Wales
Bryn-mawr
511M
1675FT
About Bryn-mawr
Rising to the east of the Arenig giants, this grassy 510-metre Tump offers a quieter alternative to the popular peaks of Eryri. Its broad, moorland slopes provide an expansive vantage point over Llyn Tegid, looking across the water toward the Berwyn range and the rolling landscape of the Dee valley.
Key Statistics
Rank
318th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
95
Nearest Town
Conwy
Geology
You are walking on siltstone from the Nant Ffrancon group. This rock formed from layers of ancient mud and silt that hardened over time.
Find It
Latitude
52.9824°N
Longitude
3.7867°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Welsh 'Bryn', meaning hill, and 'mawr', meaning big; a title that feels appropriate from the local valley floor, even if the peak is dwarfed by the higher Arenig summits to the west.
- •From the summit, walkers are rewarded with a clear view of Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) stretching out towards the south-east, framed by the distant, high ridges of the Berwyn mountains.
- •The hill sits in a transitional landscape, marking the shift from the softer, undulating farmland surrounding the market town of Bala to the more rugged, volcanic terrain of the central Arenigs.
- •Despite its modest elevation, the summit provides an excellent perspective for viewing the 'Bala Fault,' a major geological feature that runs through the valley containing Llyn Tegid.
- •Naming a 510-metre hill 'Big Hill' is a fine example of local Welsh perspective, especially considering it stands in the shadow of Arenig Fawr, which is nearly 300 metres taller.