Llyn y Fan Fach
| Llyn y Fan Fach | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Brecon Beacons National Park, Carmarthenshire: View from near Picws Du |
| Coordinates | 51°52′55″N 3°44′31″W / 51.88194°N 3.74194°W |
| Type | reservoir, natural lake |
| Primary outflows | River Sawdde |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Max. depth | 29 m |
| Surface elevation | 506 m |
Llyn y Fan Fach (Welsh meaning "Lake of the small beacon-hill") is a dammed lake of approximately 10 hectares on the northern margin of the Black Mountain in Carmarthenshire, South Wales and lying within the Brecon Beacons National Park. The lake lies at an altitude of just over 500 metres, immediately to the north of the ridge of the Carmarthen Fans and at the top of a track from the village of Llanddeusant. It is the smaller of two lakes within this mountain massif: the slightly larger Llyn y Fan Fawr is about 2.5 km to the east.
Legend of Llyn y Fan Fach
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A folklore legend is connected with the lake, known as the Lady in the Lake. In the folk tale,[1] a local young man, son of a widow from Blaen Sawdde (near Llanddeusant) agreed to marry a beautiful girl who arose from the lake, with the condition that he would not hit her three times. He complied easily because the girl was so beautiful, and they were happy for years putting up a house in Esgair Llaethdy near Myddfai, and bringing up a family there. The girl had very special cattle, traditionally still kept at Dinefwr, Llandeilo,[2] and other animals. But over time the man did hit his wife three times, as gentle admonishments. Reasons for why he hit her vary, from the wife laughing at a funeral or crying at a wedding. Regardless, she had to go back to the lake according to the promise, taking the cattle with her. But the mother came back to them to help and instruct her sons, and in particular one called Rhiwallon (in some versions Rhiwallon is the name of the young man who marries the fairy girl). In due course Rhiwallon and the other sons went to the court of Rhys Gryg of Deheubarth, where they became famous doctors who are known today as the Physicians of Myddfai.[citation needed] A number of their medical formulae remain in the Welsh manuscripts.
Further reading
There are a few versions of this legend in Welsh and English.
- T. Gwynn Jones, Welsh Folklore and Folk-custom (1930; new edition 1979). Tt. 61-4. Background and a lot of interesting details.