Bangor Mountain

Last updated

Bangor Mountain
Top of bangor mountain.JPG
Top of Bangor Mountain
Highest point
Elevation 117 m (384 ft) [1]
Prominence 31 m (102 ft)
Parent peak Elidir Fawr   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Coordinates 53°13′37″N4°07′16″W / 53.22704°N 4.12113°W / 53.22704; -4.12113
Naming
Native nameMynydd Bangor (Welsh)
Geography
Wales relief location map.jpg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Bangor Mountain
OS grid SH585721
Topo map OS Landranger 115

Bangor Mountain (Welsh: Mynydd Bangor) is a scarp face of a hill [2] below which the city of Bangor in Gwynedd, Wales, sits. [3]

Though not a mountain in the true sense of the word it is so-called because of the way it rears up behind Bangor and appears mountainous, especially from the Glan Adda, High Street and Hirael areas of the city.

The north-facing part of the summit was worked up with a series of paths in the late 19th century when the area was promoted as 'the pleasure grounds' in tourism literature. The Mountain is much less precipitous on its southern side. Along a substantial part of the crest of the mountain is Bangor Golf Club more properly St Deiniol's Golf Club. Because of the shape of the mountain, the golf course is linear and crosses some lanes and minor roads, including Bishop's Mill Road which was once the main route into Bangor from the south. From the south, where access is permitted, there are fine views of Puffin Island, the Great Orme, parts of the coastline, and some of the (true) mountains of Snowdonia.

There are several rocky outcrops at high points on the mountain providing panoramic views of the city centre, the Menai Strait and over to the east of Anglesey, including the town of Beaumaris. This is probably the best location from which to see the buildings of the Bangor University and the cathedral as shown in the image below (the old Students Union building, and the former Theatr Gwynedd to the centre-left of this photo, have been replaced by the new Pontio building).

View of Bangor from Bangor Mountain Bangor from Bangor-mountain.jpg
View of Bangor from Bangor Mountain

Along the side of the high street, the scarp slope is nearly vertical and clothed with trees. The slope is so severe and the mountain so close at the North end of the High Street, that one short section does not receive direct sunlight between November and February.

Bangor Mountain has a diverse ecology with a variety of mixed woods, open grassland and extensive areas of gorse although biodiversity appears to be significantly reduced within the confines of the golf course. To the north, there are some stands of Leycesteria formosa , and Japanese knotweed. The latter seems to have been present for many years without invading large areas. Around the rocky outcrops and alongside some of the many paths that weave their way around the mountain are large deposits of litter.

The extensive groves of gorse are often set alight by arsonists in dry summers producing a blaze that can be seen for many miles around. Whilst this may benefit the gorse and the ecosystem-based around gorse, the fires often spread into other areas of established woods where considerable damage is caused. These fires can also threaten gardens and outbuildings lining the base of the hill.

Bangor Mountain provides the main southern watershed for the River Adda, the principal river flowing through Bangor. However, as the river has now been culverted throughout its whole length in the built-up area of the city, it is little known to the city's population.

Part of Bangor Mountain was removed to provide car parking for a new discount supermarket. As a result, the footpath in this area now approaches very close to a precipitous edge protected by two-metre-high railings topped with sawtooth edging. The placement of the car park has occasionally led to vandals damaging parked cars utilising throwing rubble down from the footpath.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenmount National Park</span> Protected area in Western Australia

Greenmount National Park is a national park in the locality of Greenmount, Western Australia, 22 km east of Perth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangor, Gwynedd</span> City and community in Wales

Bangor is a cathedral city and community in Gwynedd, North Wales. It is the oldest city in Wales. Historically part of Caernarfonshire, it had a population of 18,322 in 2019. Landmarks include Bangor Cathedral, Bangor University and Garth Pier. The Britannia and Menai Suspension bridges connect the city to the Isle of Anglesey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pillar (Lake District)</span> Mountain in the English Lake District, Cumbria, England

