Glyderau

The Glyderau are a rugged mountain range in Snowdonia, North Wales. The name comes from the highest peaks, Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach, and means a heap of stones. The range stretches from Mynydd Llandegai to Capel Curig and includes five summits over 3,000 feet. Tryfan is one of the few British mainland mountains that requires scrambling to reach the top. The eastern half of the range, with Glyder Fawr, Glyder Fach and Tryfan, attracts many walkers and climbers. The mountains were formed about 500 million years ago when land masses collided. Glaciers carved deep valleys like Cwm Idwal, leaving behind boulder fields and screes. The area was once covered in birch and oak forests, now mostly cleared. Feral goats roam the slopes, remnants of ancient herds. Sheep graze the land, introduced in the 18th century for the woollen industry. Visitors find dramatic ridges strewn with boulders and coarse grasses. Tryfan’s summit demands hands-on climbing, while Glyder Fach and Cwm Idwal offer routes for all skill levels. Llyn Idwal, a shallow lake in a glacial cirque, hosts rare Arctic-Alpine plants. The cliffs above the lake feature Twll Du, a dark cleft said to be haunted by demons. Dinorwig Power Station lies hidden within Elidir Fawr, its tunnels powering the grid unseen.