Wales
Moel Hafodowen
435M
1427FT
About Moel Hafodowen
Tucked away near Coed y Brenin, Moel Hafodowen is the kind of hill that makes you feel like a pioneer, mainly because the paths are purely theoretical and the heather is ambitious. It's a modest height, but the views across the Mawddach towards the Rhinogydd are surprisingly punchy.
Key Statistics
Rank
507th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
128m
Nearest Town
Llanfachreth
Geology
Moel Hafodowen is made of ancient layered mud and sand, toughened by hard volcanic rocks that once cooled deep underground.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SH754266
Latitude
52.8225°N
Longitude
3.8505°W
Did You Know?
- •It is part of the 'Harlech Dome,' an ancient geological uplift. This area exposes some of the oldest Cambrian rocks found anywhere in the British Isles.
- •The name Moel Hafodowen translates to 'Hill of Owen's Summer Dairy.' This refers to the historic practice of transhumance where livestock were moved to higher pastures during the warmer months.
- •The area surrounding the fell was once a hub for the copper and gold mining industry. Numerous old workings are scattered through the nearby valley, though they are now mostly reclaimed by the forest.
- •It is located right next to the world-class mountain biking trails of Coed y Brenin. Despite this, the hill remains so quiet that the local sheep seem genuinely offended by any human presence.
- •Finding the actual summit is a masterclass in navigation ambiguity. It usually involves a mid-heather existential crisis where you wonder if the slightly taller tuft of grass twenty yards away is the true peak.