Cadair, or Cader Idris

National park bosses are in a quandary over what to call one the area’s best known mountains.

Snowdonia National Park Authority is to seek advice from experts on whether to adopt a different form for the 893m (2,930ft) peak in the south-western corner of the park.

Cader Idris has been the spelling used by the national park for the mountain, which lies east of Barmouth, but that may now change.

An authority spokesperson said: “Until fairly recently Snowdonia National Park Authority used Cader Idris in its signage and publications.

“However, while working in partnership with Natural Resources Wales at the Dôl Idris site in Tal y Llyn recently, to ensure consistency and following guidance given to Natural Resources Wales by the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Office, it was decided to adopt the Cadair form.

“However while discussing details of a planning application, some of the authority’s members expressed their views that Cader is always used locally and is in fact the correct form to use.”

The authority said although the general view is that Cader refers to Idris the giant’s chair – cader or cadair means chair in English – cader, according to Titus Lewis’s Dictionary published in 1805 does in fact mean fortress or stronghold.

The spokesperson said: “As director of planning and cultural heritage, and following the opinion of members together with the form that is used locally, Jonathan Cawley will now write to National Resources Wales and the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Office, to seek clarification on the correct version.

“It is likely that there will be further discussion on which term to formally use by national park members once replies have been received from the Commissioner and NRW.”

Ordnance Survey uses the Cadair Idris spelling on its maps for the mountain, which qualifies as marilyn, a hewitt and a nuttall. It is the ninth highest hill in Wales.