Wales
Aran Fawddwy
906M
2971FT
About Aran Fawddwy
Rising as the highest point in Wales south of Eryri’s main massifs, this commanding ridge offers a wilder alternative to the northern peaks. Its eastern face falls away in dramatic, craggy escarpments toward the silent cwm of Craig Cywarch, providing a rugged, high-altitude experience for those bagging this prominent Marilyn.
Key Statistics
Rank
17th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
672.8m
Nearest Town
Gwynedd
Geology
The ground beneath your boots is part of the Craig Cau Formation, made from ancient volcanic ash that compressed into solid rock.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SH862223
Latitude
52.7862°N
Longitude
3.6888°W
Did You Know?
- •The name originates from the Welsh word 'Aran,' meaning a high place or mountain, combined with 'Mawddwy,' the ancient lordship or commote it overlooks; the 'M' underwent a soft mutation to 'F' to create the modern name.
- •Standing at 905 metres, it is the highest peak in Wales outside of the three main northern massifs, making it the most significant summit south of the Snowdon range for those ticking off the Hewitts.
- •The summit offers a celebrated view north along the narrow, undulating ridge toward its sister peak, Aran Benllyn, with the long blue stretch of Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) visible in the valley below.
- •A small cairn near the summit serves as a memorial to Michael Booth, a member of the RAF mountain rescue team who was tragically killed by a lightning strike while on the ridge in 1960.
- •While its northern neighbours suffer from summit queues and train whistles, the Arans offer a quieter solitude where the only crowd you are likely to encounter is a small flock of hardy Welsh Mountain sheep.