Y Ro Wen

Standing sentinel over Dolwyddelan, Y Ro Wen is a characterful Moelwynion peak that offers grand views without the Snowdon crowds. It’s high enough to feel like a proper mountain, yet low enough to ensure the descent to the nearest pub is conveniently brief—provided you survive the bogs.

• •The name translates literally as 'The White Shingle,' though hikers are significantly more likely to encounter deep green moss and grey slate than any pristine white stones.
• •It towers over the birthplace of Llywelyn the Great; one can only assume the medieval prince looked at these steep slopes and decided building stone castles was a much more relaxing hobby.
• •The hill is scarred by the historic Prince of Wales slate quarry, a reminder that 19th-century workers were considerably tougher—and probably much wetter—than today's Gore-Tex-clad weekenders.
• •Measuring in at 598.6 meters, it sits just shy of the official 600m 'mountain' status, making it the geographical equivalent of getting a 'B plus' on your report card.
• •The local sheep have mastered a specific look of weary judgement for those who realize too late that the 'scenic path' from the Gwydir Forest is actually a cleverly disguised marsh.