Moel Famau

Although historical sources attest to a variety of spellings (such as Moel Famma, Moel Vamma and Moel Fammau),[1] the only two in common use today are Moel Famau and Moel Fama. The first word moel is a common Welsh place-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 the Dictionary of the Place-names of Wales. The meaning of the 'Fama' is somewhat uncertain, but it is probably a lenited form of a personal name, 'Mama'.[2]

The alternative form 'Moel Famau' is a result of an 'antiquarian perception' first attested in the eighteenth century that the second element was the lenited form of the common noun mamau ('mothers').[2] If that were the case, however, the early forms in –a would be very difficult to explain. Nevertheless, the form 'Moel Famau' is common today and it is still sometimes said to mean 'Mothers' Hill'.[3]

The park, which covers an area over 3 square miles (8 km²), is managed by Denbighshire Countryside Service which is responsible for the heather moorland, dry stone walls and access paths, and provides information and facilities for visitors. The area is home to wildlife such as red grouse, European stonechat and Eurasian 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.

Path from Bwlch Penbarras towards the summit of Moel Famau.

Numerous well-maintained paths of varying difficulty lead to the summit. Two of the most popular, easiest paths start from the southern car parks within Bwlch Penbarras between Moel Famau and Foel Fenlli, about 1.25 miles (2.0 km) from the summit. The northern route begins from the Iron Age hill fort at Moel Arthur. A footpath to the top of Moel Famau also begins from the village of Cilcain.

Much of North East Wales and North West England can sometimes be seen from the summit of Moel Famau. This includes parts of Denbighshire, Flintshire, Cheshire and Merseyside. On clear days, Snowdonia can be seen to the west, the Irish Sea to the north, and to the east Liverpool, Chester, Winter Hill, and Blackpool Tower.

The tower, which was built to commemorate the golden jubilee of George III in 1810, was designed by Thomas Harrison of Chester and is a Grade II listed building.[4] It was designed like an Egyptian obelisk with three tiers. Although the foundation stone was laid in 1810 by George Kenyon, 2nd Baron Kenyon, the tower was never completed due to a lack of funds. 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.

• Moel Famau country park
• Moel Famau News
• Walk up Moel Famau
• Computer generated summit panoramas Moel Famau index
• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Moel Famau and surrounding area