Images (47)
Fieldnotes (3)
Miscellaneous (1)
Links (1)

Images

Image of Pen Llithrig y Wrach (Round Cairn) by postman

Cairn topped Pen Llithrig y Wrach zoomed upon from the route back from Hafodygors wen.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Jun 21, 2017

Image of Pen Llithrig y Wrach (Round Cairn) by GLADMAN

The ‘Slippery Hill of the Witch’ approaching dusk...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 1, 2016

One interpretation of the Bronze Age practice of interning their (presumably) VIPs upon mountain tops would be a desire to quite literally ‘claim the high ground’ over other local groups... here, however, Nature puts such assumed ambitions firmly in perspective, figures surmounting Pen Llithrig y Wrach’s monument fading to irrelevance from Cregiau Gleision.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Oct 31, 2016

Zoomed at from Iwerddon hill seven and a half miles south east.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Oct 19, 2016

Pen Llithrig Y Wrach seen from Tal y Fan, no matter where you see this cairn topped mountain from it’s very distinctive shape will always give it away.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Oct 26, 2015

Image of Pen Llithrig y Wrach (Round Cairn) by thesweetcheat

Pen Llithrig y Wrach, far centre, while the higher peaks of the Glyders (left) and Moel Siabod (right) hide away in the cloud. The viewpoint is Y Cyrniau in the Moelwyns.

Image credit: A. Brookes (12.9.2015)

thesweetcheat Oct 2, 2015

Seen through a zoom lens from very near Cnicht.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Sep 13, 2015

From on top of Foel Fras, That must be Moel Siabod rising in the haze beyond.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Jun 28, 2015

Pen Llithrig y Wrach and it’s cairn on the left, Pen Yr Helgi Du on the right.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Jun 28, 2015

The fact that I can’t convey the emotions generated by moments such as the one (sort of) captured here – a few seconds of my life – without waving arms and wild gesticulations suggests a possible motive for the placement of upland cairns... the impossibly enigmatic Tryfan can be seen centre left rising above Llyn Ogwen. Carnedd Dafydd is top right skyline with Garnedd Fach visible to its left, even at this distance.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Apr 1, 2015

Pen Llithrig y Wrach (centre), seen across Llyn Cowlyd from the north ridge of Creigiau Gleision. Tryfan can just be seen to the left, Carnedd Llewelyn rises behind on the right.

Image credit: A. Brookes (9.11.2014)

thesweetcheat Jan 5, 2015

Seen from the rock-strewn slopes of Glyder Fach as we entered the hanging cloud. Pen Llithrig y Wrach is left of centre.

Image credit: A. Brookes (14.9.2013)

thesweetcheat Nov 20, 2013

Pen Llithrig y Wrach is the round shouldered mountain in fleeting sun on the left. From Braich y Ddeugwm, Glyderau.

Image credit: A. Brookes (14.9.2013)

thesweetcheat Nov 20, 2013

Pen Llithrig y Wrach is central here

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Sep 15, 2013

Cairn upon the left hand mountain

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Sep 15, 2013

One of the worlds, no Wales’ highest lakes, and Pen Llithrig y Wrach, a mountain with a cairn on it.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Sep 15, 2013

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Sep 15, 2013

Some further landscape context. The mountain is slightly left of centre, the cairn under fleeting shadow, the viewpoint is Tryfan.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.7.2013)

thesweetcheat Sep 8, 2013

Pen Llithrig y Wrach as seen across Llyn Eigiau from Clogwyn yr eryr

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Sep 23, 2012

Pen Llithrig y Wrach from Cwm Eigiau.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.5.2012)

thesweetcheat May 29, 2012

Pen Llithrig y Wrach and Pen yr Helgi Du from Craig yr Ysfa, looking down on Cwm Eigiau. There is a possible collapsed dolmen in the valley.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.5.2012)

thesweetcheat May 29, 2012

Becairned Pen Llithrig y Wrach is in the rear, with Pen yr Helgi Du in the foreground and the ridge Craig yr Ysfa before that.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman May 28, 2012

