Wales
Moel Poethion
682M
2238FT
About Moel Poethion
Rising within the wild, heather-clad interior of the Berwyns, this broad summit offers a sense of profound isolation. Its peat-heavy terrain and trackless slopes require careful navigation, rewarded by an impressive perspective on the main ridge of Cadair Berwyn and the steep-sided valley of Cwm Maen Gwynedd to the south.
Key Statistics
Rank
91st Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
6m
Nearest Town
Powys
Geology
You are walking upon layers of ancient volcanic ash and hardened mud. These materials form the sturdy geological foundation of Moel Poethion.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SJ082306
Latitude
52.8650°N
Longitude
3.3651°W
Did You Know?
- •The name translates from Welsh as 'Burnt Bald Hills', with 'moel' meaning a bare hill and 'poethion' being the plural for hot or burnt. This most likely refers to the historical practice of muirburn, where heather was intentionally scorched to encourage fresh growth for livestock.
- •Standing at 682 metres, it is one of the more remote tops in the Berwyn range, often crossed by walkers traversing the high moorland between the main ridge of Moel Sych and the southern peak of Post Gwyn.
- •The summit provides a clear, uncrowded vantage point over the remote head of the Tanat Valley and the rocky eastern escarpment of the main Berwyn ridge.
- •The surrounding terrain is famously unforgiving; if you manage to cross the local peat hags with dry socks, you have either been remarkably lucky or the area is experiencing a record-breaking drought.