Aran Fawddwy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aran Fawddwy |
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Aran Fawddwy (on left) and Creiglyn Dyfi
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 905 m (2,969 ft) |
| Prominence | 670 m (2,200 ft) |
| Parent peak | Snowdon |
| Listing | Marilyn, Hewitt, Nuttall |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Mawddwy peak |
| Language of name | Welsh |
| Pronunciation | English approximation: ARR-ən-VOWDH-wee |
| Geography | |
| Location | Gwynedd, UK |
| Parent range | Snowdonia |
| OS grid | SH862223 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 124, 125 |
Aran Fawddwy is a tall mountain in southern Snowdonia, Wales, United Kingdom. It is the highest point in the old county of Merionethshire. Today, it is part of the Gwynedd council area.
This mountain is special because it's the only peak in Wales outside North Snowdonia that is taller than 900 meters. It's also higher than any mountain in Great Britain outside Northern Snowdonia, the Scottish Highlands, and the Lake District.
The closest towns to Aran Fawddwy are Dinas Mawddwy and Llanymawddwy to the south. To the north, you'll find Llanuwchllyn by Bala Lake. The village of Rhydymain is to the west. Nearby towns with about 2,000 people include Bala and Dolgellau.
On the eastern side of Aran Fawddwy, there's a small lake called Creiglyn Dyfi. This lake is where the River Dyfi begins its journey. Aran Fawddwy has a sister peak, Aran Benllyn, which is 885 meters tall. There's also a middle peak named Erw y Ddafad-ddu.
A stone pile, called a cairn, is on the eastern ridge. It's a memorial to Michael Robert Aspain. He was a member of the RAF Mountain Rescue team. Sadly, he was struck by lightning and died in 1960.
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Climbing Aran Fawddwy
You can climb Aran Fawddwy from different directions. Many people start their climb from Cywarch in the south. You can also do a longer climb along the ridge from the Bala side.
The Mountain's Shape
Aran Fawddwy forms a long, rocky ridge. While Aran Fawddwy is the highest point, Aran Benllyn is another important peak on this ridge. The eastern side of the mountain is very steep. It drops sharply into deep, bowl-shaped valleys called cwms or corries. These valleys were carved out by glaciers long ago. Two small lakes, Creiglyn Dyfi and Llyn Lliwbran, are nestled in these cwms.
The western slopes are also rocky but not as steep. They have a more even slope.
Amazing Views from the Top
When you reach the summit of Aran Fawddwy, the view is incredible! You can see most of the mountain ranges in North Wales. On a very clear day, you might even see as far south as the Brecon Beacons and the Pembrokeshire peninsula. If the weather is exceptionally clear, you might even spot the Lake District in England and the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland.
Facts About Aran Fawddwy
Aran Fawddwy is almost a member of the Welsh 3000s. These are the 15 highest peaks in Wales that are over 3,000 feet (914.4 meters) tall. Aran Fawddwy is only 9.5 meters short of this height!
It is the highest peak in the Aran mountain range. It is also the 16th highest summit in all of Wales. Other important peaks in this range are Glasgwm and Esgeiriau Gwynion.
Aran Fawddwy is the highest British mountain south of Snowdon. It is the main peak of a long ridge that runs from southwest to northeast. This ridge stretches between Dolgellau and Bala in southern Snowdonia. The ridge continues westwards as Cadair Idris.
