Rhys Williams must have known every plateau, valley and gorge on Elenydd and experienced all the varied moods of that mountain range – from the cool and gentle winds of a warm summer day to the violent and uncompromising elements of winter months. He was one of those highly skilled people who did not rise to fame but who, nevertheless, played a prominent role within his own sphere – a sparsely populated sphere, distinguished by its land use, social and economic traits and, of course, its rich cultural history. Attending school was never an option for Rhys Williams and he was not an intellect, but, his knowledge and understanding of his own environment was ‘second to none’. Judging from anecdotes passed down over the years by word of mouth, Rhys Williams possessed all the attributes expected of an Elenydd shepherd – extensive knowledge of the mountains and its stock, endurance, resourcefulness and self-reliance, strength of character and a robust constitution.

Rhys Williams’ story typifies that of a tiny, but distinctive group of people who, in the 19th century, carved out a living on one of the most isolated an inhospitable part of Wales. His story reflects what things were like on Elenydd some 100 to 150 years ago and what is written above is an attempt to record, in a small way, what is known about the life of Rhys Williams before it is all forgotten.