Marial Gwyn [Foel Goch]

Rising above the village of New Mills, this broad, grassy moorland summit represents a significant high point in the rolling hills of Mid Wales. Reaching 519 metres, Marial Gwyn offers a quiet, pathless ascent for those seeking a Hump that overlooks the vast, undulating landscapes of the Montgomeryshire countryside.

• •The name Marial Gwyn is an intriguing local designation potentially referring to 'White Marl', while its alternative name, Foel Goch, translates as 'Red Bare Hill', describing the exposed, heathery character of its higher slopes.
• •From the summit, the view extends across the Severn Valley to the distinctive Stiperstones and the Long Mynd in Shropshire, while the peaks of the Arans and Cadair Idris are often visible on the western horizon.
• •Despite its modest height, the hill is classified as a Hump, possessing enough prominence to make it the dominant feature in the immediate landscape between the Trannon Moors and the border.
• •Navigating the summit plateau is less an exercise in following tracks and more a masterclass in interpreting the subtle movements of local sheep, who generally have a better idea of the firmest ground than any map.