This is the tragic story of 5 year old Tommy Jones who on the morning of August 4th 1900, traveled with his father, William Jones, from his home in Maerdy to visit his grandparents who lived in a farm in Cwm Llwch.
They were greeted in the Login (now a ruin), in Cwmgwdi by Tommy’s grandad and his 13yr old cousin, Willie John. Willie and Tommy were sent on ahead to let those at the farm know of their imminent arrival.
It was only a short journey but over rough terrain and by all accounts Tommy got scared and decided to return to his father. Willie went on to the farm, delivered the message and returned to the Login - all within 15 minutes but Tommy hadn’t arrived.
For weeks teams of volunteers, military and police searched tirelessly but to no avail until 29 days later, a woman called Mrs Hammer, who lived just north of Brecon, found his body after having a dream of its location.
Tommy Jones, in his little sailors suit, had somehow managed to climb 1,300 feet up the nearby peak of Pen y Fan and unfortunately passed away, most likely after succumbing to the elements. He was found with his favourite toy and tin whistle around his neck just yards from where his father had searched days earlier.
An obelisk now stands on the very spot Tommy was found.
Llyn Cwm Llwch
The best preserved glacial lake in South Wales, Llyn Cwm Llwch sits just below Pen-y-Fan at the head of the Cwm Llwch valley. As you would expect of the Brecon Beacons, the lake is also a place of magic! As the legend goes, there is an invisible island that sits in the lake and every year on May Day, a passageway opens.
For those who are brave enough, you can walk down the passageway, through the doorway and then you will find yourself in the most beautiful garden inhabited by fairies.
The fairies would play captivating music, tell visitors their future, and present them with beautiful flowers and delicious fruit. The only condition was that nothing could be taken from the island.
However, as you can imagine and as every legend goes, one visitor decided to be greedy and hid one of the flowers in his pocket. He returned to the mainland, the flower vanished and he lost all of his senses.
The doorway has been closed ever since. Typical!
