Tarren y Gesail

Often ignored in favor of its celebrity neighbor Cadair Idris, Tarren y Gesail is a delightfully quiet ridge offering spectacular views of Cardigan Bay. At exactly 666.9 meters, it’s just high enough to feel like a proper mountain workout without the devilish crowds found further north.

• •It forms the backbone of the Tarrens, a sub-group of the Cadair Idris massif that stretches from Tal-y-llyn Lake all the way to the Dyfi estuary.
• •The mountain's eastern slopes overlook the historic Bryn Eglwys slate quarry, the site that originally justified the construction of the Narrow Gauge Talyllyn Railway in 1865.
• •The summit ridge provides a rare panoramic perspective where you can see the Plynlimon range to the south and the sharp profile of Cadair Idris to the north.
• •Despite being classified as a Marilyn, it remains one of the 'forgotten' peaks of Snowdonia, making it the perfect choice for hikers who find other people mildly offensive.
• •With a recorded elevation of 666 meters, it is technically the 'Peak of the Beast,' though the only thing truly hellish here is the calf-shredding steepness of the initial ascent from Abergynolwyn.