Garnedd Uchaf

Carnedd Gwenllian stands on the high ridge of the Carneddau range in Snowdonia, Wales. It is a minor summit included in the Welsh 3000s, a list of peaks over 3,000 feet climbed in one outing. From the top, walkers can see as far as Ireland and the Isle of Man to the north, and the Berwyn Ranges to the south. The mountain lies between Foel Fras and Foel Grach, though its summit is only just above the ridge. Its grassy slopes are steep and often hold deep snowdrifts through winter and sometimes into June. The peak was renamed in 2009 to honour Gwenllian of Wales, the only daughter of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. After her father’s death she was taken as an infant to a Lincolnshire nunnery, where she spent her life in captivity until her death in 1337. A campaign led by the Princess Gwenllian Society pushed for the change, and the Ordnance Survey now lists it as Carnedd Uchaf/Carnedd Gwenllian. It is classed as a Hewitt, a category of hills in England and Wales over 2,000 feet. Visitors reach the summit by following paths over grassy slopes that rise from the surrounding ridges. The views stretch across wide horizons on clear days, showing distant mountains and coastlines. The air is cool even in summer, with average temperatures between 4 and 5 degrees Celsius. The mountain’s name appears on maps alongside its old title, marking both its place in the landscape and its history.