Pen yr Ole Wen

Infobox Mountain
Name = Pen yr Ole Wen
Photo = Pen-yr-ole-wen.jpg
Caption = Pen yr Ole Wen seen from near Llyn Ogwen
Elevation = 978 m (3209 ft)
Location = Snowdonia, Wales
Range = Carneddau
Prominence = 45 m
Coordinates =
Topographic
OS "Landranger" 115
Type =
First ascent =
Easiest route =
Grid_ref_UK = SH655619
Listing = Hewitt, Welsh 3000s, Nuttall
Translation = Head of the White Slope
Language = Welsh
Pronunciation = pɛn ər 'lɛ wɛn

Pen yr Ole Wen is a mountain in Snowdonia 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 directly up the south west "corner", climbing 675 m in about 1.5 km (i.e. an average gradient of nearly 1 in 2). A slightly easier ascent involves starting from Tal-y-Llyn Ogwen, about a mile south-east from the hostel, following the stream until nearing the outflow from the mountain lake Ffynnon Lloer and then branching left to take the path up the ridge.

For many years the mountains name was translated as "Head of the White Light", the interpretation of which was a mystery. However in 2004 Professor Owen at the Place-Name Research Centre at Bangor University in Bangor, Gwynedd resolved the matter saying that Ole comes from Goleddf, which means slope or hillside. [http://www.nuttalls.com/news/0009.htm www.nuttalls.com.] Gives details of correct translation.]

Pen yr Ole Wen is often climbed as part of a longer route on the Carneddau range.

References

External links

* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2797400 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of and from Pen yr Ole Wen]