The closest site for wild swimming to Gilfach Wen Barn is a pool on the river Cothi which has the advantage of being easy to combine with a visit to the village pub. For the more adventurous, the walk to Llyn y Fan Fach, (Lake of the small Beacon hill) is often described as one of the most magical and breathtaking sights in all of Wales and enables you to swim at the site of one of the great folktales of Wales.
A short walk from the village of Abergorlech there is a pool in the Cothi which is popular with wild swimmers. It also benefits from being a short walk from a village pub with a great reputation for coffee and home made cake as well as larger meals and a beer garden once you have worked up an appetite from your dip.
For the more hardy swimmers, Llyn y Fan Fach on the western side of the Brecon Beacons is just a short drive, followed by an inspiring walk away. To reach the lake, you need to prepare yourself for a bit of a hike uphill alongside a river, where the water continuously ducks and dips, forming sweet mini cascading waterfalls along the way. The rolling hills and nonchalant sheep are your landmarks, until you climb over the final ridge and become face to face with the lake. It’s a truly awe-inspiring sight, with unspoilt panoramic views of the surrounding Brecon Beacons. It’s yours to do what you want – have lunch, take a dip or just soak up the peace and quiet. Be aware that the water in this lake will be cold all year round. As with most enchanting lakes, there is a folk tale of magical residents, if you like, I will tell you the story of the Lady of the Lake.
For more information on a range of wildswimming sites in south west wales go to our website.
Lady of the Lake…
A folklore legend connected with Llyn y Fan Fach is the myth of ‘The lady of the lake’.
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