About Tryfan
Rising above the village of Rhyd Ddu, this western outlier of the Snowdon massif offers a peaceful escape from the busier tourist paths. Its grassy slopes and rocky outcrops provide a grandstand view of the Nantlle Ridge’s jagged skyline and the steep, scree-covered western flanks of Snowdon itself.
Key Statistics
Rank
185th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Nearest Town
Nant Peris
Prominence
?
25m
Geology
You are walking on layers of sandstone and siltstone, reinforced by tough volcanic rock that once cooled deep within the earth.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Did You Know?
- •The name is a compound of the Welsh 'tri' (three) and 'ban' (crest, peak, or point). It is a common name in Wales for mountains with multiple high points, though this specific summit is frequently confused with its much taller namesake in the Ogwen Valley.
- •The hill is most frequently climbed as the final peak in a high-level ridge traverse that begins at Moel Eilio and crosses the rounded tops of Foel Gron and Foel Goch.
- •From the summit, you get an unparalleled look at the 'Great Ridge' of the Nantlle hills across the valley, specifically the sheer cliffs of Mynydd Drws-y-Coed and the sprawling Beddgelert Forest.
- •Looking down the western slopes, walkers can see the glint of Llyn Cwellyn and, on clear days, the Irish Sea beyond the Menai Strait.
- •It remains the most effective hill in Wales for confusing your friends; you can truthfully claim to have summited Tryfan while having actually enjoyed a gentle, grassy stroll rather than a terrifying scramble.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SH597578
Latitude
53.0996°N
Longitude
4.0960°W