About The Sennybridge Training Area

Sennybridge Training Area (SENTA) consists of approximately 31,000 acres (12,000 ha) of MOD freehold land and 6,000 acres (2,500 ha) of land leased from Forest Enterprise. It measures approximately 12 miles (19 km) SW to NE and 5 miles (8 km) SE to NW.

The majority of SENTA is situated on the Mynydd Epynt, a wild plateau covered largely by blanket bog and grass, but intersected by several stream valleys containing woodland and meadows. These streams provide the main drainage from the Epynt, flowing some 5 miles (8km) SE to the River Usk.

The uplands of the Epynt Plateau lie between the Brecon Beacons to the South and the Cambrian Mountains to the North. The area became famous as the breeding ground for Welsh Cobs - the very name Epynt originating from an ancient expression meaning "haunt of horse". Epynt was the ancestral home of a community of Welsh speaking hill farmers until 1940 when most of it was compulsorarily purchased by the War Department for use as an artillery training area.

The geological features consist of Old Red Sandstone in the south and centre of the area, with a band of Silurian shale in the north. Much of the upland area is above 1,250 feet (380 m) with the highest points at the Summit (Grid SN 927434) and the Lookout (Grid SN 961464) at 1,533 feet (475 m) and 1,563 feet (478 m) respectively. Most of the stream valleys lie between 784 - 899 feet (240-275m).

SENTA is the 3rd largest military training area in the UK and was requisitioned in 1939. In 1940 the Training Area became the site of a Royal Artillery Practice Camp. Since then a wide range of developments have taken place to create sophisticated live firing and dry training facilities for light forces including light (105mm) artillery.

All the above is underpinned by the training camp located at Sennybridge which provides the administrative base for units conducting training and the headquarters of the Defence Training Estates Wales& West. The camp can accommodate up to 1760 soldiers.

The Epynt Way

THE EPYNT WAY is a permissive path which follows the boundary of the Sennybridge Training Area and is available for use at all times by walkers, horse riders and cyclists.

The Epynt Way Association is a voluntary organisation set up under the auspices of the Defence Training Estate Wales & West of the Ministry of Defence and the Powys County Council.

The objective of The Epynt Way Association is to promote knowledge of and information about and also to assist with the maintenance of the Epynt Way.

Visit the Epynt Way website here: http://www.epyntway.org