Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau

Also known as:
Carnedd Fach (Carneddau)
Nearest town:
Bethesda (5km WNW)
OS reference:
SH658626
OS sheet:
115
Latitude:
53° 8' 35.69 N
Longitude:
4° 0' 23.93 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau (Round Cairn) by thesweetcheat

The western side of the cairn, Elidir Fawr briefly emerging from the cloud.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.8.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 10, 2017
Image of Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau (Round Cairn) by thesweetcheat

Looking down on lovely Cwm Lloer in a reverse of one of Gladman’s images.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.8.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 10, 2017
Image of Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau (Round Cairn) by thesweetcheat

The cairn is so large that the wind shelter only occupies part of its top. The rest is shattered rock. Looking towards Tryfan.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.8.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 10, 2017
Image of Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau (Round Cairn) by thesweetcheat

The inevitable shelter has been built into the top of the cairn. The swirling cloud hides Elidir Fawr and the western Glyderau.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.8.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 10, 2017
Image of Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau (Round Cairn) by thesweetcheat

The mist lifts to reveal the cairn on the approach from Pen yr Ole Wen. Carnedd Dafydd remains hidden beyond.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.8.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 10, 2017
Image of Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Garnedd Fach.... ‘Little Cairn’.... someone’s having a laugh. Viewpoint is Pen Llithrig-y-Wrach, looking across Pen Yr Helgi-Du

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Mar 29, 2015
Image of Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Garnedd Fach overlooks Ffynnon Lloer, source of the Afon Lloer...life and death....while Tryfan does its incomparable pyramidal thang across the Ogwen Valley, head in the clouds. Moel Siabod crowns the far horizon.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Aug 16, 2010
Image of Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Emphasising the careful siting of these great Bronze Age cairns... even in its current denuded state, Garnedd Fach is clearly visible from the surrounding uplands... here looking across Tryfan from the NE flanks of Glyder Fach. There are further examples upon Carnedd Dafydd, to its right.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 19, 2010
Image of Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Garnedd Fach crowns a ‘minor’ summit [top left, with figures approaching] of the main ridge of The Carneddau leading to 3,425ft Carnedd Dafydd [centre, skyline]. The viewpoint is Pen-yr-ole-wen.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 18, 2010
Image of Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

Looking towards the site from the wondrous Cwm Lloer, Y Carneddau. Pen yr Ole Wen is the mountain towering above to the left.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Apr 28, 2010

Articles

Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau

GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jun 30, 2009

One of the very first ancient sites I came across many moons ago....... and certainly one of the most extreme, crowning the ridge between 3,425ft Carnedd Dafydd – itself, as the name suggests, bearing a burial cairn or two – and 3,211ft Pen Yr Ole Wen. Clearly these majestic mountains held great ritual significance back then, the abode of the gods even?

The word ‘Carnedd/Garnedd’ refers to ‘cairn’ in Welsh, but only in such a landscape could this example be referred to as ‘small’.

Although much denuded and turned into a windbreak by people who really should know better – but clearly don’t – this is a truly awesome spot, particularly for those who know its significance.

I doubt even the most hardened stone-head will make a special trip – be warned, The Carneddau are serious mountains – but if you happen to pass by (as you do)......... bonus site!! Right on!

Miscellaneous

Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau
Round Cairn
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Apr 28, 2010

As is usual practice upon Britain’s more popular high places, the great Garnedd Fach cairn has been subject to much vandalism – for that is what it is, after all – inflicted upon it by passing climbers. Nevertheless it is a truly awesome location...Coflein has this to say:

‘Burial cairn, probably Bronze Age, on the ridge above Cwm Lloer. Stone built circular cairn, measuring c. 20m in diameter and up to 3.5m in height. It has been disturbed in the past, with several drystone shelters constructed and a modern walker’s cairn crowning the summit.‘

In my opinion Garnedd Fach is most ‘easily’ (Ha!) reached via Cwm Lloer, following the outlflow of Ffynnon Lloer from the A5 near Tal Y Llyn Ogwen. From here the SE ridge of Pen yr Ole Wen provides the most natural line of ascent. Hell, if it looks too much when lake side .... a trip to the cwm is more than enough [it really is] since, surely, this great hidden valley, with its life giving water source, was the primary focus of the burial cairn sited above? Whether you go the whole distance or not, make sure you are properly equipped since The Carneddau takes no prisoners.

Sites within 20km of Garnedd Fach, Y Carneddau

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