Wales
Foel Dugoed
439M
1440FT
About Foel Dugoed
Sitting at the southern edge of the Arans, this 439-metre hill rises above the Bwlch Dugoed pass. It offers a straightforward, grassy ascent with a characteristically Welsh feel of remote upland. From the top, you gain clear perspectives of the higher Aran Fawddwy to the north and the rolling Dyfi hills.
Key Statistics
Rank
505th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
133m
Nearest Town
Gwynedd
Geology
You are walking across layers of hardened mud and sandstone. These compressed sediments form the solid, rugged foundation of the fell beneath your feet.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SH893131
Latitude
52.7042°N
Longitude
3.6398°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Welsh, with 'Foel' meaning a bare or bald hill and 'Dugoed' translating to 'Black Wood,' likely referring to the ancient, dense forests that once lined the mountain pass below.
- •It stands as a gateway to the southern Arans, overlooking the historic mountain route through Bwlch Dugoed that connects the Dyfi valley with the interior of Mid-Wales.
- •The pass below the summit was once the notorious haunt of the Gwylliaid Cochion Mawddwy (the Red Bandits of Mawddwy), a group of 16th-century outlaws who used the rugged terrain to ambush travellers.
- •From the summit, the distinctive craggy profile of the Cadair Idris range is visible to the west, providing a sharp contrast to the gentler, rounded slopes of the immediate area.
- •As both a Hump and a Tump, the hill occupies a specific niche in bagging lists that suggests the climb is just substantial enough to be noticed, but not enough to ruin your afternoon.