Foel-fras | |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 942 m (3,091 ft) |
Prominence | 59 m (194 ft) |
Parent peak | Carnedd Llewelyn |
Listing | Hewitt, Welsh 3000s, Nuttall |
Naming | |
Translation | broad hill (Welsh) |
Pronunciation | Welsh: [ˈvɔil ˈvɾɑːs] |
Geography | |
Location | Snowdonia, Wales |
OS grid | SH696681 |
Topo map | OS Landranger 115 |
Foel-fras (942 m) 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. With a height rising to 942m it is officially the eleventh highest peak in Wales. Foel-fras is located at the northern end of the main ridge of the Carneddau, between Drum to the north and Foel Grach to the south, with the subsidiary summit of Garnedd Uchaf (926 m) between it and Foel Grach. Due south and 400 m below lies the reservoir of Llyn Dulyn, while the smaller reservoir of Llyn Anafon lies to the north.
Because of its position, it is the first of the Welsh 3000s reached when doing this walk from the northern end. It can be climbed by driving up the small road signposted "Aber Falls" in the village of Abergwyngregyn, passing the car park for the falls and continuing to a small car park at the end of the road. From there it is possible to take the track bearing left, later turning right to the summit of Drum and continuing along the ridge, or to take the track leading straight on to Llyn Anafon and then climbing up to the ridge between Drum and Foel Fras.
The summit plateau has some ornithological interest in that it is one of the best places in Wales to observe dotterel on their spring and less frequent autumn migration.
There exist also Foel Fras (528.7 metres (1,735 ft)) in central Wales, south of Machynlleth, and Foel-fras (586 metres (1,923 ft)) in The Moelwyns, north east of Blaenau Ffestiniog.