Allt-fawr

About Allt-fawr

Rising as the highest point of the rugged Moelwynion, this stony summit towers above the industrial heritage of Blaenau Ffestiniog. It offers a landscape of high-altitude bogs and sharp rocky ridges. The ascent is defined by its striking contrast, looking down into deep slate quarries and across to the elegant peak of Cnicht.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is Welsh for 'Great Hillside' (Allt meaning hillside or wooded slope, and fawr being a mutation of mawr, meaning great). This likely refers to the long, steep slopes that drop away from the summit plateau towards the Croesor valley.
• •The hill's eastern flanks are heavily shaped by the Llechwedd and Oakeley slate quarries. Hikers approaching from the east will pass through an atmospheric landscape of Victorian industrial spoil and abandoned structures before reaching the wilder upper slopes.
• •The summit provides an exceptional perspective of the Moelwynion range. To the north-west, the 'Welsh Matterhorn', Cnicht, appears as a sharp spire, while the massive peaks of the Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) massif are clearly visible across the Glaslyn valley.
• •Walkers frequently pair this Hewitt with the neighbouring Moel Druman. This route overlooks the haunting ruins of Cwmorthin, a valley once home to a thriving mining community and now one of the most evocative spots in North Wales.
• •Despite being the highest peak in the range, it is often bypassed by those distracted by the more photogenic profile of Cnicht; Allt-fawr is the choice for those who prefer their views served with a quiet, rugged solitude.