Wales
Foel Offrwm
405M
1329FT
About Foel Offrwm
Rising above the Nannau estate, this modest Marilyn offers a remarkably high reward for a short ascent. Its heather-clad slopes lead to a summit crowned by an Iron Age hillfort, providing a front-row seat to the dramatic north face of Cadair Idris and the winding Mawddach Estuary.
Key Statistics
Rank
594th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
236m
Nearest Town
Llanfachreth
Geology
You are walking over ancient layers of volcanic ash, hardened lava, and sandstone. This fell was forged by explosive eruptions and magma cooling deep underground.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SH749209
Latitude
52.7712°N
Longitude
3.8558°W
Did You Know?
- •The name translates from Welsh as 'Hill of Sacrifice' or 'Hill of Offering', a title likely derived from the significant Iron Age hillfort and religious activity once centered on its summit.
- •The summit is home to a well-preserved hillfort enclosure with stone ramparts that still stand to a significant height, guarding the ancient pass into the Wnion valley.
- •The hill is a prominent landmark of the Nannau estate, an ancient Welsh seat that was once home to the infamous 'Blasted Oak', a tree associated with a 15th-century legend of a murderous duel.
- •Despite its relatively low elevation, the summit offers an exceptionally clear sightline directly down the Mawddach Estuary towards the Barmouth railway bridge and the Irish Sea.
- •While the name suggests grim ancient rituals, the only significant sacrifice required of modern walkers is the inevitable battle with the summer bracken on the lower slopes.