Wales
Diffwys
750M
2462FT
About Diffwys
Marking the southern anchor of the Rhinogydd, this broad ridge offers a softer introduction to the range than the rugged 'badlands' further north. From its trig point, the terrain drops sharply eastward, revealing a commanding view across the Mawddach Estuary toward the grand, dark wall of Cadair Idris.
Key Statistics
Rank
56th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
147.6m
Nearest Town
Dyffryn Ardudwy
Geology
You are walking over layers of hardened sand and mud. These Barmouth and Gamlan formations create the sturdy, rocky foundation of the fell.
Find It
Latitude
52.7915°N
Longitude
3.9872°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Diffwys is Welsh for 'precipice' or 'steep slope', describing the mountain’s dramatic eastern face which plunges into the valley of the Afon Cwmnantcol.
- •The ridge leading from the summit features an impressive dry stone wall; these high-altitude boundary walls are a characteristic feature of the Rhinogydd, built with immense effort by 19th-century hill farmers to manage grazing stock.
- •Traces of the area's industrial past are visible on the lower western approaches, where several manganese mines operated during the late 1800s to supply the steel industry.
- •On a clear day, the summit offers an expansive coastal panorama, stretching across Cardigan Bay to the Llŷn Peninsula and the jagged silhouettes of the northern Snowdonia peaks.
- •It is technically classified as a 'Sub-Marilyn', missing the 150-metre prominence required for full Marilyn status by a frustratingly narrow margin of just two metres.