Wales
Craig y Llyn Hywel
558M
1831FT
About Craig y Llyn Hywel
Overlooking the sapphire waters of Llyn Hywel, this rugged Rhinog peak sits on the high ridge between Rhinog Fach and Y Llethr. It offers a front-row seat to the dramatic rock faces of its neighbours, surrounded by the range’s signature mix of deep heather, shattered stone, and wild terrain.
Key Statistics
Rank
228th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
20m
Nearest Town
Gwynedd
Geology
You are walking across rugged layers of sandstone and mudstone. These sturdy rocks from the Rhinog and Hafotty Formations form the peak’s dramatic foundation.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
52.8212°N
Longitude
3.9885°W
Did You Know?
- •The name translates from Welsh as 'The Crag of Hywel's Lake.' Llyn Hywel itself is one of the most dramatic mountain tarns in Wales, cradled in a glacial cirque directly beneath the summit and the towering cliffs of Rhinog Fach.
- •The summit provides a spectacular vantage point for viewing the Mawddach Estuary to the south, with the massive, multi-peaked profile of Cadair Idris usually visible on the horizon beyond.
- •Navigating the slopes between here and the neighbouring summit of Y Llethr involves traversing classic Rhinog ground; it is famously demanding terrain, characterized by thick heather and hidden rock steps that make progress much slower than the modest 558-metre elevation suggests.
- •While the summit is relatively obscure, the surrounding western slopes contain various prehistoric remains, including ancient cairns that suggest these high passes have been used as transit routes since the Bronze Age.
- •The local heather is notoriously thick and springy, ensuring that any attempt at a shortcut will be met with a physical workout that feels significantly more like a wrestling match than a hill walk.