Cnicht
Encyclopedia
Cnicht is a mountain
in Snowdonia
which forms part of the Moelwynion
mountain range.
Its appearance when viewed from the south-west, i.e. from the direction of Porthmadog
, has earned it the sobriquet the "Matterhorn
of Wales
". In reality Cnicht is a long ridge and, at 689 m, is the 5th highest peak in the Moelwynion
mountain range. It can be easily ascended from Croesor
, the village at its foot, or, with more difficulty, from Nant Gwynant
to the north-west.
Although rightly regarded by most people as a mountain in its own right, there are compilers of lists who consider that it does not in fact have enough prominence to separate it from its parent Allt-fawr
in spite of over 110m of re-ascent and a distance of more than 4 km. Hence it is not regarded as a Marilyn
.
The mountain gets its name from the old English word 'knight
', the silent 'k' being pronounced at that time. It is said that the shape of the mountain bears a similarity to a knight's
helmet
.
It appears as the "Saeth" in Patrick O'Brian
's 1952 novel Three Bear Witness (published as Testimonies in the USA), which is set in a fictionalised version of Cwm Croesor. O'Brian and his wife lived in the valley between 1946 and 1949.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
in Snowdonia
Snowdonia
Snowdonia is a region in north Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three National Parks in Wales, in 1951.-Name and extent:...
which forms part of the Moelwynion
Moelwynion
The Moelwynion are a group of mountains in central Snowdonia. They extend from the north-east of Porthmadog to Moel Siabod, the highest of the group...
mountain range.
Its appearance when viewed from the south-west, i.e. from the direction of Porthmadog
Porthmadog
Porthmadog , known locally as "Port", and historically rendered into English as Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies east of...
, has earned it the sobriquet the "Matterhorn
Matterhorn
The Matterhorn , Monte Cervino or Mont Cervin , is a mountain in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Its summit is 4,478 metres high, making it one of the highest peaks in the Alps. The four steep faces, rising above the surrounding glaciers, face the four compass points...
of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
". In reality Cnicht is a long ridge and, at 689 m, is the 5th highest peak in the Moelwynion
Moelwynion
The Moelwynion are a group of mountains in central Snowdonia. They extend from the north-east of Porthmadog to Moel Siabod, the highest of the group...
mountain range. It can be easily ascended from Croesor
Croesor
Croesor is a small village in Gwynedd, Wales. It is located at the foot of Cnicht, in Cwm Croesor, in the community of Llanfrothen. The Croesor Tramway travelled along the bed of the cwm, before rising steeply to Bwlch Rhosydd via Croesor Incline...
, the village at its foot, or, with more difficulty, from Nant Gwynant
Nant Gwynant
Nant Gwynant is a valley in Snowdonia, Gwynedd, north Wales. The A498 road descends into the valley in about two miles from Pen-y-Gwryd; it follows the Nant Cynnyd, the Afon Glaslyn and alongside Llyn Gwynant, then beside the Nant Gwynant river to Llyn Dinas and passing below Dinas Emrys to...
to the north-west.
Although rightly regarded by most people as a mountain in its own right, there are compilers of lists who consider that it does not in fact have enough prominence to separate it from its parent Allt-fawr
Allt-fawr
Allt-fawr is a mountain in Snowdonia, North Wales and forms part of the Moelwynion group.It is on the internal border of Snowdonia National Park, and overlooks the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, with its numerous slate quarries, as well as the Tanygrisiau reservoir and power station.-External links:*...
in spite of over 110m of re-ascent and a distance of more than 4 km. Hence it is not regarded as a Marilyn
Marilyn (hill)
A Marilyn is a mountain or hill in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland or Isle of Man with a relative height of at least 150 metres , regardless of absolute height or other merit...
.
The mountain gets its name from the old English word 'knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
', the silent 'k' being pronounced at that time. It is said that the shape of the mountain bears a similarity to a knight's
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
helmet
Helmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
.
It appears as the "Saeth" in Patrick O'Brian
Patrick O'Brian
Patrick O'Brian, CBE , born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series of novels set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and centred on the friendship of English Naval Captain Jack Aubrey and the Irish–Catalan physician Stephen...
's 1952 novel Three Bear Witness (published as Testimonies in the USA), which is set in a fictionalised version of Cwm Croesor. O'Brian and his wife lived in the valley between 1946 and 1949.