Pumlumon Fawr

Pumlumon Fawr stands at the heart of the Cambrian Mountains in Mid Wales, a broad massif that rises above the surrounding valleys. Its highest point, Pen Pumlumon Fawr, reaches 752 metres and commands wide views over Ceredigion. Five peaks give the massif its name, Pumlumon meaning ‘five tops’ in Welsh. The River Severn begins here, along with the Wye and the Rheidol, which flow in different directions across Britain. Local folklore tells of a sleeping giant buried beneath the slopes. The massif’s upland habitats have suffered from over-grazing and drainage changes. Wildlife Trusts in Wales have worked since 2007 to restore blanket bog and heathland across the area. Rare birds such as hen harriers and merlins breed here, while red kites visit the moorland edges. Golden plovers have declined sharply in recent decades, making the site important for monitoring species. The peaty soils store water that feeds the three great rivers below. Walkers follow the Severn Way for hundreds of kilometres from the summit down to Bristol. Paths cross dry heath and wet bog where cotton grass grows in summer. On clear days the Irish Sea appears to the west and the Brecon Beacons to the south. The massif’s rounded tops offer few obstacles, yet the weather can change quickly. Sheep graze the lower slopes, while ravens circle above the highest ridges.