Wales
Foel Wen
691M
2266FT
About Foel Wen
Rising from the high, peaty plateaus of the Berwyn range, this quiet summit offers a more secluded alternative to its neighbour, Cadair Berwyn. The terrain is typical of the area—broad, grassy ridges and occasional boggy sections—providing expansive views across the Tanat Valley and the rugged outlines of the Aran mountains to the west.
Key Statistics
Rank
79th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
58.9m
Nearest Town
Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant
Geology
The ground beneath your feet is part of the Llangynog Formation, consisting of mudstone formed from layers of ancient, hardened silt.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SJ099334
Latitude
52.8905°N
Longitude
3.3406°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Welsh 'Foel', meaning a bare or bald hill, and 'Wen', the feminine form of white, likely a reference to the hill's pale grasses or its appearance under winter snow.
- •It serves as a significant boundary marker, sitting on the historic border between the traditional counties of Montgomeryshire and Denbighshire.
- •Classified as both a Hewitt and a Nuttall, the summit is often bagged as part of a high-level ridge walk connecting it to the Foel Wen South Top and the nearby peak of Tomle.
- •From the cairn, the view to the east stretches away from the Welsh uplands toward the Shropshire Plains, where the distinct profile of the Breidden Hills is clearly visible.
- •The Berwyns are notorious for their trackless peat hags; a walk here is an excellent way to discover exactly how waterproof your 'waterproof' boots actually are.