Is there really a giant buried under the cairn at the top of Yr Wyddfa?

According to later Welsh tradition, the summit cairn is Rhita Gawr's grave after King Arthur killed him. It is folklore rather than archaeological fact. The Welsh name Yr Wyddfa means “the tumulus”, “the cairn” or “the burial mound” and is traditionally linked to the story.

What's the easiest way to get to the top of Yr Wyddfa?

The Snowdon Mountain Railway can reach the summit when its seasonal, weather-dependent service is operating. All six official walking routes are graded hard or strenuous; the Llanberis Path is often described as the gentlest, but it still requires proper preparation, fitness and equipment.

What does Yr Wyddfa mean in English?

It means “the tumulus”, “the cairn” or “the burial mound”. Local tradition connects the name with the story that the giant Rhita Gawr was buried beneath a cairn on the summit.

The Welsh Legends

Yr Wyddfa and the Giant's Beard Cloak: When Arthur Killed Rhita Gawr for Wearing Kings

The giant Rhita Gawr took the beards of defeated kings for a cloak and demanded Arthur's. Geoffrey of Monmouth places their duel on Mount Aravius; later Welsh tradition links the fight and Rhita's grave to Yr Wyddfa.

8 August 20268 min read