With beautiful Carnedd Llewelyn and Pen yr Helgi Du beyond

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Mar 27, 2012

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Mar 27, 2012

Carnedd Moel Siabod beyond with tired children for scale

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Mar 27, 2012

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Mar 27, 2012

With only blue skies beyond

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Mar 27, 2012

Seen from above Tal y Braich

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Mar 27, 2012

Image of Pen Llithrig y Wrach (Round Cairn) by Meic

26th July 2011

Image credit: Michael Mitchell

Meic Jan 22, 2012

The ‘Slippery Hill of the Witch’ rises above Cwm Eigiau, top right.... a suitable place for a Bronze Age VIP, one would have thought? The viewpoint is Craig Eigiau.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Dec 28, 2011

Pen Llithrig Y Wrach, left, then Pen Yr Helgi Du, then off into the clouds with the Carneddau.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Dec 23, 2011

Pen Llithrig Y Wrach as seen from the dam at Llyn Cowlyd

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Dec 23, 2011

The summit upper right with Llyn Cowlyd below and a cloud wreathed Moel Siabod beyond.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Dec 23, 2011

The summit slowly shaking off those pesky clouds

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Dec 23, 2011

Pen Llithrig Y Wrach, left, and Pen Yr Helgi Du leading off to the right and up to the Carneddau

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Dec 23, 2011

Pen Llithrig y Wrach (799 m)

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Dec 11, 2011

Pen Llithrig y Wrach (left)and Creigiau Gleision (right) with Llyn Cowlyd between

Image credit: Chris Bickerton

postman Dec 11, 2011

Pen Llithrig y Wrach (centre) seen from the northern slopes of Moel Siabod.

Image credit: A. Brookes (10.12.2011)

thesweetcheat Dec 10, 2011

Highlighting the approx positions of some of the monuments which cluster around Pen Llithrig y Wrach.... the viewpoint is Gallt yr Ogof, Glyderau.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Dec 20, 2010

The Bronze Age peoples of Snowdonia chose the sites of their burial cairns well......... towards Pen Llithrig y Wrach (top right) across a somewhat moody Llyn Cowlyd.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 29, 2010

The ‘Slippery Hill of the Witch’ from across Llyn Eigiau........ note the dam wall to left, breached in 1925 with catastrophic consequences.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 9, 2010

Well, they say the sun shines on them.... a righteous experience at Pen Llithrig y Wrach’s Bronze Age cairn, the streaming sun indicating the approx site of the Dyffryn Mymbyr cairn visited the day before... Moel Siabod rises above, crowned by its own monument. Bless it.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 9, 2010

Looking across Llyn Eigiau towards some of the north-eastern Carneddau’s other prehistoric sites.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2010

Highlighting the main ridge of The Carneddau... the collective name translates as ‘cairns’ and is apt... since Garnedd Fach, Carnedd Dafydd, Carnedd Llewelyn and Foel Grach (all visible) bear Bronze Age funerary cairns.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2010

Looking towards Ogwen from the cairn. Tryfan is, well, Tryfan. There can be only one. Note: the small metal cylinder within the cairn is a spent flare. Hopefully this is the reminder of an successful rescue and not an exercise.....

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2010

The Bronze Age summit cairn... Carnedd Llewelyn, site of Wales’ highest (surviving) prehistoric monument, dominates beyond, with Foel Grach – bearing another funerary cairn – to its right.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2010

Approaching from the north-east. There is a path, but no fun in following that..... why walk when you can wade. Why, indeed?

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2010

Articles

Pen Llithrig y Wrach

Round Cairn

postman Mar 27, 2012

A strange turn of events led us back to the “Slippery hill of the witch” on a Sunday with time and a few sponds, it was Erics idea he practically begged me to come back, I was going to go to the Near Peak district, but he was adamant, he wanted to have another crack at that mountain that defeated him last time, and he wanted to bring his mate, whom for reasons that will become apparent will remain nameless.

