Afon Hepste

The Afon Hepste is a river in Powys, Wales, though partly forming the county's border with Rhondda Cynon Taf. It runs wholly within the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Afon Hepste
Sgwd yr Eira, Afon Hepste
Location
CountryWales
StatePowys
Physical characteristics
SourceFan Fawr
 • coordinates51°51′35″N 3°30′10″W
MouthAfon Mellte
 • coordinates
51°46′38″N 3°33′38″W

Its headwaters, the Afon y Waun, Nant y Cwrier and Nant Hepste Fechan, rise on the Old Red Sandstone dip-slopes of Fforest Fawr and combine to form the Afon Hepste near the farmstead of Hepste Fechan. It enters onto the Carboniferous Limestone outcrop near this point and sections of its course downstream remain dry in all but flood conditions as the flow disappears underground. The river flows over the Millstone Grit outcrop from some way beyond Hepste Bridge.[1][2]

The Hepste plunges over a band of resistant gritstone to form Sgwd yr Eira (translated from Welsh as 'fall of snow'). A public footpath runs behind this fall, making it one of the most popular destinations in an area that has become known as Waterfall Country. One mile downstream of the fall, the river joins the Afon Mellte near to the village of Ystradfellte.

References
  1. Ordnance Survey Explorer map sheet 12 'Brecon Beacons National Park: western area'
  2. British Geological Survey 1:50,000 map no 231 'Merthyr Tydfil' & accompanying memoir


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