Wales
Foel-fras
586M
1923FT
About Foel-fras
Tucked away in the rugged Moelwyns, this broad, grassy shoulder offers a quieter alternative to its more famous neighbours. Despite its modest height, the summit provides a clear perspective over the slate-scarred landscape of Blaenau Ffestiniog and across to the sharp, industrial-edged silhouette of Moelwyn Mawr.
Key Statistics
Rank
201st Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
32
Nearest Town
Cwm Penmachno
Geology
You are walking on fine-grained siltstone from the Nant Ffrancon Subgroup. This rock was once soft mud and sediment that compressed into solid layers.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SH728481
Latitude
53.0156°N
Longitude
3.8976°W
Did You Know?
- •Its name comes from the Welsh 'foel', meaning a bare or bald hill, and 'bras', meaning broad or stout, which accurately describes its sprawling, rounded shape compared to the jagged peaks nearby.
- •The summit offers a starkly beautiful vista, looking directly down onto the extensive remains of the Rhosydd slate quarry and the deep, post-industrial trench of the Cwmorthin valley.
- •To the west, the hill provides an excellent profile of Moelwyn Mawr, showcasing the steep northern cliffs and rocky ribs that are often hidden from the popular Blaenau Ffestiniog approach.
- •It is a hill that proves Welsh naming is nothing if not literal; by the time you have navigated the saturated peat hags on its flanks, the description 'broad' feels like a pointed comment on the distance between dry patches.