Cefn yr Ogof

About Cefn yr Ogof

Rising above Rhyd-y-foel, this limestone ridge offers coastal views that punch well above its modest 204-metre weight class. It is essentially the VIP lounge for watching the North Wales shoreline, provided you do not mind sharing your seat with a few unimpressed local sheep.

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Did You Know?

• •The name translates to 'Ridge of the Cave,' a nod to the limestone caverns and lead mines that riddle its slopes. These mines were famously used in the 1820s to provide lead for the windows of the nearby Gothic fantasy, Gwrych Castle.
• •The hill overlooks the Iron Age hillfort of Pen-y-corddyn-mawr, where Roman artefacts were once unearthed on the limestone plateau. Living here in the Iron Age likely offered strategic views, though the daily commute for water was significantly more vertical.
• •The area has a surprising literary pedigree; Evelyn Waugh wrote 'Decline and Fall' while staying in the shadow of this hill. The local mansion, Plas Dulas, famously served as the inspiration for the novel's Llanabba Castle.
• •On the beach below the hill, a 350-metre long honeycomb worm reef was rediscovered in 2008 after a sixty-year absence. These tiny Mediterranean architects build complex sand-tube structures that provide a luxury apartment complex for local crabs and sea anemones.
• •Standing at a dizzying 204 metres, reaching the summit is less of a mountaineering expedition and more of a slightly enthusiastic stroll. It is the ideal choice for hikers who want the glory of a 'peak' without the inconvenience of actually breaking a sweat or losing sight of the nearest chip shop.