Wales
Mynydd Graig Goch
610M
2000FT
About Mynydd Graig Goch
The western anchor of the glorious Nantlle Ridge, this peak spent decades in topographical purgatory. Finally promoted to official mountain status in 2008 by a measly few inches, it now looks down on its former hill-neighbors with a well-deserved, if slightly rocky, sense of superiority.
Key Statistics
Rank
164th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
74m
Nearest Town
Pant Glas
Geology
You are walking on the Pitts Head Tuff Formation, which consists of ancient volcanic ash that has solidified into rock.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SH497485
Latitude
53.0126°N
Longitude
4.2418°W
Did You Know?
- •A 2008 GPS survey revealed the summit reached 609.75 meters, pushing it over the magical 2,000ft threshold. It instantly jumped from a lowly hill to an official Hewitt, much to the delight of peak-baggers.
- •It serves as the westernmost summit of the Nantlle Ridge, providing a dramatic topographical transition between the jagged peaks of Snowdonia and the gentler coastal slopes of the Llŷn Peninsula.
- •The mountain's eastern slopes are littered with ancient stone walls and enclosures. These serve as a reminder that people have been trying to farm this rocky terrain long before the invention of breathable waterproofs.
- •Despite its grand status, the summit is essentially a sprawling field of chaotic boulders. Finding the absolute highest point often involves a series of undignified leaps that look more like an interpretive dance than hiking.
- •The descent toward Garndolbenmaen is famous for its tactical bogs. No matter how dry the summer has been, this mountain will find a way to ensure your left boot returns home significantly heavier and wetter than your right.