We parked in the Ogwen valley by the entrance to a farm that is on the way to the cairn topped mountain. As the walk started we first had to cross over a cattle grid, Eric’s mate looked at it strangely and said “what’s that?” he wasn’t kidding either it was the first time he’d seen one, he crossed it gingerly in his wellies, and me and Eric exchanged glances.
After the farm had been passed we made it up to the nice to walk beside weir/canal, Eric changed out of trousers and into shorts, it was that warm, i’ve never seen anyone climb a mountain in shorts and T shirt before, strange days indeed.

When the weir reaches the small valley between Pen yr Helgi Du and Pen Llithrig y Wrach we head up to the saddle between the two (Bwlch y Tri Marchog) following the stream uphill. On the way we saw two small brown smooth lizards and some mountain ponies.
At the top of the Bwlch y Tri Marchog we could look down into Cwm Eigiau, the perfect glacier made valley, and up to Carnedd llewelyn with the narrow ridge linking it to the lower but no less lovely Pen yr helgi du. It was a heavenly place to sit and consume some butties, and catch our breath, two mountains a week is perhaps close to my limit.

Then it’s up to the summit, through a rocky path that is well worn and has the best view of The Carneddau that there is to my knowledge. Whilst photographing this Snowdonian spectacle eric stayed with me as a loving son is wont to do, but his mate carried on up on his own, he left the only two people who could help if nessasary, I was a tadd annoyed but tried not to show it.
Finally we caught up to the loner at the top, it was very gratifying to finally get to the top, the list got shorter for a change.
The cairn is I think if anything getting smaller, I can only hope that the bump the small pile of stones is on is the main part of the cairn. We all take up residence at the cairn even going so far as to take our shoes off, really making ourselves at home. I lied down propped up on shoulders surveying the haze that can’t hide the better half of the national park. Behind me coming back to the fore is what the kids are doing behind me, to my absolute horror Eric’s mate was seeing how far he could throw stones over the edge, I sternly reminded him there was a footpath down there, with people walking on it, and those stones are from someones grave that has been there for 4000 years and your just chucking it over the edge to show how cool you are. I was not impressed, I made them go away from the cairn and collect some more stones and replace them on the cairn, Eric wasn’t impressed with him either, and Eric’s mate wasn’t impressed, with me. Really, even though educated into what’s what some people don’t care, last time he comes out with me I can tell you.

That said not even a naughty mouthy kid can spoil my enjoyment of this place, the weather is amazing so warm and dry and those views are to die for, the eye is forever torn up to the Carneddau, especially llewelyn and the narrow ridge down to Pen yr Helgi Du, Ive never seen the mountains look so enticing, one day me and Alken will walk it, and properly enjoy the wonderful beauty of this place.
On the way down I try to find Bwlch Cowlyd but I cant even remember what it is i’m looking for, oh well someone will find it one day i’m sure.

Pen Llithrig y Wrach

Round Cairn

postman Dec 23, 2011

This was to be Eric’s first real mountain climb, his slack jawed expression of disbelief when I pointed out where we were going wasn’t very encouraging.
We parked as close to the dam on Llyn Cowlyd and started the walk, we probably spent too much time at the dam, messing about as children are wont to do, but then we got going.
There is no certain path from where we started, so we were free walking a path of our own choosing, through bogs across deep icy snow drifts, it’s his first snow of the year so this was particularly fascinating. (long drawn out wistful sigh)
All the way up thus far the low clouds had veiled the summit, and Eric had his first taste of mountain walking, that is, when you crest a ridge thinking your nearly there and then thump, still loads left yet.
We got right under the summit, only a 150 vertical meters to go and Eric had his second mountain lesson, heights are scary.
So scary in fact that he didn’t want to go right up to the top, I tried some gentle persuasion, some bribery, then some reverse psychology, but he had become firm, Pen Llithrig Y Wrach summit would have to wait for another day.
He said at the bottom, back at the car, that he regretted not going all the way to the top, Daft head Bear Grylls was on the radio after and he convinced Eric to trust his Dad and give it another go, so the first Sunday with money and good weather, we’ll give it another go, only without the two mile stone hunting walk beforehand.

