Sarn Helen

Sarn Helen refers to several stretches of Roman road in Wales. The 160 mi (260 km) route, which follows a meandering course through central Wales, connects Aberconwy in the north with Carmarthen in the west.[1] Despite its length, academic debate continues as to the precise course of the Roman road. Many sections are now used by the modern road network while other parts are still traceable. However, there are sizeable stretches that have been lost and are unidentifiable.

A section of Sarn Helen near Betws-y-Coed.

The route is named after Saint Elen of Caernarfon, a Celtic saint, whose story is told in The Dream of Macsen Wledig, part of the Mabinogion. She is said to have ordered the construction of roads in Wales during the late 4th century.

Route

Aberconwy–Carmarthen

In the north the route is believed to follow the western bank of the river Conwy from Canovium, a fort at Caerhun, passing through Trefriw, then leading on to Betws-y-Coed, with a branch leading to Caer Llugwy near Capel Curig. The route then passed through Dolwyddelan, running up the Cwm Penamnen valley and past the higher parts of Cwm Penmachno. The route then leads on past Llan Ffestiniog to the Roman fort of Tomen y Mur, near Trawsfynydd before continuing south towards Dolgellau.

South of Dolgellau the route passes over Waen Llefenni into Cwm yr Hengae to Aberllefenni. Part of the narrow-gauge Corris Railway between Aberllefenni and Maespoeth Junction may run along the line of the Sarn. [2] At Esgairgeiliog, the minor road running along the east bank of the Afon Dulas is thought to be probably Roman [3] although the quoted source does not link it to the Sarn and it is more likely that the Sarn remained on the west bank of the Dulas between Corris and Ffridd Gate [4].

The Sarn probably crossed the Dyfi by a ford or ferry near the Cefn Caer Roman fort at Pennal.

In Ceredigion Sarn Helen runs as part of a B-road in Bronant, and six miles south there is a long stretch through the hamlet of Stag's Head. It passes down to Llanio, where there was a small Roman fort named Bremia, and crosses over to Dolaucothi before reaching Llandovery. The route survives as a minor road here, although severely affected by potholes where it crosses the mountains.

Neath–Brecon

A further section of Roman road leading north-eastwards from Neath (Nidum) to Banwen at the southern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park is also known as Sarn Helen. It continues north-eastwards through the park to the north-west of Ystradfellte, beneath Fan Frynych, and then across Mynydd Illtud en route to the Roman fort of y Gaer (Cicucium).

Outdoor pursuits

Cycle route

A long-distance mountain bike route named the Sarn Helen Trail follows parts of the road's course.[5] The 270 mi (430 km) trail, which was devised in 1996, runs between Conwy on the North Wales coast and Worms Head on the Gower Peninsula.[6]

Fell running

The road gives its name to the annual Sarn Helen Hill Race that starts and finishes in Lampeter in mid Wales. The 16.5-mile (26.6 km) multi-terrain race, which was founded in 1980, takes place in May each year. It claims to combine "the speed of road racing with the rigours of cross country and fell running over a challenging picturesque course".[7]

"Sarn Helen" is the title of a song by Welsh band Super Furry Animals, named after the Roman road, appearing on their Welsh language album Mwng.

"Sarn Helen" is also the title of a 1997 sequence of poems by English poet John Wilkinson, named after the Roman road.

Notes

Citations
  1. 51.856°N 4.311°W / 51.856; -4.311
  2. Corris Railway Society Journal 2002
  3. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (1925). An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire: I - County of Montgomery. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. p. 142. GGKEY:HRABCGX5SDD.
  4. Corris Railway Society Journal 2002
  5. Sarn Helen Trail (MBRUK website)
  6. Woodcock, Tim (1999). The Coast-to-coast Mountain Bike Route Pack. Mountain Bike Routes UK. ISBN 1902891007.
  7. "Sarn Helen Hill Race". Clwb Sarn Helen Club. Retrieved 2 June 2014.

Bibliography
  • Wilkinson, John (1997). Sarn Helen. Cambridge: Equipage.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.