Pillar is a mountain in the western part of the English Lake District. Situated between the valleys of Ennerdale to the north and Wasdale to the south, it is the highest point of the Pillar group. At 892 metres (2,927 ft) it is the eighth-highest mountain in the Lake District. The fell takes its name from Pillar Rock, a prominent feature on the Ennerdale side, regarded as the birthplace of rock climbing in the district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robinson (Lake District)</span>

Robinson is a fell in the English Lake District, its southern slopes descending to Buttermere, while its northern side is set in the Newlands Valley. Paths lead to the summit from the village of Buttermere, from the nearby summit Dale Head and from various locations in the valleys to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nethermost Pike</span> Fell in Cumbria, England

Nethermost Pike is a fell in Cumbria, England, and a part of the Lake District. At 891 metres (2,923 ft) it is the second highest Wainwright in the Helvellyn range, the highest of which is Helvellyn itself. It is located close to the southern end of the ridge, with Helvellyn to the north, and High Crag and Dollywaggon Pike to the south. Nethermost Pike, along with many of the Eastern Fells, lies between Thirlmere in the west and the Ullswater catchment in the east. The closest villages are Glenridding and Patterdale on the shores of Ullswater, over 8 kilometres (5 mi) away.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pike of Blisco</span> Mountain in the English Lake District, Cumbria, England

Pike of Blisco, or Pike o' Blisco, is a mountain in the Lake District in Cumbria, England. Located between the valleys of Great Langdale and Little Langdale, its relative isolation from neighbouring fells together with slopes falling away immediately from the summit in all directions mean it has excellent views: the view of the Langdale Pikes across Great Langdale is particularly arresting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loughrigg Fell</span> Fell in the Lake District, Cumbria, England

Loughrigg Fell is a hill in the central part of the English Lake District. It stands on the end of the long ridge coming down from High Raise over Silver How towards Ambleside, and is separated from its neighbours by the depression of Red Bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleeve Hill, Gloucestershire</span> Hill in Gloucestershire, England

Cleeve Hill is the highest point both of the Cotswolds hill range and of the county of Gloucestershire, at 330 m (1,080 ft). It is located on Cleeve Common, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) looked after by a small charity called Cleeve Common Trust. It commands a clear view to the west, over Cheltenham and the racecourse, over the River Severn and into Wales; and to the north over Winchcombe. It is a conspicuous outcrop on the edge of the limestone escarpment,. It is crossed by the Cotswold Way footpath.

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

Maesgeirchen is a large housing estate on the edge of the city of Bangor in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, with roughly 4,000 inhabitants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mellbreak</span> Hill in Cumbria, England

Mellbreak is a hill in the Western part of the English Lake District. Despite being surrounded on all sides by higher fells, it stands in isolation. It is surrounded on three sides by a "moat" of deep marshy land, and on the east side by the lake of Crummock Water. The fell forms a partnership with the lake, running parallel to it, falling sheer into it, and regularly providing the backdrop for pictures of it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newtimber</span> Human settlement in England

Newtimber is a small village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. It is located north-west of Brighton. The parish also includes the hamlet of Saddlescombe. The parish lies almost wholly with the South Downs National Park, with the exception of a small section of the parish north of the B2117 road. The planning authority for Newtimber is therefore the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), the statutory planning authority for the National Park area. The downland scarp, which includes Newtimber Hill, Newtimber Holt, Saddlescombe chalk quarry and Summer Down, is mostly part of the Beeding Hill to Newtimber Hill, designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.

