Wales
Foel Fawr
528M
1732FT
About Foel Fawr
Situated on the eastern fringes of the Arenig range, this modest Tump offers a quiet, pathless experience away from the busier summits. Its broad, heather-clad slopes overlook the expansive waters of Llyn Celyn, providing a superb perspective on the rugged Arenig Fawr and the rolling ridges of the Berwyn mountains.
Key Statistics
Rank
282nd Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
42m
Nearest Town
Bont Newydd
Geology
You’re walking over ancient layers of hardened mud and sand. These are cut by tough volcanic rocks that cooled underground during the Ordovician period.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SH728392
Latitude
52.9351°N
Longitude
3.8940°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Welsh 'Foel', meaning a bare or bald hill, and 'Fawr', meaning great—an apt description for its rounded, treeless profile.
- •The summit provides a clear sightline over Llyn Celyn, the reservoir created in the 1960s which famously submerged the village of Capel Celyn.
- •Its position makes it an excellent viewpoint for observing the geological contrast between the volcanic Arenig hills and the sedimentary Berwyn range across the Tryweryn valley.
- •Despite being named 'Great', at 528 metres it is actually one of the lower tops in the range, proving that Welsh naming conventions occasionally lean towards the aspirational.