Welsh 3000s
Encyclopedia
This is a list of what are known as the Welsh 3000s, i.e. those 15 mountains in Wales
which have a height of 3000 ft (914.4m) or more. Geographically they fall within three ranges, all sufficiently close to make it possible to reach all 15 summits within 24 hours, a challenge known as the Welsh 3000s challenge.
The length of this challenge (from first peak to last) is about 26 miles (41.8 km), but including the walk to and from any start point, this will total some 30 miles (48.3 km). Most people undertaking the challenge walk it, and many achieve it in much less than 24 hours. The record for the challenge (from first peak to last) stands at 4 hours 19 minutes, by Colin Donnelly in 1988. On 17/18 June 1978 John Wagstaff of West Bromwich Mountaineering Club
completed a triple crossing in 22 hours 49 minutes, a feat which has yet to be repeated.
The walk is also known as "The 14 Peaks" - Carnedd Gwenllian (or "Garnedd Uchaf") is not always included, as it has the least relative height
, being little more than a bump on the ridge rather than a separate summit in its own right. Many people choose to make the small diversion to include it on their traverse. There is also an option to include a sixteenth top, Castell y Gwynt
on the Glyder range which has been reclassified as a Nuttall since a survey in 2007.
The Snowdonia Society
maintains a public database of persons visiting the 14 peaks in a single journey.
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...
which have a height of 3000 ft (914.4m) or more. Geographically they fall within three ranges, all sufficiently close to make it possible to reach all 15 summits within 24 hours, a challenge known as the Welsh 3000s challenge.
The length of this challenge (from first peak to last) is about 26 miles (41.8 km), but including the walk to and from any start point, this will total some 30 miles (48.3 km). Most people undertaking the challenge walk it, and many achieve it in much less than 24 hours. The record for the challenge (from first peak to last) stands at 4 hours 19 minutes, by Colin Donnelly in 1988. On 17/18 June 1978 John Wagstaff of West Bromwich Mountaineering Club
West Bromwich Mountaineering Club
West Bromwich Mountaineering Club is one of the oldest and most active climbing and hill-walking clubs in the West Midlands. It currently meets at "The Globe" in Reform Street every Thursday night and has a membership of almost 300...
completed a triple crossing in 22 hours 49 minutes, a feat which has yet to be repeated.
The walk is also known as "The 14 Peaks" - Carnedd Gwenllian (or "Garnedd Uchaf") is not always included, as it has the least relative height
Topographic prominence
In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop , or prime factor , categorizes the height of the mountain's or hill's summit by the elevation between it and the lowest contour line encircling it and no higher summit...
, being little more than a bump on the ridge rather than a separate summit in its own right. Many people choose to make the small diversion to include it on their traverse. There is also an option to include a sixteenth top, Castell y Gwynt
Castell y Gwynt
Castell y Gwynt is a top of Glyder Fach in Snowdonia, north-west Wales. It has the merit of being the only 3000 ft Welsh summit classed as only a Nuttall, hence it is not included in the Welsh 3000s. It has a prominence of 15.7 m , and was only included on the Nuttall's list after...
on the Glyder range which has been reclassified as a Nuttall since a survey in 2007.
The Snowdonia Society
Snowdonia Society
The Snowdonia Society is a members based environmental charity. Formed in 1967, it is concerned with all aspects of the Snowdonia National Park. Members take part in practical activities to improve the environment and engage in campaigns to prevent inappropriate development in the area...
maintains a public database of persons visiting the 14 peaks in a single journey.
Snowdon Massif
- SnowdonSnowdonSnowdon is the highest mountain in Wales, at an altitude of above sea level, and the highest point in the British Isles outside Scotland. It is located in Snowdonia National Park in Gwynedd, and has been described as "probably the busiest mountain in Britain"...
/ Yr Wyddfa (1,085 m) - Garnedd UgainGarnedd UgainGarnedd Ugain, sometimes incorrectly referred to as "Crib y Ddysgl", is a mountain in Wales that forms part of the Snowdon Horseshoe. It is the second highest peak in Wales, and lies 1 kilometre north of Snowdon...
