Yr Wyddfa

Also known as:
Snowdon and Yr Wyddfa Fawr
Nearest town:
Blaenau Ffestiniog (12km ESE)
OS reference:
SH60985437
OS sheet:
115
Latitude:
53° 4' 5.06 N
Longitude:
4° 4' 30.37 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Viewed from a very hostile Yr Aran: there are (sometimes) rewards for perseverance in the face of adversity. Llanberis Pass is filled to the brim, top right.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Oct 29, 2018
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

A worthy spot for a giant’s burial, perhaps? Yr Wyddfa Fawr viewed from Yr Aran

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Oct 29, 2018
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The view of Yr Wyddfa from the Neolithic chambered long barrow of Bryn yr Hen Pobl on Anglesey.

Image credit: A. Brookes (18.7.2016)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 4, 2016
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

From Bwlchgylfin to the west. Close to this spot five or six cists were discovered in 1832 – nice backdrop for a resting place.

Image credit: A. Brookes (30.4.2016)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat May 22, 2016
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Yr Wyddfa rises majestically over the Nantlle valley. Seen from Clogwyn y Barcut (“Crag of the Kite”) below the Nantlle ridge.

Image credit: A. Brookes (30.4.2016)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat May 22, 2016
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by postman

A fantastic view of the big one at the end of a long and draining walk/climb/crawl/stagger.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman May 22, 2016
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Yr Wyddfa, left of centre and Moel Hebog to the right, seen from Abersoch many miles to the southwest.

Image credit: A. Brookes (21.4.2016)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat May 13, 2016
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Yr Wyddfa from the Snowdon Ranger station. The path that climbs the mountain from here involves the third most ascent of the main paths (ta Mr G).

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.4.2016)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 29, 2016
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Yr Wyddfa from the coast near Llanfair. Harlech is the town.

Image credit: A. Brookes (15.8.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 4, 2015
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by postman

Yr Wyddfa, Snowdon, from Gyrn Ddu over 13 miles east south east.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Aug 17, 2015
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

A bit hazy, a bit blurry for my zoom, but this is our first sight of Yr Wyddfa from the Wales Coast Path.

Image credit: A. Brookes (22.4.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat May 2, 2015
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Yr Wyddfa (approx centre skyline) has – to my mind – come to represent far more than ‘highest mountain in Wales’.... rather to embody something as nebulous as a ‘national character’. If only that cairn was still there in some more tangible form than ‘spirit’. This is arguably the finest viewpoint, looking across Nantgwynant from Moel Meirch.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 5, 2014
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The wonderful near-symmetrical western profile of Yr Wyddfa, seen across Llyn y Dywarchen.

Image credit: A. Brookes (13.9.2014)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Oct 29, 2014
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by postman

As seen across llyn Cwellyn from the eastern slopes of Mynydd Mawr.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 13, 2014
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

An old (unfortunately undated) postcard image of the summit of Yr Wyddfa showing a massive cairn still in situ in historic times.....

Image credit: Unknown
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 7, 2014
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Cloud boils over Yr Wyddfa. Seen from the north ridge, one of the quieter routes down from the mountain.

Image credit: A. Brookes (9.11.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 8, 2014
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The cliffs of Clogwyn y Garnedd tower gloomy and forbidding over the PYG path. The summit is lost in the cloud at the top of the cliff face.

Image credit: A. Brookes (9.11.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 6, 2014
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by postman

The Snowdon horseshoe in all its misty majesty, Yr Wyddfa is inevitably the high point on the right stll in cloud.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 16, 2013
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by postman

Yr Wyddfa as glimpsed from Castell y Gwynt, will it wont it, show itself that is.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 16, 2013
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by postman

As seen en route up the south side of Glyder Fawr .

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 16, 2013
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by postman

As seen en route down the north side of Glyder Fawr, it sure did, show itself that is.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 16, 2013
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Yr Eryri – with Yr Wyddfa third from right – rises at the head of Dyffryn Mymbyr.... viewed across the Llynnau Mymbyr. But what does that matter? The light and moment were everything. Here’s to you and your moment.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Feb 2, 2013
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Looking across Llyn Llydaw from somewhere around Bwlch Ciliau...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jan 28, 2013
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The inevitably crowded summit itself, surmounted by a topograph. Presumably if there was a Bronze Age cairn, it was right here.

