Wales
Bera Mawr
794M
2604FT
About Bera Mawr
Emerging from the high, grassy plateaus of the northern Carneddau, this summit stands out for its distinctive rhyolite tors. The top is a chaotic pile of jagged boulders requiring a short, satisfying scramble. It offers a rugged, wild character that contrasts sharply with the broader, rounded whalebacks of the neighbouring main range.
Key Statistics
Rank
44th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
29.7m
Nearest Town
Bethesda
Geology
This summit is shaped by ancient volcanic activity. You are walking across hardened lava flows and layers of fine-grained rock formed during prehistoric eruptions.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SH674682
Latitude
53.1943°N
Longitude
3.9863°W
Did You Know?
- •The name translates from Welsh as 'Great Stack' or 'Large Hayrick', a literal description of the distinctive pile of weathered rocks that forms the summit.
- •While much of the Carneddau is defined by smooth, grassy slopes, Bera Mawr is capped with volcanic rhyolite, resulting in the sharp, tor-like outcrops usually associated with Dartmoor.
- •The summit offers a commanding view of the northern edges of the range, specifically overlooking the deep trough of the Anafon Valley and the coastal waters of the Menai Strait.
- •Navigating between here and the neighbouring Bera Bach in thick mist is a classic test of mountain craft, as the broad, featureless plateau between the two rocky tops can easily disorientate the unwary.
- •Despite being named 'Mawr' (Great) and its neighbour 'Bach' (Small), many walkers argue the rocky towers of Bera Bach are actually more impressive, leading to a quiet, long-standing debate over which stack is truly the finer peak.