Wales
Breidden Hill
367M
1203FT
About Breidden Hill
Rising abruptly from the Severn Valley on the Welsh border, this steep, craggy outcrop offers a surprisingly rugged ascent. The summit is crowned by the iconic Rodney’s Pillar, providing expansive views across the Shropshire Plain to The Wrekin and westward toward the Berwyn range and the peaks of Eryri.
Key Statistics
Rank
702nd Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Central Wales
Prominence
?
106.7m
Nearest Town
Criggion
Geology
You are walking on ancient molten rock that cooled slowly beneath the surface. This hard stone formed as magma pushed its way into the Earth’s crust.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SJ295144
Latitude
52.7226°N
Longitude
3.0453°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely stems from the Welsh 'bre' (hill) and 'din' (fort), reflecting its history as a significant Iron Age defensive site.
- •The prominent 16-metre obelisk at the summit was erected in 1781 by local gentry to commemorate the naval victories of Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney.
- •Extensive archaeological excavations suggest the hill was a major regional power centre, with evidence of timber-framed ramparts dating back to the late Bronze Age.
- •Unlike much of the surrounding landscape, the hill is formed from an intrusion of dolerite, a hard volcanic rock that has resisted erosion more effectively than the softer sedimentary layers nearby.
- •Despite the grand monument to an Admiral, the only water Rodney’s Pillar actually oversees is the winding River Severn, which is generally considered far too shallow for a fleet of 18th-century warships.