Moel Ysgyfarnogod

Serving as the rugged northern gateway to the Rhinogydd, Moel Ysgyfarnogod is a beautifully desolate peak far from the tourist hordes. It overlooks the glassy Trawsfynydd reservoir and houses the 'Crown of Thorns' cairn, offering a perfect blend of Bronze Age mystery and potential ankle-twisting terrain.

• •It marks the northern terminus of the Rhinogydd, a range famous for being some of the most challenging and rocky terrain in Wales. From the summit, you can easily spot the towns of Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog on a clear day.
• •The nearby Bryn Cader Faner is a spectacular Bronze Age cairn, often described as the 'Crown of Thorns' due to its jagged slate pillars. It miraculously survived 19th-century treasure hunters and nearby military target practice during World War II.
• •Its name translates to 'Bare Hill of the Hares,' though you are far more likely to see a confused sheep than a mountain-dwelling rabbit. The lack of cover ensures the wind has a completely unobstructed path to your face.
• •The peak is composed of Cambrian gritstone, which offers fantastic grip for scrambling when the sun is out. However, once the Welsh rain arrives, it becomes roughly as slippery as a buttered ice rink.
• •Navigation here is less of a science and more of a creative interpretation of sheep tracks and bog-hopping. You will inevitably end up standing in a marsh, staring at your map, and wondering where the 'bare' hill actually went.