Foel Penolau

About Foel Penolau

Perched at the northern tip of the Rhinogydd, Foel Penolau is less a mountain and more a giant, stubborn slab of gritstone. It only officially joined the 'Hewitt' club in 2018, proving that even mountains can be late bloomers if they hide their prominence well enough.

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Did You Know?

• •The summit consists of a massive, tilted slab of Cambrian gritstone that looks like a giant's discarded paving stone. It is remarkably smooth, meaning your boots will have to work overtime to find any friction on the final approach.
• •It was officially upgraded to Hewitt status as recently as 2018 after a high-precision GPS survey. Apparently, it spent the previous century being slightly too modest about its own topographical prominence to be taken seriously.
• •Situated at the northern edge of the Rhinogydd, it offers a distinct vantage point over the decommissioned Trawsfynydd nuclear power station. It is the only place where you can appreciate brutalist architecture while surrounded by some of the wildest terrain in Wales.
• •The ascent requires a bit of light gymnastics as the final rock outcrop demands the use of hands. It is the perfect mountain for people who think walking is a bit too straightforward and prefer to crawl toward their goals.
• •The rock is notoriously slick when wet, turning the summit into a high-altitude game of 'The Floor is Lava' but with cold Welsh rain. Bring your best vibram soles, or prepare to spend the afternoon performing an involuntary interpretive dance down the slab.