Moel Famau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moel Famau |
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Feb2004.jpg)
The Jubilee Tower at the summit of Moel Famau
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,821 ft (555 m) |
| Prominence | 912 ft (278 m) |
| Parent peak | Moel y Gamelin |
| Listing | Marilyn, Council top |
| Naming | |
| English translation | The bare hill of ?Mama |
| Language of name | Welsh |
| Geography | |
 Moel Famau
Location in Wales
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| OS grid | SJ162627 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 116 |
Moel Famau is the tallest hill in the Clwydian Range in Wales. It is also the highest point in the county of Flintshire. This hill sits right on the border between Denbighshire and Flintshire.
Moel Famau is part of a special area called an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This means its natural beauty is protected. The area around the hill also has several old Iron Age hill forts. These are ancient forts built on hills.
Many people think Moel Famau is the highest peak in North-East Wales, but it's not. That title belongs to Cadair Berwyn. Moel Famau is still a very important and beautiful spot.
A famous walking path, the Offa's Dyke footpath, crosses the top of Moel Famau. This path is one of the most popular long-distance trails in the UK. Loggerheads Country Park is also close by.
What's in a Name?
The name Moel Famau comes from the Welsh language. The first part, moel, means 'bare'. This describes the hill, which doesn't have many trees on its top.
The second part of the name, Famau, is a bit of a mystery. It might mean 'Mothers'. So, the name could mean 'Bare Hill of Mothers'.
Long ago, people spelled the name in different ways. But today, Moel Famau is the most common spelling.
Moel Famau Country Park
The area around Moel Famau is a special place called the Moel Famau Country Park. It covers about 8 square kilometers (3 square miles).
This park is looked after by the Denbighshire Countryside Service. They help protect the plants and animals that live there. They also make sure the paths are good for visitors.
You can find different kinds of wildlife in the park. This includes birds like red grouse, European stonechat, and Eurasian curlew. The park also has beautiful heather plants and old dry stone walls.
Next to the park, there's a forest managed by Natural Resources Wales. They grow trees there for timber and for people to enjoy.
Walking to the Top
There are many paths that lead to the top of Moel Famau. Some are easy, and some are more challenging.
Two popular and easier paths start from car parks to the south. These are in a spot called Bwlch Penbarras. This is about 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) from the summit.
You can also start a walk from the north, near the old Iron Age hill fort at Moel Arthur. Another path begins from the village of Cilcain.
From the top of Moel Famau, you can see amazing views on a clear day. You might see parts of North East Wales and North West England. This includes areas like Denbighshire, Flintshire, Cheshire, and Merseyside.
If the weather is very clear, you might even see Snowdonia to the west. The Irish Sea is to the north. To the east, you can sometimes spot Liverpool, Chester, Winter Hill, and even Blackpool Tower.
The Jubilee Tower
At the very top of Moel Famau, you'll find the remains of the Jubilee Tower. This tower was started in 1810. It was meant to celebrate 50 years of King George III being on the throne.
The tower was designed to look like an Egyptian obelisk. It had three levels. However, it was never finished because they ran out of money.
In 1862, a big storm hit the tower and knocked down the unfinished parts. For safety, the rest of the top was taken down. Only the base of the tower remains today. Most of the stones were removed, but some were used by local farmers for walls.
In October 2010, people celebrated the 200th anniversary of the tower's foundation stone being laid. Local artists even lit up the tower with lights and lasers for the event.
