Moelwyn Mawr

Moelwyn Mawr
Moelwyn Mawr summit ridge
Highest point
Elevation770 m (2,530 ft)
Prominence385 m (1,263 ft)
Parent peakMoel Siabod
ListingMarilyn, Hewitt, Nuttall
Naming
English translationgreat white hill
Language of nameWelsh
PronunciationWelsh: [ˈmɔɨlwɨn ˈmaur]
Geography
Map
LocationGwynedd, Wales
Parent rangeSnowdonia
OS gridSH658448
Topo mapOS Landranger 124
Listed summits of Moelwyn Mawr
Name Grid ref Height Status
Moelwyn Bach 710 m (2,330 ft) Hewitt, Nuttall
Craigysgafn 689 m (2,260 ft) sub Hewitt, Nuttall
Moel-yr-hydd 648 m (2,126 ft) Hewitt, Nuttall
Moelwyn Mawr North Ridge Top 640 m (2,100 ft) Nuttall

Moelwyn Mawr is a mountain in Snowdonia, North Wales and forms part of the Moelwynion. Its summit overlooks the Vale of Ffestiniog and has views in all directions.

Site of Special Scientific Interest

In 1990, Moelwyn Mawr was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest[1][2][3] of national scientific importance. The glaciated landscape of the mountain provides fine examples of two specific Pleistocene features. On the north-east flank of the mountain is a terrain of patterned ground, consisting of small-scale vegetated stripes. On the north side, a debris tongue formed by a rock glacier extends into Cwm Croesor.

Quarrying

Slate quarrying was a major industry for many years in the Moelwynion. Moelwyn Mawr's flanks have several major quarries on them. To the north is Croesor Quarry perched high above Cwm Croesor. To the north east is Rhosydd Quarry on the col between Cwm Croesor and Cwm Orthin. Within Cwm Orthin, Conglog and Wrysgan quarries are located on the north slope of the mountain. Within Cwm Ystradau to the east lies Moelwyn Slate Quarry.[4]

Walking

A common hike combines both Moelwyn Mawr and Moelwyn Bach via the Craigysgafn ridge.[citation needed]

A steep climb to the summit (which has a trig point) allows views of areas that cannot be seen without climbing.[citation needed]

Moelwyn Mawr has a high reservoir, Llyn Stwlan, which is part of the Ffestiniog Power Station pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant in Tanygrisiau.

The walk over the main peaks in the Moelwyns, those being Moelwyn Mawr and Moelwyn Bach involves a walk up a disused incline, before gaining the grassy slopes of Moelwyn Mawr and onto the rockier Moelwyn Bach, before walking back down the road from the Stwlan Dam. Both the Snowdonia and Harlech Ordnance Survey maps are needed to cover the walk. Transport to the beginning may be done by car to Tanygrisiau or Ffestiniog, or by train from Llandudno Junction.[5]

References

  1. ^ "MOELWYN MAWR SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST, Citation (English)" (PDF). Countryside Council for Wales. 1990.
  2. ^ "MOELWYN MAWR SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST, Citation (Cymryu)" (PDF). Countryside Council for Wales. 1990.
  3. ^ "MOELWYN MAWR SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST, Map" (PDF). Countryside Council for Wales. 1990.
  4. ^ Boyd, James I.C. (1975) [1959]. The Festiniog Railway 1800 - 1974; Vol. 2 - Locomotives and Rolling Stock; Quarries and Branches: Rebirth 1954-74. The British Narrow Gauge Railway. Blandford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 978-0-85361-168-4. OCLC 874117875. B1B.
  5. ^ Nuttall, John & Anne (1999). The Mountains of England & Wales - Volume 1: Wales (2nd edition ed.). Milnthorpe, Cumbria: Cicerone. ISBN 1-85284-304-7.

52°59′01″N 4°00′02″W / 52.98369°N 4.00044°W / 52.98369; -4.00044


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