| Moel Famau | |
|---|---|
Feb2004.jpg) The Jubilee Tower at the summit of Moel Famau | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,821 ft (555 m) |
| Prominence | 912 ft (278 m) |
| Parent peak | Moel y Gamelin |
| Listing | Marilyn,Council top |
| Coordinates | 53°09′16″N3°15′21″W / 53.1545°N 3.2559°W /53.1545; -3.2559 |
| Naming | |
| English translation | The bare hill of ?Mama |
| Language of name | Welsh |
| Pronunciation | Welsh:[ˈmɔɨ̯lˈvama] |
| Geography | |
  Moel Famau Clwydian Range, UK | |
| OS grid | SJ162627 |
| Topo map | OSLandranger 116 |
Moel Famau(listen)ⓘ is the highest hill in theClwydian Range and the highest point (county top) of the county ofFlintshire inWales (both thehistoric county and the current council area). It lies on the boundary betweenDenbighshire and Flintshire. The hill, which also gives its name to the Moel Famaucountry park, has been classed as anArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty since 1985. It is also surrounded by several well-preservedIron Age hill forts. It is also the fourth-highest peak in the extendedAONB of theClwydian Range and Dee Valley. It is sometimes claimed as the highest point in North-east Wales, but that honour goes toCadair Berwyn; Moel Famau is also lower thanMoel y Gamelin andMoel Fferna, the highest points in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
A northern part of theOffa's Dyke long-distance footpath, one of the UK's most popularNational Trails, crosses the summit of Moel Famau and the Jubilee Tower.Loggerheads Country Park is nearby.
Although historical sources attest to a variety of spellings (such asMoel Famma,Moel Vamma andMoel Fammau),[1]: ii the only two in common use today areMoel Famau andMoel Fama. The first wordmoel is a commonWelshplace-name element meaning "bare". The meaning and preferred spelling of the second element are less certain, but is roughly translated into "mothers".
Attestations from as early as the fourteenth century consistently show that the second element ends in–a. This conforms to the local pronunciation (Welsh:[ˈvama]) and is "the preferred spelling", according to theDictionary of the Place-names of Wales. The meaning of theFama is somewhat uncertain, but it is probably alenited form of apersonal name, 'Mama'.[2]
The alternative formMoel Famau is a result of an "antiquarian perception" first attested in the eighteenth century that the second element was the lenited form of thecommon nounmamau ("mothers").[2] If that were the case, however, the early forms in–a would be very difficult to explain. Nevertheless, the formMoel Famau is common today and it is still sometimes said to mean "mothers' hill".[1]: 1
The park, which covers an area over 3 square miles (8 km2), is managed byDenbighshire Countryside Service which is responsible for theheathermoorland,dry stone walls and access paths, and provides information and facilities for visitors. The area is home to wildlife such asred grouse,European stonechat andEurasian curlew. The summit of Moel Famau lies just within the Flintshire border.
Natural Resources Wales manage the neighbouring forest as a sustainable conifer plantation for timber production and tourism.
Numerous well-maintained paths of varying difficulty lead to the summit. Two of the easiest and most popular routes start from the southern car parks atBwlch Penbarras, apass between Moel Famau andFoel Fenlli, about 1.25 miles (2.0 km) from the summit. The northern route begins at the car park south of the Iron Agehill fort atMoel Arthur. A footpath to the top of Moel Famau also begins from the village ofCilcain.
Much of North East Wales andNorth West England can sometimes be seen from the summit of Moel Famau. This includes parts of Denbighshire, Flintshire,Cheshire andMerseyside. On clear days,Snowdonia can be seen to the west, theIrish Sea to the north, and to the eastLiverpool,Chester,Winter Hill, andBlackpool Tower.
_38.jpg)
_22.jpg)
The tower, which was built to commemorate theGolden Jubilee of George III in 1810, was designed byThomas Harrison of Chester and is a Grade IIlisted building.[3] It was designed like anEgyptian obelisk with three tiers. Although the foundation stone was laid in 1810 byGeorge Kenyon, 2nd Baron Kenyon, lack of funds meant that the tower was never completed. On three sides it was to have had the following inscription:
Georgia III Brittaniarum Regi, Pio Justo Patri Patrio Commitatus, Denbigh et Flint, Jubilantus Posuere, 25 Octobris, Anno Domino 1809.
In 1862, a major storm brought down the incomplete tower. The remaining upper part of the structure was demolished for safety reasons leaving just the base. Most of the rubble was removed from the site; smaller stonework was reused by local farmers for dry stone walls.
In October 2010, a celebration was observed by local communities, in both Flintshire and Denbighshire, to mark the 200th anniversary of the laying of the Jubilee Tower's foundation stone. An artistic light and laser installation by a local artist was commissioned by the local authorities to illuminate the tower.
