A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US
The bunkhouse is owned and run by Emma and Peter Harrison.
Emma and Peter are both holders of the Mountain Leader award, and also offer guided walks in the Black Mountains as well as the Central and Western Beacons.
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01874 730 080
07341 906 937
The Star Bunkhouse
Brecon Road (A40)
Bwlch
Powys
LD3 7RQ
Email: info@starbunkhouse.com
Llangorse & Bwlch
Llangorse
Llangorse has the largest natural lake in south Wales. It boasts an ancient Crannog and is a perfect location to mess about in boats, take a gentle stroll or watch the bird life.
Llangorse Lake is a glacial lake formed thousands of years ago when moving ice pushed and scraped its way along, shaping the landscape that we see today. On its journey it collected piles of debris (mud, rocks, wood and stones) which were deposited to the front and side of the glacial movement.
When the ice finally melted this debris was left to form mounds known as moraines. Llangorse Lake owes its existence to the moraine deposits left in the area between Llanfihangel Talyllyn and Talgarth. At one time it was some 150 feet (45 meters) higher with two overflows into the Usk River at Bwlch and Pennorth.
The entire lake’s surface and the adjoining common is Registered Common Land giving local people ancient rights to graze their livestock upon it.
Bwlch
Bwlch has castles, ancient iron age forts and standing stones, not to mention 360 degree views across the lake.
Bwlch is home to three circular walks, one being Bwlch with Altitude which is featured on the map. Bwlch with Fortitude which leads to Tretower Court & Castle and Bwlch with Magnitude, taking you on a magnificent ascent of Tor -
History
Llangorse Lake Crannog
Crannogs are artificial islands built of timber and stones on which some form of settlement usually stood. Crannogs are more common to Ireland and Scotland, where they occur from prehistory through to the medieval period. Llangorse Lake Crannog is the only known example of a Crannog in Wales, and the only known example in the world outside Scotland or Ireland!
The Crannog dates back at least as far as the late 9th or early 10th Century. It was excavated in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with some spectacular finds, including a fragment of fine linen decorated with pictures of animals and plants (to have textiles dating back to the 10th Century is very rare and exciting!). Its careful construction and spectacular finds suggest that this was a high status site, and one interpretation of this evidence is that the Crannog may have been home to the early medieval Kings of Brycheiniog.
Paragon Tower
A Victorian built folly or hunting lodge, Paragon tower is a romantic ruin which sits amidst woodland. This round structure has four rooms, each of which has a fireplace linking into the central chimney. It is said that the Ladies of local estates would wait in the tower whilst the Lords were out hunting, and the tower’s location provided a fantastic view of the land and the hunting below.
Allt yr Esgair Iron Age Fort
This Iron Age fort lies atop a hill above Llangorse Lake. The fort was constructed sometime between 800BC and the arrival of the Romans in the area in the AD70s and occupied throughout the Iron Age period and perhaps even beyond. It is likely that this large hillfort was an important regional centre for the Iron Age people who lived here. The large earthen ramparts are still visible today even after all these years, and the views from this vantage point are breathtaking.
Blaenllynfi Castle
Although not much survives of Blaenllynfi castle today, this 13th Century castle was once a defensive stronghold with up to 5 towers. Sections of its defensive walls that still remain are 2m thick! In its heyday in the 1200s the castle would have been a busy and influential centre for the local area, and was forcibly taken and changed hands many times during its history.
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