Adam and Eve

Also known as:
Adda ac Efa, Sion a Sian and Tryfan Summit Stones
Nearest town:
Bethesda (8km NW)
OS reference:
SH664594
OS sheet:
115
Latitude:
53° 6' 52.73 N
Longitude:
3° 59' 46.85 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

Tryfan does its magnificent pyramidal thing. Seen across the valley from Afon Lloer.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.8.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 6, 2017
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

A bit glarey, but hey, it was nice to have some sunshine. From the path along the northern shore of Llyn Ogwen.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.8.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 5, 2017
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by postman

Kicking back and enjoying the view, as you do when cist hunting.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Oct 19, 2016
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by GLADMAN

The west face of Tryfan in close up looking across the Ogwen Valley from Pen yr Ole Wen. A pyramid of naked rock surmounted by two natural monoliths... arguably Wales’ most iconic mountain [scan of archive print]

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Oct 10, 2015
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

The clouds finally peel away to reveal the Glyders, with Tryfan stage centre. The viewpoint is Creigiau Gleision to the east.

Image credit: A. Brookes (9.11.2014)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 5, 2015
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

Tryfan and Llyn Ogwen, seen from Foel-goch to the northwest.

Image credit: A. Brookes (10.11.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 19, 2014
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by GLADMAN

Needless to say I have yet to take any image that I feel properly conveys that simultaneous sense of awe, fear, elation – ‘spirituality’, perhaps? – the uplands of Britain can induce in human beings. Nevertheless some moments speak for themselves...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 28, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

No day for mirrored reflections in Llyn Caseg-fraith this, as the cloud rolls in to swallow Carnedd Dafydd. There are still people on top of Adam and Eve though.

Image credit: A. Brookes (14.9.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Nov 21, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

Tryfan presents its formidable eastern face, the triple summit clear with Adam and Eve atop the central, tallest peak. Bristly Ridge up to Glyder Fach rises on the left.

Image credit: A. Brookes (14.9.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Nov 21, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by postman

Spectacular Tryfan, lots of rock. Carnedd Dafydd touches the heavens in background.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 17, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by postman

Adam and Eve precariously perched right at the edge of a vertical cliff, the big scar going up and down on the right has two climbers on it but they are too small to see without zooming in, this is the route I took on my first time, never again.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 17, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by postman

Looking over Bwlch Tryfan down the Ogwen valley to Angelsey.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 17, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by postman

If Bristly ridge is too terrifying there is an easier way up, easier being a very comparative term.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 17, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by postman

Looking down the horrific looking Bristly ridge to Tryfan, if there is a more aptly named place ive not heard of it.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 17, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by postman

The summit of Tryfan zoomed upon from the top of Bristly ridge.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 17, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by postman

Tryfan says hi just before we descend into the devils kitchen.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 17, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by postman

At the end of a wondrous day and fantasmagorical walk, Tryfan still has one photo opportunity left in it.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 17, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

Back down safely, Tryfan showing its imposing bulk from the Ogwen Valley. Were we really just up there?

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.7.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 8, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

The shattered mass of rock that is Tryfan’s summit, from Cwm Bochlwyd to the southwest.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.7.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 8, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

Eve (top left) from the south, looking towards the Carneddau peaks of Pen yr Helgi Du and be-cairned Pen Llithrig y Wrach.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.7.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 8, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

The vertigo-inducing drop at the foot of Adam and Eve, looking down into Cwm Tryfan. Moel Siabod is the mountain in shadow in the background.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.7.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 8, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

Adam and Eve, natural monoliths on the summit of Tryfan.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.7.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 8, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

Postie surveys the Carneddau from Tryfan’s rocky summit.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.7.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 8, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

Tryfan summit from the South Peak, note plenty of people waiting their turn to climb onto Eve to make the leap across to Adam.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.7.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 8, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

Serious views of southern Snowdonia and its many high-level funerary monuments, all the way to distant Pumlumon, can be had from Tryfan on a clear day.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.7.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 8, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by GLADMAN

To be fair it’s not easy to put Tryfan in some sort of landscape perspective... but here’s an attempt nevertheless.... the west face of Tryfan, the central peak crowned by ‘Adam and Eve’, towers over Llyn Ogwen to its left... The other mountain lakes are Llyn Clyd (foreground) and Llyn Idwal, the viewpoint the north-east ridge of Y Garn. A sacred land of water and stone... the bare elements. Pen Llithrig-y-Wrach (with Bronze Age cairn) rises top left.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jan 29, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by GLADMAN

Looking from Glyder Fach the glorious setting of the two natural monoliths a’top the central of Tryfan’s ‘three peaks’ can be appreciated, standing sentinel above Llyn Bochlwyd (bottom left) and Llyn Ogwen, beyond which rises the main ridge of Y Carneddau, crowned by Bronze Age cairns; Carnedd Dafydd (far top left); Carnedd Llewelyn (centre top left) and, far top right, Pen-Llithrig-y-Wrach.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jan 10, 2013
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

Seen from the eastern ridge of Carnedd Llewellyn (Penywaun-wen). Glyder Fach looms higher behind, but Tryfan takes all the “look at me” points.

