Bryn Mawr

Tucked away in the eastern reaches of the Arans, this rounded moorland summit offers a quieter alternative to the main ridge. Characterised by grassy slopes and occasional peat, the ascent rewards walkers with a dramatic perspective of Aran Fawddwy’s craggy eastern face and the deep troughs of the upper Dovey Valley.

• •The name is a straightforward Welsh translation meaning 'Big Hill' (bryn: hill, mawr: big). Despite the name’s simplicity, the hill occupies a significant position overlooking the remote headwaters of the River Dyfi.
• •The summit sits close to the Bwlch y Groes mountain pass. Historically, this pass was a vital, if treacherous, link for pilgrims and drovers travelling between North and Mid Wales.
• •From the top, walkers are treated to an excellent profile of the main Aran ridge, looking directly across the valley at the sheer eastern cliffs of Aran Fawddwy and the smaller peak of Glasgwm.
• •Navigation on these slopes often relies on the post-and-wire fences that divide the high grazing land, which are frequently more reliable than any trodden path on the heathery plateau.
• •Despite sharing its name with Bryn Mawr College, a prestigious Ivy League-adjacent school in the USA, the only graduates you are likely to encounter on this Welsh hill are local sheep with a PhD in avoiding walkers.