Image credit: A. Brookes (12.6.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jul 4, 2012
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Approaching the summit from the north. The highest point is very elevated on all sides. Any cairn placed here, aside from enjoying the pre-eminent high-spot in England and Wales, also benefits from a perfect natural dais, just to add to the general grandeur. If you can put the crowds, station, restaurant, etc out of mind, this remains a lovely, awe-inspiring mountain top for pilgrimage.

Image credit: A. Brookes (12.6.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jul 4, 2012
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Yr Wyddfa from Bwlch Glas, near the meeting place of the various northern, eastern and western paths to the summit. The imposing cliffs of Clogwyn y Garnedd make for a dramatic view of this fine peak. Imagine a pilgrimage to a cairn on top of this, 3,000 years ago.

Image credit: A. Brookes (12.6.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jul 3, 2012
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The Snowdon massif seen from Dinas Ty-Du hillfort to the NNW.

Image credit: A. Brookes (11.6.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jun 14, 2012
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by postman

Couldn’t resist one more picture of the wonderous Yr Wyddfa, even with low clouds obsucring the pointy bits. Nant Y Llys long cairn and the Cwm Dyli settlement are in the valley between us and the mountain.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Dec 11, 2011
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Towards the horsehoe across Llynnau Mymbyr. The top of Yr Wyddfa is missing in action today.

Image credit: A. Brookes (10.12.2011)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 10, 2011
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Nightfall looking across the Llynnau Mymbyr towards the Snowdon Massif..... Yr Wyddfa-Fawr is centre skyline, third from right. Dyffryn Mymbyr is overlooked by a number of Bronze Age cairns upon its left hand (southern) flank, chief amongst them that placed near the summit of Moel Siabod. There is also a (presumably?) Neolithic ‘Long Mound’ high up to the right. Clearly this valley meant a lot to the ancients...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 30, 2011
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Spectacularly sited? You bet. Seen from Y Lliwedd (almost 900m up), the summit of Yr Wyddfa still seems to be up in the sky.

Image credit: A. Brookes (9.4.2011)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 17, 2011
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The horseshoe, (l-r) Lliwedd Bach, Y Lliwedd (east and west peaks), Yr Wyddfa, Crib Goch, Crib y Ddysgl.

Image credit: A. Brookes (9.4.2011)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 17, 2011
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

First sight of the horseshoe, seen across Llynau Mymbyr from Capel Curig. The shoulder of Carnedd Moel Siabod fills the left of the pic, but the eye is drawn irresistably across the water.

Image credit: A. Brookes (9.4.2011)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 17, 2011
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Yr Wyddfa (’The Tomb’) rises top right of image across a frozen Llyn Teyrn (’’Ruler’s’ or ‘Monarch’s’ Lake’), with Y Lliwedd’s twin summits top left. It is at times like these that the assignment of legends to such awesome landscape features seems not only natural, but inevitable, bearing in mind the psychology of humankind. Yr Wyddfa’s (presumed) Bronze Age funerary cairn is – at the very best – all but gone. We are therefore left only with the legends. This begs the question of how many more such summit monuments must disappear before we finally realise their true value and take steps to protect them from the ignorant? Highlighting and popularising them is a good start, I think...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 4, 2010
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Yr Wyddfa, summit peak of Snowdon, rises moodily above the nascent Afon Glaslyn. Glaslyn, the source of the river, lies out of sight just beyond the highlight. So once again we have – sorry, had – a Bronze Age cairn overlooking the birthplace of a river.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 4, 2010
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Some justification for the popular name ‘Snowdon’, I guess. To my mind it will always be ‘Yr Wyddfa’, however, site of the former mother of all Welsh Bronze Age cairns..... Bwlch y saethau is below to left

