Wales
Foel Lwyd
600M
1969FT
About Foel Lwyd
Standing at the northern edge of the Carneddau, this rounded summit acts as a gateway between the high mountains and the lower coastal hills. Its grassy slopes offer a straightforward ascent from Bwlch y Gaer, rewarding walkers with wide views across the Conwy Valley and the distant limestone headland of the Great Orme.
Key Statistics
Rank
176th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
53.4m
Nearest Town
Penmaenmawr
Geology
You are walking over ancient volcanic ash, hardened lava, and layers of sandstone. These rocks record a history of fiery eruptions and shifting sands.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SH720723
Latitude
53.2323°N
Longitude
3.9191°W
Did You Know?
- •Derived from the Welsh moel (bare hill) and llwyd (grey), the name describes the patches of shattered shale and scree that pierce the thin grass near the summit.
- •The hill overlooks the historic pass of Bwlch y Gaer, which contains the route of a Roman road once used to link the coastal forts of North Wales.
- •It is a staple of the northern Carneddau skyline, often bagged by walkers traversing the high ground between the larger peak of Drum and the rocky outlier of Tal y Fan.
- •From the summit, the view stretches north over the Conwy estuary toward the limestone cliffs of the Great Orme and, on exceptionally clear days, the Isle of Man.
- •At 600.2 metres, the hill qualifies as a mountain by a mere twenty centimetres—a margin so slim that a particularly thick growth of heather might almost tip the scales.