Is it Snowdon or Mount Snowdon (well actually it’s Yr Wyddfa)
It’s annoying the number of times I’ve heard people refer to “Mount Snowdon” when they’re talking about the highest mountain in Wales — Mount Snowdon is actually in Canada. Confused? Snowdon and Mount Snowdon might sound like two names for the same peak. In fact, they are completely different mountains. They are separated by more than 4,000 miles.
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) – Wales, UK
- Height: 1,085 meters (3,560 feet)
- Location: Snowdonia National Park, North Wales
- Welsh and commonly used name: Yr Wyddfa
- The highest mountain in Wales and a popular destination for hikers, climbers, and tourists.
Mount Snowdon – British Columbia, Canada
- Height: 2,140 meters (7,021 feet)
- Location: Stikine Region, British Columbia
- A remote peak with far less foot traffic, known primarily to local hikers and climbers.
- I can’t even find a picture of Mount Snowdon in British Columbia…but it definitely exists on google maps
The above maps are both at the same scale with the red pin shoing Mount Snowdon and Snowdon respectively. To put the mountains in context, Snowdon is the highest mountain in England and Wales. In contrast, the highest mountain in Canada is 5959m. That’s why the maps above look quite so different!!!
Why is there confusion between Snowdon and Mount Snowdon?
The confusion often arises because many assume “Mount Snowdon” is just a formal name for Snowdon in Wales. However, in the UK, the mountain is typically referred to simply as Snowdon or by its Welsh name, Yr Wyddfa. The term “Mount Snowdon” is rarely used locally.
Meanwhile, “Mount Snowdon” is a legitimate name for a mountain in Canada, albeit one that’s far less known internationally. Its naming likely stems from British settlers bringing familiar names to new territories.
AI Search results have impacted how people now refer to Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon
When you do a google search for Mount Snowdon, all you get is the Welsh mountain. That’s because Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon is such a popular mountain. The algorithm now assumes that’s what you are looking for. It brings up all those results of people using the unnecessary prefix ‘Mount’. You would never say Mount Siabod, Mount Famau or Mount Cnicht would you. But now Google is confirming the name Mount Snowdon…
Is Saying Mount Snowdon Definitely Wrong?
I got the following info from Google’s AI snippets:
- “Mount” as a Specific Term:When used before a mountain’s name (e.g., Mount Everest, Mount Kilimanjaro), “Mount” signifies the mountain’s peak or summit.
- Historical Context:The use of “Mount” before mountain names likely originated from early mapping and naming conventions, where the specific peak was emphasised.
I’ve always been told that Snowdon is definitely not to be called Mount Snowdon… but maybe I’m wrong… I’d love to know what you think? Please leave a comment… does it even matter?
A Side-by-Side Comparison
If anyone ever questions you when you say – it’s not called Mount Snowdon then here’s a nice little table to show them!
| Feature | Snowdon (Wales) | Mount Snowdon (Canada) |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 1,085 m | 2,140 m |
| Country | United Kingdom | Canada |
| Known as | Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa | Mount Snowdon |
| Popularity | Very high (UK tourism hub) | Low (remote wilderness) |
While they share a name, Snowdon in Wales and Mount Snowdon in Canada are just not the same mountain! It’s unlikely the confusion would ever end up with someone visiting the wrong continent but it’s worth noting!
If you’re interested in walking in Eryri (Snowdonia) you’ll love my downloadable list of the highest mountains in Snowdonia and also my list of the most popular mountains in Snowdonia based on yearly search volume.
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