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 20, 2010
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Clogwyn y Garnedd (’Crag of the Cairn’).... the great eastern flank of Yr Wyddfa (’the Tomb’), viewed in stark silhouette from the north. The siting of – surely – the former Bronze Age cairn is, to my mind, frankly awesome. Incidentally, the sunlit ridge leading to Y Lliwedd, beyond, bears Bwlch y Saethau (Pass of the Arrows), a reference to a battle Arthur is said to have fought here in lore. Glaslyn, source of the river, is just visible extreme bottom left. Once again we have a (presumed) Bronze Age cairn overlooking a nascent river.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 20, 2010
Image of Yr Wyddfa (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Looking approx north-east from Yr Wyddfa, Snowdon. Although very little (if anything?) remains of the presumed original Bronze Age summit funerary cairn, there was clearly quite a lot going on ‘down below’, so to speak ........ approx positions of nearby prehistoric sites are indicated to the best of my ability. Crib Goch is the peak centre left of image.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 20, 2010

Articles

Yr Wyddfa

Part of the Snowdon massif for sale

thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jul 30, 2014

A large part of Wales’ highest mountain is being prepared for sale.

The 500-acres on the northern slopes of the mountain comprises Clogwyn Du’r Arddu, regarded as one of the premier rock climbing areas in Britain, and rough pasture land from below the cliffs to the Halfway station on the Snowdon Mountain Railway.

A website created by agents acting for farmer Dafydd Morris states: “This famous mountain is regarded as one of the wonders of Wales, the jewel in the crown of Snowdonia and one of the most visited tourist attractions in the UK.

“Snowdon or Yr Wyddfa in Welsh is the highest mountain in Wales and is the home to a number of rare plant and bird species including the world renowned Snowdon Lily artic-alpine plant, treasured by the Welsh nation.

“A large part of the Snowdon massif is up for sale and Dafydd Morris is calling on all conservationists and the public in general to grasp the opportunity to buy a part of Snowdon to help conserve and cultivate its natural beauty for generations to come.”

It is understood Mr Morris is planning to sell Clogwyn Du’r Arddu in one lot and the remainder of the land in smaller parcels.

Mr Morris was not available for comment but a spokesman said no final decision has been taken yet as to whether the sale will go ahead.

“All the necessary components for a possible sale have not been finalised and a final decision whether or not to sell the land has been taken,” he said.

walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/snowdon-sale-farmer-prepares-sell-7537087

Folklore

Yr Wyddfa
Cairn(s)
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 10, 2017

The Mantle of Kings’ Beards:

An account of the titanic, legendary struggle between King Arthur and Rhitta Gawr. Needless to say Arthur emerged victorious – well he would, wouldn’t he? – the story (arguably) lending credence to the theory that Yr Wyddfa Fawr (Snowdon) was once crowned by the premier Bronze Age cairn in all Wales:

“...And Rhitta gave up the ghost, and was buried on the top of the highest mountain of Eryri, and each of his soldiers placed a stone on his tomb. The place was afterwards known as Gwyddfa Rhitta, Rhitta’s Barrow, but the English call it Snowdon.”

sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/wfb/wfb39.htm

Folklore

Yr Wyddfa
Cairn(s)
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 17, 2010

The highest summit in Wales is generally known as Snowdon, no doubt since it is often snow-clad during the winter months. In Welsh, however, it is known as Yr Wyddfa, which translates as ‘the tomb’.... I’ve also heard it referred to as Yr Wyddfa Fawr, ‘the great tomb’, or ‘burial place’. Legend has it that the summit cairn, at 3,560ft, marked the final resting place of Rhita Fawr, a war-like giant finally put in his place by none other than Arthur (yes, him again). Must have been a pretty big cairn to ostensibly cover a giant, one would have thought? More’s the pity – nay, calamity – therefore, that it has been thoroughly decimated, not only by countless visitors to the summit, but by the construction of the railway and summit cafe, thus leaving Carnedd Llewleyn’s monument as surely the highest surviving of it’s type in Wales.

According to The Gwynedd Archaeological Trust (PRN13943) Yr Wyddfa’s cairn is:

‘A presumable Bronze Age funerary cairn located on the summit of the highest mountain in Wales. The original cairn has been altered beyond recognition by generations of hill walkers, mountaineers and sightseers. A trig point marks the highest point.‘

What might have been, eh? It’s also interesting to note that the great eastern face of Yr Wyddfa is known as Clogwyn y Garnedd (’Crag of the Cairn’) and overlooks Glaslyn, source of the Afon Glaslyn. Enough said, perhaps?

Sites within 20km of Yr Wyddfa

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