Pen Llithrig y Wrach

Round Cairn

GLADMAN Nov 28, 2010

Ah, the ‘Slippery Hill of the Witch’. Hasn’t that just got to be a contender for best name ever? Although at 2,622ft it can hardly be called a hill... unless you’re a Scot, that is, in which case even the incomparable Black Cuillin are ‘hills’....

I last visited the summit cairn of Pen Llithrig y Wrach almost exactly four years ago, approaching from the south near Bron Heulog. This is perhaps the preferred way up, since it gives the traveller ample opportunity to take a look at several other monuments en route. Unfortunately, however, thick cloud and atrocious conditions moved in whilst I was but half way up back then. Hey, these things happen in the hills, sorry, mountains of Snowdonia. Don’t they just? To be honest I had no intention of having another look today, my mind set upon a tentative ascent of the Creigiau Gleision opposite, a wary eye upon the cloud base. However, upon arriving and parking at the Llyn Cowlyd dam, following a drive up what might possibly be – in places – the steepest public road in all Wales (seriously) from Trefriw, improving conditions prompt a snap decision. Let’s go see the old witch again, then.

So, leaving a couple of workmen actually working – yeah, I know, it freaked me out, too – upon the dam (demonstrating that hopefully we’ve learnt our lesson from the catastrophic failure of the Llyn Eigau dam in 1925...) I head westwards to ascend the long north-eastern ridge of the mountain. At the crest there is a sort of path, although diversions to view the aforementioned Llyn Eigiau render my approach to the summit a trackless, boggy, heathery slog. Never mind, since the views across Cwm Eigau to Carnedd Llewelyn and the central peaks of The Carneddau are sublime. A final grassy scramble and there is the summit cairn... clear of cloud this time around.

As with most North Walian Bronze Age summit funerary cairns, the construction of this ‘un – low, earthfast, with overlying supplementary modern additions – will not blow you away in itself. However the positionning, towering above the forbidding, black jewel of the Llyn Cowlyd reservoir, with the ‘grey-green crags’ of Creigiau Gleision shimmering beyond, is truly breathtaking. The 3000 footers of The Carneddau sit beyond Pen-yr-Helgi-Du (peak of the black hunting dog) to the approx north-west, mostly crowned by their own Bronze Age monuments, whilst the incomparable Tryfan dominates Ogwen to the west, despite being in the company of numerous other serious mountains. There can be only one Tryfan, cairnless, but surmounted by its unique pair of stone sentinels. Shafts of light pierce the increasingly dark cloudbase above Moel Siabod to shine a myriad spotlights upon Dyffryn Mymbyr, scene of yesterday’s visit. Then, to the north beyond Llyn Eigiau, I pick out the one and only Tal-y-Fan, the hillfort Pen-y-Gaer and Drum, site of yet another funerary cairn. Needless to say many other monuments remain unseen at this range. Is there anywhere they didn’t go, these people?

The weather begins to deteriorate, the light also. Several used flare cannisters are a prescient warning. Time to leave, then. As I approach Cwm Cowlyd, vicious hailstone fronts beginning to sweep across the reservoir, I notice one (perhaps more?) possible hut circles/disturbed cairn-circles. Not sure.

themodernantiquarian.com/site/13517/cwm_cowlyd.html

Needless to say, darkness approaches.. and time has run out, the prevailing conditions now not the best.. and I’ve still got to negotiate the road back to Trefriw. Luckily the access gate, despite appearances to the contrary, has not been locked before me. It is a relief. Or perhaps the old witch took pity and sorted it for me?

Pen Llithrig y Wrach

Round Cairn

GLADMAN Nov 6, 2010

The Gwynedd Archaeological Trust cites the summit cairn of Pen Llithrig y Wrach as being of Bronze Age origin (PRN 3799):

‘A low, flat-topped cairn 4m diameter with a turf cover over small stones, is on the summit of Pen Llithrig y Wrach at 799m. A number of edge-set stones protrude through the eroded surface.

Sources :
Archaeology in Wales , CREW, P. , 1980 ,
Prehistoric Funerary and Ritual Monuments: West Conwy/North Gwynedd , SMITH, G. , 2002‘

I concur, the construction and positionning making this likely in my view.