Cadair Berwyn
| Cadair Berwyn | |||
| Denbighshire, Merionethshire | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Cadair Berwyn and Llyn Lluncaws | |||
| Range: | Berwyn Range | ||
| Summit: | 2,726 feet SJ071323 | ||
Cadair Berwyn or Cader Berwyn is a mountain summit on the high ridge which forms part of the border of Denbighshire and Merionethshire. It is the highest point in the Berwyn Range, reaching 2,726 feet, and its south summit the highest point in Denbighshire. Cadair Berwyn is indeed the highest significant summit in Wales outside the National Parks.
Cadair Berwyn and Cyrniau Nod to the west are the two independent mountains which, with their subsidiary tops, form the Berwyn range.[1]
The name of the mountain, Cadair Berwyn, is Welsh, meaning "White-rick chair".
The mountain lies on main ridge of the Berwyns which runs north–south. The eastern side of the ridge is characterised by steep drops and crags including Craig Berwyn north of the summit and Craig y Llyn to the south. Craig y Llyn forms the headwall of a cwm, and it is to this that the word cadair (chair in Welsh) presumably refers. Further north along the ridge is Cadair Bronwen ("Bronwen's chair"), whilst to south the ridge continues to Moel Sych ("dry hill").
The North Top is marked with a trig point and given a spot height by the Ordnance Survey and taken as the mountain summit. This summit and that of Moel Sych are less than a mile apart and of identical height, measured by the Ordnance Survey as 827 metres. However between them, 200 yards south of the trig point, is Cadair Berwyn's true summit; the South Top, ten feet higher. This summit is listed as Cadair Berwyn New Top on the Nuttall list.
All three summits stand on the border between Merionethshire and Denbighshire.
There is a standing stone in the area, at SJ080337 near the summit between Cadair Berwyn and Tomle. This was re-erected in June 2008 by High Sports.[2].
North top
Cadair Berwyn North Top or Cadair Berwyn (Old Top) is a top of Cadair Berwyn in north east Wales. It is jointly the second highest summit in the Berwyn range along with Moel Sych.
The summit was often considered to be the highest summit in the Berwyns until the OS discovered a new top in between it and Moel Sych, which was 3m higher at 830m. This top, now known as Cadair Berwyn, is listed as Cadair Berwyn New Top on the Nuttall list.
The summit has a trig point. To the north-east is Cadair Bronwen, to the south-east is Tomle, Foel Wen and Mynydd Tarw.[3]
South Top
The South Top or New Top rises between the North Top and Moel Sych. It is the highest top of Cadair Berwyn, though it has only been so listed since the Ordnance Survey discovered it was 3 m higher than the North Top measured at 830 m which is to say 2,726 feet. It is listed as Cadair Berwyn New Top on the Nuttall list.
Outside links
- Computer generated summit panoramas Cadair Berwyn index
- www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Cadair Berwyn and surrounding area
References
- ↑ Nuttall, John & Anne (1999). The Mountains of England & Wales - Volume 1: Wales (2nd edition ed.). Milnthorpe, Westmorland: Cicerone. ISBN 1-85284-304-7.
- ↑ High Sports. "Cadair Berwyn Standing Stone". http://www.highsports.co.uk/blog/?p=104. Retrieved June 10, 2008.
- ↑ Nuttall, John & Anne (1999). The Mountains of England & Wales - Volume 1: Wales (2nd edition ed.). Milnthorpe, Westmorland: Cicerone. ISBN 1-85284-304-7.