History and Culture

Geology is not often noticed, but it has shaped human history and culture for millennia. In the Welsh hills, even the basics like the size of settlements and how we use the land is dictated by the topography. The rugged landscape isn't suitable for large cities, so a number of small settlements emerged instead. The hills generate lots of rainfall, which is trapped by the glacial clay layer to leave waterlogged winter soils, or runs away in streams that cut deep gullies through the hills. In ancient times, the high ground was the best place to live, so the crags of hard igneous rocks are covered with iron-age settlements, burial mounds and fortifications. Standing stones mark ancient sites and routes from even further back in time.

The rocks beneath these craggy hills generate poor, acid (and often wet!) soils, which means that farming is limited mostly to rough grazing in many areas. As a result, most of the hills are kept clear of forests, and the local culture has largely developed around this way of life, with numerous small farms. Old drovers' roads cross the region, some deeply sunk into the hills by centuries of wear, but travel was difficult and the local people were strongly focused on their own local communities. Traditions are deeply embedded in these areas, from arts and music to practical skills. Many families can trace their local ancestry back centuries.

However, many other local people have moved here more recently. Some settlements, like Llandrindod Wells itself, only exist because of tourism, and the Victorian love of spas. The mineral springs were known to the Romans, but became accessible with the railways in the 1860s. At that point, money flew into the area, leading to the spectacular Victorian architecture of the town, which once boasted the largest hotel in Europe in order to cater for the hordes of visitors. Some stayed as a the town grew, and many others have made a home here since. And why do the springs exist, in Llandrindod, and also in nearby Llandegley and Builth? They come directly from the frozen magma chambers that once fed the Builth Inlier volcano. Over four hundred million years later, the volcano is still shaping the life of the area.

Today, tourism is still a major part of the local economy, but in a different way. People come to the Heart of Wales for many reasons, but these include the unspoilt scenery, the peace and quiet, and the wildlife. There is a long tradition of artists and writers settling here, as they find inspiration in the landscape and culture. Others come for the events, such as Builth Wells' Royal Welsh Show. Some even come for the geology!

However you discover this beautiful area, the Heart of Wales Geopark aims to make it easier for people to discover the interlinked stories that have led to the world around us now.