Rhobell-y-big

About Rhobell-y-big

A modest outlier of the volcanic giant Rhobell Fawr, Rhobell-y-big is the kind of peak that makes you question your navigation and your life choices simultaneously. It’s a rugged little stump offering stellar views of the Arenigs, provided you survive the legendary Welsh bogs guarding its slopes.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •Despite its name, which translates roughly to the 'Peak of the Corner,' it is a mere satellite to the volcanic giant Rhobell Fawr. It sits on the northern edge of the Arenig range, formed during the chaotic Ordovician period when this region was a literal volcanic hotspot.
• •The summit offers a spectacular vantage point over the remote Bwlch Goriwared pass to the north. From here, you can trace the ancient tracks once used by drovers moving livestock across these rugged, unforgiving hills towards the market at Dolgellau.
• •The geology here is dominated by intrusive volcanic rocks, a remnant of the Rhobell Volcanic Group that actually predates the more famous Snowdonian eruptions. If you examine the crags, you are essentially standing on the plumbing of a four-hundred-million-year-old lava factory.
• •While its parent peak gets the glory, this northern top provides a far more intimate look at the desolate 'Badlands' of the Arenig range. It is one of those rare spots where you are significantly more likely to meet a confused sheep than another human being.
• •The terrain is a masterclass in 'Welsh character building,' which is local code for shin-deep peat bogs and hidden ankle-snapping holes. You will spend half the hike checking your compass and the other half wondering if your left boot is ever coming back out of the moss.