Graig Goch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Graig Goch |
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Graig Goch seen from the west
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 586 m (1,923 ft) |
| Naming | |
| English translation | red cliff |
| Language of name | Welsh |
| Geography | |
| Location | Gwynedd, Wales |
| OS grid | SH715085 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 124 / Explorer OL23 |
Graig Goch is a hill in Wales, standing 586 meters (about 1,923 feet) tall. It is located in the Gwynedd area and is part of the beautiful Snowdonia National Park. This park is famous for its stunning mountains and valleys.
The hill's name, Graig Goch, means "red cliff" in Welsh. It gets this name from a large, noticeable cliff on its northwestern side. This cliff looks out over a lake called Tal-y-llyn.
Graig Goch is shaped like a long ridge that runs from northeast to southwest. It has a wide top and two smaller peaks nearby. These are Mynydd Cedris, which is over 540 meters high, and Mynydd Rugog, which is 504 meters high. The main summit of Graig Goch is found in the area known as Llanfihangel-y-Pennant.
What is Graig Goch Made Of?
Graig Goch is made from layers of rock called mudstones and siltstones. These rocks were formed a very long time ago, during a period called the Ordovician Period. This was about 457 to 454 million years ago!
These rock layers were laid down by something called turbidity currents. Imagine underwater landslides that carried mud and silt to the bottom of an ancient sea. Over millions of years, these layers turned into the rocks we see today.
The big cliff on Graig Goch's side has loose rocks and debris at its base. This area is called a talus slope. A huge landslide from this cliff, which happened after the last ice age, actually blocked the valley below. This blockage helped create the Tal-y-llyn Lake we see today. The lake sits in a deep valley carved out by ancient glaciers.
Exploring Graig Goch
Most of Graig Goch is open for people to explore. Thanks to a law called the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, you can walk freely across most of the hill. The only parts you can't wander through are some forested areas on the southern slopes and the very lowest parts of the northern slopes.
Even though you can walk almost anywhere, there are no official marked paths or trails on Graig Goch. This means you can choose your own adventure and explore the hill as you like!
