About Castell y Gwynt
Rising as a jagged crown of vertical stone spikes on the high plateau between Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr, this Nuttall is one of Eryri's most iconic silhouettes. Its shattered rock architecture offers a rugged, wind-blasted atmosphere and a brief, entertaining scramble for those traversing the Glyderau’s high spine.
Key Statistics
Rank
9th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Nearest Town
Nant Peris
Prominence
?
16m
Geology
You are walking on ancient layers of volcanic ash, hardened lava, and seabed sediments that have been sculpted into these dramatic, jagged rock spires.
Classifications
Did You Know?
- •The name is Welsh for 'Castle of the Wind,' a title earned by the way the wind howls through its vertical rock shards on the exposed plateau.
- •The peak is a classic example of frost-shattering; over millennia, the freeze-thaw cycle has split the volcanic rock into the distinctive upright 'pinnacles' that give the hill its ruined fortress appearance.
- •Though it looks like an independent peak when approached from the east, it is often grouped with Glyder Fach; however, its topographical prominence is sufficient for it to be classified as a Nuttall in its own right.
- •The summit offers a peerless perspective of Tryfan’s south face and the Bristly Ridge, providing a sense of the sheer scale of the glacial carving in the Ogwen Valley below.
- •Despite its name, the 'castle' provides remarkably little actual shelter; the gaps between the vertical stone spikes ensure that no matter which way the wind is blowing, it will find you.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SH653581
Latitude
53.1030°N
Longitude
4.0134°W