Tourist’s wonder at peak’s bunker
THIS bunker, believed to be from World War II, sits at the bottom of one of Wales’ most popular mountains – but you’ve probably never even noticed it.
The bunker at the foot of Pen y Fan was seen this week by Canadian Jeff Brazeau, who is on holiday visiting his wife’s family in Wales, and he asked the Reddit community for more information about the mysterious structure. He said he was told it is a pillbox-style section post and is part of a series of defence “stop” lines across the country.
Twenty-six of these still stand through the UK, he was told, and their purpose was to await a potential invasion by the German army around 1940 that never actually came.
Nazi Germany’s plot was known as Operation Sea Lion, which came when the Axis powers had the upper hand following the fall of France. But it was postponed by Adolf Hitler in September 1940 and never put into action.
Jeff, 35, said: “My wife has hiked Pen y Fan several times growing up. We are avid hikers and members of the Alpine Club of Canada so hiking is a passion of ours. On our way back down the mountain my wife nonchalantly mentioned that there was an old World War II bunker.
“As there was no plaque I was eager to investigate it. I was able to get a few pictures and a walk through it but I was impressed with how well it has been maintained.”
Jeff, who is from Toronto, Ontario, where he works as a computer system analyst, and whose wife’s family are from Pontypridd, took the images which appear to show a passage inside the bunker.
He also posted pictures taken from its vantage point looking out onto the Brecon Beacons mountain, Wales’ highest peak.
Other sights in Wales that have stood out for Jeff on his travels around Wales are the castles, which south he called “amazing”.
He said: “I’ve completed tours of Caernarfon, Conwy, Caerphilly and Cardiff castles, while also spending the night at Castell Ddeudraeth in Portmeirion.
“The Welsh beaches have been beautiful and so far I have visited New Quay, Skrinkle Haven to see the Church Doors archway, Pwll-YWrach to see the collapsed cave feature, Tenby, Ogmore and Pendine, where I learnt about the historical land speed records.
“As a Canadian exploring Wales, I can’t go a mile without finding something of interest here.”
Tonight, Jeff will run the in the famous Nos Galan Road Races in Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf.