Craigysgafn

About Craigysgafn

Sitting on the rugged ridge between Moelwyn Mawr and Moelwyn Bach, this Nuttall offers a spirited interlude of light scrambling. Its rocky spine provides a fine vantage point over the Llyn Stwlan reservoir and the industrial heritage of the Blaenau Ffestiniog slate quarries, adding a sharp, craggy character to the Moelwyns traverse.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Welsh 'Craig y Sgafn', which translates as 'Rock of the Hollow' or 'Rock of the Trough', likely referring to the distinctive shape of the rocky depressions and ledges along its spine.
• •It forms the high point of the narrow arête connecting the two principal peaks of the range; while sometimes bypassed by a lower path, crossing its rocky crest is the highlight of the Moelwyns circuit.
• •From the summit, the view south-west drops steeply down to the circular Llyn Stwlan, held behind its massive dam, while the sharp silhouettes of Cnicht and the Snowdon massif dominate the northern horizon.
• •Despite its prominence on the skyline, it was only categorised as a Nuttall in later revisions of the list, owing to the specific 15-metre re-ascent required to claim the summit from the neighbouring cols.
• •It is the kind of peak that many walkers bag by accident, only realising they have conquered a distinct mountain when they find themselves using their hands to negotiate its jagged ridge on the way to Moelwyn Mawr.