Image credit: A. Brookes (25.6.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat May 28, 2012
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by postman

Adam and Eve are just about discerned on the middle peak, as seen en route up Pen Llithrig y Wrach, oh and a sheltering sheep, sheltering from what I don’t know .

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Mar 27, 2012
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by postman

Adam and Eve occupy the central peak, they peeped through the low cloud for only an instant, then they were gone again.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Dec 11, 2011
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by GLADMAN

The awe-inspiring dragon-back of Tryfan from the east.... Adam and Eve crown the central of the ‘three peaks’. Surely they were the literal crowning glory to what was a sacred natural rock feature to the ancients? There is also a hut circle perched a little above and to the left of the buildings at Gwern Gof Uchaf.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 12, 2011
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by postman

Magnificent Tryfan from the path up to Ffynnon Lloer.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Feb 17, 2011
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by GLADMAN

You know.... I’ve been trying to put together a few words to convey the position these two incredible, natural monoliths occupy in the landscape of Central Snowdonia. To be honest I might as well be trying to describe what it’s like to be on the moon... if this site was venerated in prehistoric times, perhaps this image, looking westwards across Llyn Bochlwyd to Y Garn, might explain why. Perhaps.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Nov 20, 2010
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by postman

Tryfan, from the path upto Pen yr Ole Wen, not the best of weather for a mountain jaunt but 9 times out of ten this is what you get.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Aug 13, 2010
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by GLADMAN

Adam and Eve crown the centre summit crag of the enigmatic Tryfan.........

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Aug 7, 2010
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by GLADMAN

From the east, looking across Cwm Tryfan from frozen tarn upon Braich y Ddeugwm. Adam and Eve once again surmount the central crag... almost as if they were simply ‘meant’ to be there..

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 12, 2010
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by GLADMAN

Light mist sweeps in across Llyn Caseg-fraith, Glyderau. Adam and Eve are just visible surmounting the central crags of Tryfan’s dragonback profile. This is a place to simply hang around. Leave the route marches to others and delve deeper.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jul 7, 2010
Image of Adam and Eve (Natural Rock Feature) by postman

Adam and Eve, the two 8ft monoliths at the summit of Tryfan can be clearly seen from the valley floor, and must have surely been known of by the local ancients.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Mar 14, 2008

Articles

Adam and Eve

postman
postman Jul 30, 2006

I agonised over whether to post this site or not, but then I saw the Kirkstone in Cumbria and decided to after all. 915 metres up in the air, Tryfan is a tall sharp mountain. It really scared me twice, but I got up in the end. Adam and Eve are two natural standing stones on the 25ft sq summit platform. If your man(crazy) enough to jump from one to the other, then the freedom of the mountain is yours. There was no chance of chickening out because there’s just no way I’m going up there.. right on the edge with a very very big drop! In short, it’s a long but exciting climb, with added bonus of the initial stimulus for standing stones... honest!

Folklore

Adam and Eve
Natural Rock Feature
Rhiannon
Rhiannon Aug 16, 2006

It might be related to the stones, it might not. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to think it would be, as many similar places have grave-related folklore. This is a line from ‘Stanzas of the Grave’, a 10th-century Welsh poem:

“the grave of Bedwyr is on Tryfan hill.”

Bedwyr is one of King Arthur’s mates and one of several Arthurian characters mentioned in the early poem. You can read the rest of the poem at this page at the University of British Columbia:
https://faculty.arts.ubc.ca/sechard/344art.htm

* * *

Tryfan is a conical hill on the south side of Ogwen Lake. Its sides are precipitous and covered with huge stones resting one upon the other. The summit can be reached in one direction. On the top are two erect stones which from the road appear like two men. There is a small patch of level ground on the top. The triplet runs thus:

Bedd mab Osvran yn Camlan,
Wedi llawer cyflafan,
Bedd Bedwyr yn allt Tryfan.

Which may be thus translated:

In Camlan lies brave Osvran’s son,
Who many bloody conflicts won.
In Tryfan’s steep and craggy womb,
Uprais’d with stones is Bedwyr’s tomb.

Or literally, “The grave of the son of Osvran, after many conflicts, is in Camlan. The grave of Bedwyr, in the ascent of Tryfan.” I quote from Williams‘ Observations on the Snowdon Mountains. If Bedwyr is buried in the steep of Tryfan, it is difficult to ascertain the spot, for the whole hill-side is one mass of large stones. Perhaps, though, this Tryfan is not the one honoured with Bedwyr’s grave.

in Archaeologia Cambrensis vol 5, series 4 (1874).

Topics

Help wanted Gladman 22
postman
postman
Jul 2013

Sites within 20km of Adam and Eve

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