Wales
Craig Fawr
519M
1703FT
About Craig Fawr
Rising above the northern shores of Claerwen Reservoir, this 519-metre Tump offers a quintessential Elan Valley experience. Its grassy, often pathless slopes lead to a summit with expansive views across the remote Cambrian Mountains, overlooking the engineering feat of the Claerwen Dam and the wild, rolling moorland of Mid Wales.
Key Statistics
Rank
103rd Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Wales
Prominence
?
43m
Nearest Town
Powys
Geology
You are walking on layers of fine-grained mudstone. These rocks formed from ancient silt and clay that settled in thin sheets on a deep seafloor.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SN879638
Latitude
52.2609°N
Longitude
3.6439°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Welsh for 'Great Crag' or 'Big Rock'. While the northern approach is a relatively gentle moorland slope, the name refers to the steeper, more rugged ground that breaks away toward the valley floor below.
- •From the summit, walkers are rewarded with a direct view across the water to the higher 'Desert of Wales' peaks, including the prominent cairns of Drygarn Fawr and the broad ridge of Gorllwyn.
- •The hill overlooks the Claerwen Reservoir, which was the final addition to the Elan Valley's vast water scheme; the dam was famously opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1952 to secure the water supply for Birmingham.
- •Being a Tump—a hill with at least 30 metres of prominence—it is frequently bypassed by those heading for the higher 600-metre massifs nearby, making it an excellent choice for those seeking solitude away from established trails.
- •The terrain is typical of the Cambrian Mountains; if you manage to reach the summit with entirely dry boots, you have likely experienced a rare meteorological miracle or spent the entire ascent hopping between tussocks.