Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Maesglase

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Pronunciation
  
Welsh: [maɪsˈɡlasɛ]

OS grid
  
SH817150

Elevation
  
676 m

Parent range
  
Cadair Idris

Location
  
Snowdonia, Wales

Topo map
  
OS Explorer OL23

Prominence
  
313 m

Maesglase httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommons11

Listing
  
Marilyn, Hewitt, Nuttall

Translation
  
blue/green field (Welsh)

Mountain range
  
Cadair Idris and the Tarren range

Similar
  
Waun‑oer, Cribin Fawr, Cadair Idris, Glasgwm, Aran Fawddwy

Maesglase is a mountain in Snowdonia, North Wales, situated approximately four miles to the south-west of Aran Fawddwy. It is the highest of the "Dyfi Hills".

Map of Maesglase, Machynlleth, UK

It can be reached by an easy but steep walk through the forestry from Dinas Mawddwy or directly from the bwlch on the A470. Ascending Maesglase provides an opportunity to climb several other nearby peaks including Maen-Du, Craig Rhiw-erch, Waun-oer, Craig Portas and Cribin Fawr which are linked by a series of ridges and arêtes.

The precise location of the summit is the subject of some confusion. Traditionally, the top of Maen Du (674 m at SH823152) was regarded as Maesglase's summit. However, more recent surveys suggest that the top of Craig Rhiw-erch (c 676 m at SH817150, some 600 m to the west) is higher. The geomorphology of these mountains is classical U-shaped glacial valleys with textbook examples of hanging valleys and intersecting valleys.

The eastern slopes are devoted to sheep farming whilst the western slopes are intensively forested.

Above the semi-improved grassland is some bracken but much of the higher ground is covered in typical Calluna / Erica communities interspersed with large areas of Juncus, Carex and Sphagnum bogs. The tops of Cribin Fawr are flat expanses of peat-hags. On the eastern flanks Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) grows in abundance with Cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) common on the highest ground.

Half a mile to the west of the peak of Cribin Fawr at a high point of 659 metres is a stone boundary marker dated 1861 and inscribed CCC and bearing a benchmark. Maesglase waterfall has a total height of 160m.

References

Maesglase Wikipedia