Wales
Banc yr Wyn
503M
1650FT
About Banc yr Wyn
Situated in the wild heart of the Cambrian Mountains, this 503-metre Tump offers a quiet, pathless experience characteristic of the Pumlumon range. Its grassy slopes rise above the Afon Castell, providing a secluded vantage point over the undulating, peat-scarred moorland that defines this rugged and often overlooked part of Central Wales.
Key Statistics
Rank
143rd Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Central Wales
Prominence
?
76m
Nearest Town
Ceredigion
Geology
You are trekking over ancient layers of mudstone and sandstone. These rocks began as fine silt and sand settling on a deep seafloor.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SN741902
Latitude
52.4951°N
Longitude
3.8559°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Welsh 'Banc', meaning a ridge or slope, and 'Wyn', the plural of 'Oen' (lamb), identifying the hill as traditional high-summer grazing land.
- •The summit offers a stark, impressive view of the main Pumlumon massif to the west, particularly the rounded dome of Pen y Gurnos and the sprawling slopes leading toward Pumlumon Fawr.
- •Its position near the headwaters of the Afon Castell means the surrounding terrain is a classic 'Green Desert' landscape, featuring deep peat hags and hidden mires that demand attentive navigation.
- •It is a hill that rewards those who enjoy the specific Mid-Wales thrill of walking for hours without seeing another soul, only to find the summit 'feature' is often little more than a particularly stubborn clump of heather.