Wales
Cilfaesty Hill
528M
1732FT
About Cilfaesty Hill
Rising within the quiet rolling uplands of Central Wales, this 528m Hump is a place of expansive grass and solitude. Its broad, often marshy plateau offers a genuine sense of isolation typical of the Radnorshire borderlands, rewarding walkers with a peaceful alternative to the more rugged peaks of the west.
Key Statistics
Rank
88th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Central Wales
Prominence
?
143m
Nearest Town
Radnorshire Gate
Geology
You are walking over ancient, pressed layers of mud, silt, and sand. These hardened sediments form the solid foundation of the hill beneath your boots.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SO128840
Latitude
52.4470°N
Longitude
3.2844°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Cilfaesty likely derives from the Welsh cil (nook or retreat) and maesty (field-house), suggesting its historical use as a remote seasonal dwelling or a high-altitude farmstead.
- •This hill marks a significant watershed in the borderlands; the River Teme, which eventually joins the Severn at Worcester, has its headwaters on the marshy northern slopes of the Cilfaesty plateau.
- •Walkers often approach via the Kerry Ridgeway, an ancient prehistoric trackway and drovers' route that passes just to the north, offering much firmer footing than the hill’s own peat-covered summit.
- •On a clear day, the summit provides an unimpeded view across the rolling whale-backed ridges of Mid Wales toward the Cambrian Mountains and the distinctive jagged silhouette of the Stiperstones to the northeast.
- •It is the sort of summit where you are considerably more likely to be scrutinized by a stray ewe than to encounter a fellow hillwalker.