/ Crib y Ddysgl (1,065 m) - Crib GochCrib GochCrib Goch is described as a "knife-edged" arête in the Snowdonia National Park in Gwynedd, Wales. The name means red comb in the Welsh language, presumably referring to the serrated ridge and the colour of some of the rocks....
(923 m)
Glyderau
- Elidir FawrElidir FawrElidir Fawr is a mountain in Snowdonia, north Wales, the northernmost in the Glyderau. To the north of the summit is a small lake, Marchlyn Mawr, which is the upper reservoir for Dinorwig power station, a pump-storage power station hidden inside the mountain itself. The lower reservoir is Llyn Peris...
(924 m) - Y GarnY Garn (Glyderau)Y Garn is a mountain in Snowdonia, North Wales, part of the Glyderau.It is one of the Welsh 3000s — the 15 summits in Wales over 3,000 ft in height. It is the tenth highest peak in Wales. Moderate snow accumulations can take place on the western slopy side of the mountain from October to...
(947 m) - Glyder FawrGlyder Fawr' is a mountain in Snowdonia, Wales, the highest in the Glyderau. At just over 1,000m, it is the fifth highest mountain in Wales.It lies on the ridge between and , and has views to the north, across the Ogwen Valley, of and the , and views south to the Snowdon Horseshoe. The summit is very rocky,...
(1,001 m) - Castell y GwyntCastell y GwyntCastell y Gwynt is a top of Glyder Fach in Snowdonia, north-west Wales. It has the merit of being the only 3000 ft Welsh summit classed as only a Nuttall, hence it is not included in the Welsh 3000s. It has a prominence of 15.7 m , and was only included on the Nuttall's list after...
(972m) — if included - Glyder FachGlyder FachGlyder Fach is a mountain in Snowdonia, north-west Wales, and is the second highest of the Glyderau and the sixth highest in Wales.Routes to the summit lead from Tryfan and Bristly Ridge to the north, via Glyder Fawr from Pen-y-Pass to the south, and along the Glyder ridge to the east, towards...
(994 m) - TryfanTryfanTryfan is a mountain in Snowdonia, Wales, forming part of the Glyderau group. It is one of the most recognisable peaks in the region, having a classic pointed shape with rugged crags. At 3,010 feet above sea level it is the fifteenth highest mountain in Wales...
(918 m)
Carneddau
- Pen yr Ole WenPen yr Ole WenPen yr Ole Wen is the seventh highest mountain in Snowdonia and in Wales. It is the most southerly of the Carneddau range.The mountain lies to the north of Idwal Cottage youth hostel on the A5 road, from where it has a pyramidal appearance. It may be climbed from the hostel by a path that leads...
(978 m) - Carnedd DafyddCarnedd DafyddCarnedd Dafydd is a mountain peak in the Carneddau range in Snowdonia, North Wales, and is the third highest peak in Wales, or the fourth if Crib y Ddysgl on the Snowdon ridge is counted. Situated south-west of Carnedd Llewelyn and north of Pen yr Ole Wen, Carnedd Dafydd is on the main ridge of...
(1,044 m) - Carnedd LlewelynCarnedd LlewelynCarnedd Llewelyn, usually spelt Carnedd Llywelyn in Welsh, is a mountain massif in the Carneddau range in Snowdonia, north-west Wales...
(1,064 m) - Yr ElenYr ElenYr Elen is a mountain in the Carneddau range in Snowdonia, Wales. It is the ninth highest mountain in Snowdonia. The average annual temperature of the peak is around 4 celsius...
(962 m) - Foel GrachFoel GrachFoel Grach is a mountain in the Carneddau range, is the eighth highest summit in Snowdonia as well as Wales, and therefore included the Welsh 3000s....
(976 m) - Garnedd UchafGarnedd UchafGarnedd Uchaf is a minor summit of the Carneddau range in Snowdonia, Wales, and included in the Welsh 3000s. From the summit, distant views to the north can extend as far away towards Ireland and the Isle of Man, whereas to the South, views can extend as far South towards the Berwyn Ranges.It...
(926 m) — if included - Foel-frasFoel-frasFoel-fras is a mountain in the Carneddau range, about 10 km east of Bethesda in North Wales. It lies on the border between the counties of Gwynedd and Conwy...
(942 m)