Cadair Idris - The Name of The Mountain

The Name of The Mountain

The most widespread explanation for the name of the mountain is based on the fact that Cadair means "chair". Cadair Idris would thus translate as "the chair of Idris", and the Idris in question is usually taken to be a giant from Welsh mythology who was said to have used the mountain as an enormous armchair to gaze at the stars. Alternatively, it may refer to Idris ap Gwyddno (or Gweiddno), a 7th-century Meirionnydd prince who won a battle against the Irish on the mountain. The distinction is not entirely clear, since Idris ap Gwyddno was himself referred to as Idris Gawr ("Idris the Giant") in some mediaeval genealogies of Meirionydd. An alternative origin for the name of the mountain, which is more consistent with the story of Idris ap Gwyddno than that of the mythological giant, is Irish cathair, meaning "city" or "stronghold".

While the name of the mountain is typically spelled Cadair Idris on current maps, it is usually referred to as Cader Idris locally, in both Welsh and English. This is reflected in the name of the local secondary school, Ysgol y Gader (never Ysgol y Gadair). The summit of the mountain is known as Penygader ("top of the chair/stronghold").