Creigiau Gleision North Top

About Creigiau Gleision North Top

Rising above the shimmering waters of Llyn Cowlyd, this northern outlier of the Carneddau offers a rugged alternative to the high plateaus. Its name translates from Welsh as 'blue crags', reflecting the rocky outcrops punctuating its grassy slopes. As a Hewitt and Nuttall, it provides a quiet, airy vantage point overlooking the Conwy Valley.

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Did You Know?

• •The name 'Creigiau Gleision' translates from Welsh as 'Blue Crags'. In the context of the Welsh landscape, the word 'glas' (blue) often describes the specific hazy, grey-blue hue of weathered rock or the shimmering quality of light on a high ridge.
• •This summit is famously situated between two major bodies of water: the reservoir of Llyn Cowlyd to the west and the forested Llyn Crafnant to the east, providing a dramatic sense of being suspended between two distinct valleys.
• •The view looking south-west from the cairn is a masterclass in Eryri geography, offering a perfectly framed profile of Tryfan’s 'fin' and the bristling silhouette of Glyder Fach.
• •Navigating to the North Top in poor visibility requires care; while the ridge is broad, the ground drops away steeply towards the shores of Llyn Cowlyd, which is the deepest lake in North Wales.
• •Its classification as a Hewitt is a testament to the North Top's topographical independence, though many walkers likely reach it and assume they are still on the main mountain, simply enjoying a slightly different angle of the same view.