Moelwyn Mawr

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Moelwyn Mawr
The summit of Moelwyn Mawr.jpg
Moelwyn Mawr summit ridge
Highest point
Elevation 770 m (2,530 ft)
Prominence 385 m (1,263 ft)
Parent peak Moel Siabod
Listing Marilyn, Hewitt, Nuttall
Naming
English translationgreat white hill
Language of name Welsh
PronunciationWelsh: [ˈmɔɨlwɨnˈmaur]
Geography
Location Gwynedd, Wales
Parent range Snowdonia
OS grid SH658448
Topo map OS Landranger 124
Listed summits of Moelwyn Mawr
NameGrid refHeightStatus
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.

Contents

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]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanygrisiau</span> Human settlement in Wales

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croesor Tramway</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moelwyn Bach</span>

Moelwyn Bach is a mountain in Snowdonia, northern Wales and forms part of the Moelwynion. It is connected to its parent peak Moelwyn Mawr via the Craigysgafn ridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allt-fawr</span>

Allt-fawr is a mountain in Snowdonia, North Wales and forms part of the Moelwynion group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moel-yr-hydd</span>

Moel-yr-hydd is a subsidiary summit of Moelwyn Mawr in Snowdonia, North Wales and forms part of the Moelwynion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manod Mawr</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moelwynion</span> Mountain range in Wales

The Moelwynion are a group of mountains in central Snowdonia, north Wales. They extend from the north-east of Porthmadog to Moel Siabod, the highest of the group. The name derives from the names of two of the largest mountains in the group, Moelwyn Mawr and Moelwyn Bach, 770m and 710m, respectively. Moel Siabod, to the north, is the highest at 872m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croesor</span> Village in Gwynedd, Wales

Croesor is a small village in Gwynedd, Wales, located at the foot of Cnicht, in Cwm Croesor, in the community of Llanfrothen. The Croesor Tramway travelled along the bed of the cwm, before rising steeply to Bwlch Rhosydd via Croesor Incline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ffestiniog Power Station</span> Dam in Ffestiniog, Gwynedd

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhosydd quarry</span> Disused slate mine in North Wales

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moelwyn Mawr North Ridge Top</span>

Moelwyn Mawr North Ridge Top is a top of Moelwyn Mawr in Snowdonia, North Wales and forms part of the Moelwynion. From its summit, which directly overlooks Bwlch Rhosydd, can be seen Cnicht, Allt-fawr and Moel-yr-hydd. A recently discovered 'top' has only received attention from Nuttall baggers.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrysgan quarry</span> Disused slate quarry in North Wales

Wrysgan quarry was a slate quarry near the village of Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Festiniog, North Wales. It was worked intermittently from the 1830s, and was worked continuously from c.1850 until 1946. Wrysgan was an underground slate quarry, which was located on a small inaccessible site, some 1,390 feet (420 m) above sea level, to the west of Cwmorthin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moelwyn quarry</span> Defunct slate quarry in Wales

Moelwyn quarry is a defunct slate quarry located to the south of the village of Tanygrisiau, north Wales. Some initial prospecting was carried out in the 1820s and again in the 1840s, but it was 1860 before a company was formed, and chambers were excavated. The quarry was never a financial success, and operated sporadically until its demise in 1897. Despite the poor results, a spectacular series of seven inclines were constructed, to enable slates to reach the Ffestiniog Railway. The quarry was hampered by lack of a good water supply, and the mill was constructed between inclines 4 and 5, where water could be obtained from Llyn Stwlan. As in many quarries, barracks were provided, but these were occupied by whole families, living on the mountain, rather than used as lodgings for the quarrymen during the working week. Even in its remote location, there was still a concern for education, with basic literacy classes being run in the 1860s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fron-Boeth and Pant Mawr quarries</span> Two quarries in north Wales

Fron-Boeth and Pant Mawr quarries were two closely related and interconnected quarries on the western slopes of Moelwyn Mawr in Gwynedd, North Wales. Pant Mawr operated from around 1850 to 1879, and was partly re-opened in 1886 when it was amalgamated with Fron-Boeth. Both quarries closed during the First World War. Finished product was transported to the slate quays of Porthmadog by the Croesor Tramway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snowdonia Slate Trail</span> Long-distance footpath in North Wales

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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″N4°00′02″W / 52.98369°N 4.00044°W / 52.98369; -4.00044