About Craig Ffynnon
Standing as the southern sentinel of the Creigiau Gleision ridge, this rugged summit overlooks the deep, dark waters of Llyn Cowlyd. It offers a quieter, heathery alternative to the high Carneddau, with an earned perspective of the jagged skyline featuring Pen Llithrig y Wrach and the distant Moel Siabod.
Key Statistics
Rank
197th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Nearest Town
Rhibo
Prominence
?
25m
Geology
You are walking on ancient volcanic ash and hardened mud, mixed with cooled molten rock that once surged deep underground.
Classifications
Did You Know?
- •The name is Welsh, where 'Craig' means rock or crag and 'Ffynnon' translates to a spring or well, likely referring to the water sources that feed down into the Cwm Cowlyd valley below.
- •Though often treated as a subsidiary top of its neighbour, Creigiau Gleision, the summit provides arguably the best aerial view of Llyn Cowlyd, which is the deepest lake in the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.
- •The most common approach is from Capel Curig, following the historic leat—an artificial water channel—before a steep, pathless ascent through heather and rocky outcrops to reach the ridge line.
- •The ridge is known for its complex micro-topography; in thick mist, the numerous small hollows and heathery hummocks can make finding the true high point a surprisingly puzzling exercise.
- •Despite the 'Spring' in its name, the summit plateau is more famous among local walkers for its ability to retain water in the form of deep, shoe-stealing peat hags rather than a refreshing mountain well.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SH726639
Latitude
53.1569°N
Longitude
3.9068°W