Wales
Moel yr Henfaes
584M
1916FT
About Moel yr Henfaes
Moel yr Henfaes serves as the slightly grumpy gateway to the Berwyn range. At 584m, it lacks the ego of its neighbors but offers a masterclass in Welsh heather management and the kind of profound solitude that suggests everyone else definitely took a different path.
Key Statistics
Rank
203rd Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
36m
Nearest Town
Cynwyd
Geology
The ground beneath your boots belongs to the Dolhir Formation, made of alternating layers of ancient hardened mud and limestone.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SJ077385
Latitude
52.9359°N
Longitude
3.3748°W
Did You Know?
- •The name translates to 'Hill of the Old Field,' which is a cruel linguistic joke. Anyone expecting a flat pasture will be disappointed by the reality of ankle-snapping tussocks and undulating moorland.
- •The area is part of Denbighshire’s rich archaeological landscape, which contains 168 scheduled monuments ranging from Paleolithic caves to medieval castles. Moel yr Henfaes contributes to this history with its own scattering of Bronze Age burial mounds and ancient cairns.
- •The Berwyns are often overlooked in favor of the nearby Snowdonia peaks. This makes Moel yr Henfaes an ideal spot for hikers who prefer the company of disinterested sheep over queues for a summit selfie.
- •Its geology is predominantly Ordovician mudstone and siltstone, dating back hundreds of millions of years. This essentially means the ground is ancient and remarkably dedicated to keeping your boots perpetually damp.
- •Navigating the pathless sections offers a unique psychological challenge where every clump of moss looks like a shortcut. In reality, most are just well-disguised portals to a knee-deep peat bog that wants to keep your left boot as a souvenir.