Cripiau North Top

About Cripiau North Top

Rising to 510 metres within the Pumlumon range, this summit embodies the rugged, often boggy solitude of Central Wales. Away from the more popular peaks, it offers a wilderness experience across pathless moorland, providing a stark sense of isolation amidst the rolling, grass-covered plateaus of the Cambrian Mountains.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Welsh word cripiau, the plural form of crib, which translates to 'ridges' or 'crests,' aptly describing the undulating high ground of this section of the massif.
• •From the summit, the view south is dominated by the massive bulk of Pumlumon Fawr, while to the northwest, the landscape drops away into the remote and uninhabited valley of the Afon Hengwm.
• •The area serves as a vital catchment for the early stages of the River Wye and River Severn, though at this elevation, the water is mostly encountered as deep peat bogs that characterize the approach.
• •Despite its modest height, the hill feels exceptionally remote due to a total lack of maintained trails, making it a quiet sanctuary for red kites which are frequently seen hunting over the plateau.
• •If you are looking for a grand summit monument, you may be disappointed; the top is often indistinguishable from the surrounding tufts of grass, requiring a GPS or a very keen eye for contours to confirm you have arrived.