The Boys' Brigade Mountaineering Club

Yr Elen is the 9th highest mountain in Wales. Unlike any others in the Carneddau, it is a shapely pyramidic peak connected by a short (one kilometer) narrow ridge to Carnedd Llewelyn with a descent of only 57 meters to the bwlch (col) between the two.

See its entries on Walkhighlands or Wikipedia or view it from above on Google Earth.

It is not clear why this peak should be called Yr Elen. Elen is a personal name. It is the Welsh equivalent of Helen, which was a popular name in Wales during the 13th century, particularly amongst the Gwynedd Royal Family. So much so that, rather confusingly, Llywelyn Fawr (The Great) had two daughters called Elen (perhaps about 20 years apart) with the same mother, Joan, Lady of Wales (the daughter of King John of England). They are now known as Elen ferch (daughter of) Llywelyn the Elder and the Younger. So, the mountain could have been named after either. Another theory is that it was named after Eleanor de Montford (the daughter of Simon de Montford) who was married to Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Llewelyn the Last), after whom closeby Carnedd Llewelyn may be named. See Virtual History for details

Yr is the definite article (normally Y but Yr before a vowel). Why a personal name, should be preceded by the definite article to translate as "The Helen" is a mystery.

Another, quite likely theory which would account for the Yr, is that Yr Elen was originally called Moel yr Elain (Hill of the Foal or Young Deer) and a further theory, which would also account for the Yr, is that Elen comes from Gelen, the Welsh word for Leech (with the G dropped because of a soft mutation after the definite article). The mountain could have been named The Leech, because of the way it appears to cling to Carnedd Llewelyn.