Wales
Y Garn
946M
3104FT
About Y Garn
Standing as one of the Welsh 3000s, this massive wedge-shaped peak offers a more graceful profile than its rocky neighbors. Its broad summit provides a stunning vantage point over the glacial Cwm Idwal, with clear views across to the jagged ridges of Tryfan and the sprawling Carneddau range to the north.
Key Statistics
Rank
11th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
234m
Nearest Town
Nant Peris
Geology
Y Garn is formed from layers of ancient volcanic ash and hardened lava, interspersed with beds of sandstone and fine-grained silt.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
53.1150°N
Longitude
4.0484°W
Did You Know?
- •The name translates from Welsh as 'The Cairn' or 'The Mound'. In the context of the Glyderau, it likely refers to the prominent, heap-like profile the mountain presents when viewed from the Nant Ffrancon valley.
- •It is a staple of the 'Welsh 3000s' challenge, usually tackled between Elidir Fawr and Glyder Fawr. For those not racing the clock, the ascent via the Northeast ridge offers a spectacular, airy perspective of the Llyn Idwal hanging valley.
- •The summit is widely considered one of the best viewpoints in Eryri. From the cairn, the view directly south reveals the full, craggy complexity of the Snowdon Massif, framed perfectly by the gap between the Glyders and the Pass of Llanberis.
- •Like much of the Glyderau, the mountain is composed of volcanic tuffs and rhyolites. While less 'shattered' than Glyder Fach, its eastern face drops precipitously into the Devil’s Kitchen (Twll Du), a dark, moisture-heavy cleft famous for its rare arctic-alpine plants.
- •While technically a 3,000-footer, Y Garn is often treated as the 'gentle' Glyder; a relative term, of course, that usually lasts until you find yourself breathless on the relentless, scree-heavy zig-zags above Ogwen.