Cadair Idris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cadair Idris |
|
|---|---|
Llyn Cau with the summit of the mountain to the right
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 893 m (2,930 ft) |
| Prominence | 608 m (1,995 ft) |
| Parent peak | Penygader |
| Listing | Marilyn, Hewitt, Nuttall |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Chair of Idris |
| Language of name | Welsh |
| Geography | |
| Location | Gwynedd, United Kingdom |
| Parent range | Snowdonia |
| OS grid | SH711130 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 124, Explorer OL23 |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Cadair Idris is a famous mountain in Wales, located in the historic county of Meirionnydd. It sits at the southern edge of the beautiful Snowdonia National Park, close to the town of Dolgellau. Many people love to hike up this mountain. It's made mostly of igneous rocks, which are formed from cooled lava or magma. You can also see cool features left behind by ancient glaciers, like bowl-shaped hollows called cwms and piles of rock and dirt called moraines.
Contents
What Does Cadair Idris Mean?
The name Cadair Idris means 'Idris's Chair'. So, who was Idris?
- Some say Idris was a giant from Welsh legends.
- Others believe it refers to Idris ap Gwyddno, a prince from the 7th century. He was known as Idris Gawr, which means "Idris the Giant," and he won a battle on this very mountain!
The word cadair means 'seat' or 'chair' in Welsh. Sometimes, in place names, it can also mean 'stronghold' or a 'mountain shaped like a chair'. You might also see the mountain spelled Cader Idris. This is just a different way of saying the same name, common in the local area. The very top of the mountain is called Penygader, which means "top of the chair."
Climbing Cadair Idris
There are three main paths to reach the top of Cadair Idris. The summit is marked by a special marker called a trig point. There's also a stone shelter where hikers can rest.
| Listed summits of Cadair Idris | ||||
| Name | Grid ref | Height | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mynydd Moel | SH727136 | 863 metres (2,831 ft) | Hewitt Nuttall |
|
| Cyfrwy | SH703133 | 811 metres (2,661 ft) | Hewitt Nuttall |
|
| Craig Cwm Amarch | SH710121 | 791 metres (2,595 ft) | Hewitt Nuttall |
|
| Gau Graig | SH744141 | 683 metres (2,241 ft) | Hewitt Nuttall |
|
| Tyrrau Mawr | SH677135 | 661 metres (2,169 ft) | Hewitt Nuttall |
|
| Craig-y-llyn | SH677135 | 622 metres (2,041 ft) | Nuttall | |
Pony Path
The Pony Path (in Welsh: Llwybr Pilin Pwn) starts from the north, near Dolgellau. It's considered the easiest way up, but it's also the longest. It's about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) long and climbs 727 meters (2,385 feet).
Fox's Path
The Fox's Path (in Welsh: Llwybr Madyn) is the most direct route. It goes straight up the northern side of the mountain. This path is about 3.8 kilometers (2.4 miles) long. It includes a challenging climb up a steep section of loose rocks.
Minffordd Path
The Minffordd Path (in Welsh: Llwybr Minffordd) begins on the southern side of the mountain. It's close to the beautiful Tal-y-llyn Lake. Hikers on this path walk past Llyn Cau, a stunning lake, and then along the edge of Craig Cau, a rocky ridge. This path is about 4.4 kilometers (2.7 miles) long.
How Cadair Idris Was Formed
Cadair Idris is made up of many different kinds of rocks. These include mudstones and siltstones, as well as igneous rocks like basalt and tuff. These rocks were formed millions of years ago during a time called the Ordovician period.
Some people used to think that the bowl-shaped hollow called Cwm Cau was an old volcano crater. However, scientists have shown that this isn't true. The famous writer Charles Kingsley even talked about this mistake back in 1872!
Instead, Cwm Cau was carved out by a cirque glacier during the ice ages. Imagine a giant scoop of ice slowly moving down the mountain. This ice scraped away the rock, creating the deep, chair-like shape we see today. The ice also left behind smooth, tear-drop shaped rocks called roche moutonnée, which show the direction the glacier moved.
Cadair Idris is also home to two beautiful lakes: Llyn Cau and Llyn y Gader. Llyn y Gader is quite deep, about 13 meters (43 feet) at its deepest point.
Much of the area around Cadair Idris is a special place called a National Nature Reserve. It protects unique Arctic–alpine plants, like the purple saxifrage and dwarf willow, which are usually found in very cold places.
Images for kids
-
Looking north from Llwybr Pilin Pwn
-
Looking at Penygadair (right) from the Pony Path in January 2005. The steep scree route of the Fox's Path is highlighted in sunlight (centre).
-
Cadair Idris in 1818
.jpg)
