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

According to medieval Welsh legend, yes—the summit cairn marks where King Arthur buried Rhita Gawr, a giant who collected kings' beards and made them into a cloak. The mountain's Welsh name, Yr Wyddfa, literally means 'the burial mound' or 'the tumulus,' which suggests the locals took the story seriously enough to name the entire mountain after it.

What's the easiest way to get to the top of Snowdon?

The Snowdon Mountain Railway will take you to the summit without any hiking required. If you want to walk, the Llanberis Path is the longest but gentlest option, while the Pyg Track and Miners' Track are shorter and steeper.

What does Yr Wyddfa mean in English?

It means 'the tumulus' or 'the burial mound'—a reference to the legend that a giant is buried beneath the summit cairn. It's the original Welsh name for what English speakers call Snowdon.

The Welsh Legends

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

The giant Rhita Gawr collected the beards of defeated kings and wove them into a cloak, then demanded Arthur's. Arthur climbed Snowdon, killed him on the summit, and the giant's body supposedly lies beneath the cairn that's been there ever since.

3 August 20268 min read