Glyder Fawr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glyder Fawr |
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Rocky outcrop near the summit of Glyder Fawr
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,001 m (3,284 ft) |
| Prominence | 642 m (2,106 ft) |
| Parent peak | Snowdon |
| Listing | Marilyn, Hewitt, Welsh 3000s, Nuttall, Furth |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Big Lump |
| Language of name | Welsh |
| Geography | |
| Location | Gwynedd / Conwy, UK |
| Parent range | Snowdonia |
| OS grid | SH642579 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 115 / Explorer OL17 |
Glyder Fawr is a tall mountain in Snowdonia, Wales. It is the highest peak in the Glyderau mountain range. At just over 1,000 metres (about 3,280 feet) high, it is the fifth-tallest mountain in all of Wales!
In 2010, its height was measured again using GPS technology. This showed it was a little taller than people thought before. Many paths lead to its top, perfect for walking and climbing. The name "Glyder" comes from a Welsh word that means "a heap of stones." This makes sense when you see its rocky slopes!
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About Glyder Fawr and Its Neighbors
Glyder Fawr is part of the Glyderau mountain range. This range is located northeast of the famous Snowdon mountain. A valley called the Llanberis Pass and the Nant Peris Valley separate them.
The Glyderau Mountain Range
The Glyderau range includes several other cool mountains. From west to east, they are:
- Elidir Fawr (924 meters or 3,031 feet)
- Y Garn (947 meters or 3,107 feet)
- Glyder Fawr (1,001 meters or 3,284 feet)
- Glyder Fach (994 meters or 3,261 feet)
- Tryfan (918 meters or 3,012 feet)
To the north of the Glyderau are the Carneddau mountains. The Ogwen Valley and the Nant Ffrancon Valley separate these two ranges. Because the Glyderau mountains stand apart, they offer amazing views of the peaks and valleys around them.
How Glyder Fawr's Height Was Measured
For a long time, maps showed Glyder Fawr as 999 meters (3,278 feet) tall. But in late 2010, experts used accurate GPS equipment to measure it again. They found its true height is 1,000.8 meters (3,283.5 feet). This means it is officially over 1,000 meters tall! People from the Snowdonia National Park Authority were happy about this. They thought the new height would encourage more hikers to visit the mountain.
How the Mountains Were Formed
The Glyderau mountains, including Glyder Fawr, were formed about 500 million years ago. This happened when two huge land masses crashed into each other. This collision pushed up the land, creating the Snowdonia mountain area.
Shaped by Nature
Since then, nature has slowly shaped these mountains. Wind, water, and frost have worn them down. Giant sheets of ice called glaciers also played a big part. They advanced and retreated many times during the ice ages.
The last ice age ended about 10,000 years ago. It left behind cool features like Cwm Idwal, which is a bowl-shaped valley carved by ice. The ice also scraped the cliffs, dug out the bottom of Llyn Idwal (a lake), and left piles of rocks called moraines. Huge boulders and broken rocks also fell from above, creating the rocky fields and loose slopes you can see today.
Paths to the Top
You can reach the summit of Glyder Fawr from several different directions. Each route offers a unique adventure!
Popular Starting Points
- One path starts at Ogwen Cottage. This is near the shores of Llyn Idwal, and you approach the mountain from the north.
- Another route begins at Pen-y-Pass. This path comes from the south side of the mountain.
- You can also walk to Glyder Fawr from the east. This route follows a ridge from the nearby mountain, Glyder Fach. Even though Glyder Fach has many broken stones near its top, the path between the two summits is mostly flat and easy to walk.
A Challenging Circuit
For experienced hikers, there's a challenging route that includes three mountain tops: Tryfan, Glyder Fach, and Glyder Fawr. This circuit usually takes about six or seven hours to complete.
The Ogwen Cottage Route
One of the most popular paths from Ogwen Cottage follows the edge of Llyn Idwal. It leads to the base of a famous rock climbing spot called Rhiwiau Caws (Idwal Slabs). From there, the path climbs out of the cwm (a Welsh word for a deep valley) using the steep Twll Du path. This path takes you to a small lake called Llyn Y Cŵn. From Llyn Y Cŵn, a steep, rocky path goes up the western side of the mountain, leading directly to the summit of Glyder Fawr.
Caring for the Mountains
The National Trust helps manage the Glyderau and the Carneddau mountain ranges. They started looking after these areas in 1951.
Protecting the Land
The total area they manage is about 7,000 hectares (about 17,300 acres). Half of this land is common land. This means local farmers have rights to let their sheep and ponies graze there. There are about 45,000 sheep and 741 ponies that graze on these mountains!
The National Trust is responsible for keeping the footpaths in good condition. They also maintain the old drystone walls, some of which are hundreds of years old. Both the Glyderau and Carneddau mountain ranges are part of the beautiful Snowdonia National Park.
