob.

• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Great Rhos and surrounding area
• Archaeological survey
• SSSI Radnor Forest
• Map of SSSI Radnor Forest
• Management Plan of SSSI