River Adda is a small watercourse which flows, through the city of Bangor North Wales before discharging into the Menai Strait at Hirael Bay, opposite Porth Penrhyn. The name is said to be of 19th-century origin, deriving from a field Cae Mab Adda close to its source. Its earlier name was Tarannon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whin Rigg</span>

Whin Rigg is a fell in the English Lake District, situated in the western segment of the national park, 22 kilometres south east of the town of Whitehaven. It reaches only a modest altitude of 535 m (1,755 ft) but is part of one of the Lake District’s most dramatic landscapes in that the rugged and impressive Wastwater Screes fall from the fells summit to Wast Water over 450 m (1,500 ft) below. The fell's name means “gorse covered ridge” and originates from the Old Norse words “Hvin” meaning gorse and “Hryggr” meaning Ridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lomond Hills</span> Range of hills in central Scotland

The Lomond Hills, also known outside the locality as the Paps of Fife, are a range of hills in central Scotland. They lie in western central Fife and Perth and Kinross, Scotland. At 522 metres (1,713 ft) West Lomond is the highest point in the county of Fife.

The North Wales Path is a long-distance walk of some 60 miles (97 km) that runs close to the coast of northern Wales between Prestatyn in the east and Bangor in the west. Parts of it overlap with the Wales Coast Path. The path runs along parts of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The path was devised, implemented and maintained by the then Countryside Council for Wales and the three councils of: Gwynedd, Conwy, and Denbighshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tully Mountain</span> Mountain in Massachusetts

Tully Mountain, 1,163 ft (354 m), is a prominent, steep-sided monadnock located in north central Massachusetts in the town of Orange. It is part of the Tully Mountain Wilderness Management Area. An exposed east facing ledge on the summit provides views of the Millers River valley, Mount Monadnock, Mount Wachusett, and the Wapack Range. The 22-mile (35 km) Tully Trail traverses the mountain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waun Lefrith</span> Hill (676.1m) in Carmarthenshire, Wales

Waun Lefrith is a top of Picws Du and is also the westernmost of the Carmarthen Fans, a group of peaks within the Black Mountain of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It lies within Carmarthenshire, Wales. The summit plateau of the mountain reaches a height of 2221 feet above sea level. Picws Du and Fan Foel are the other, higher summits of the Carmarthen Fans. The glacial lake of Llyn y Fan Fach dominates the panorama to the north of the peak. Beyond the lake to the north lies the Usk Reservoir and then the Cambrian Mountains on the horizon. Swansea Bay and the Bristol Channel are visible to the south across the undulating dip slope of the mountain. The Towy (Tywi) valley lies to the west, with Llandovery and Llandeilo as important market towns nearest to the hills.

The footpaths of Gibraltar provide access to key areas of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, a refuge for hundreds of species of flora and fauna which in some cases are found nowhere else in Europe. The reserve occupies the upper part of the Rock of Gibraltar, a long and narrow mountain that rises to a maximum height of 424 metres (1,391 ft) above sea level, and constitutes around 40 per cent of Gibraltar's total land area. The unusual geology of the Rock of Gibraltar – a limestone peak adjoining a sandstone hinterland – provides a habitat for plants and animals, such as the Gibraltar candytuft and Barbary partridge, which are found nowhere else in mainland Europe. For many years, the Upper Rock was reserved exclusively for military use; it was fenced off for military purposes, but was decommissioned and converted into a nature reserve in 1993.

Foel Chwern is a Round cairn on the edge of the high plateau east of the Neath valley, and near the summit of Craig y Llyn. The headwaters of the River Rhondda are to the south-west. It is a burial monument dating to the Bronze Age, and is sited on the edge of a steep scarp slope, with a wide field of view to the north. The long distance footpath Coed Morgannwg Way runs close by the cairn. Conifer plantations of the Rheola Forest surround the site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parciau hill fort</span> Roman period hill fort on Anglesey

Parciau hill fort is a hill fort on the Welsh island of Anglesey. It stands on the summit of Bryn Ddiôl, whose name means "trackless hill".

References

  1. "Topographic map of Bangor Mountain". opentopomap.org. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  2. "Upper Bangor, Gwynedd". Ordnance Survey. 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  3. "Views of Bangor from Bangor Mountain". Bangor Civic Society. 2006. Retrieved 9 April 2019.