It is a very rocky hill with high topographic prominence because of the lower land that surrounds it on all sides, and qualifies as a Marilyn.

The views from the top are far ranging and include the Llŷn Peninsula, the Rhinogydd, Moelwynion, Moel Hebog, and Snowdon.

[2] Moel y Gest can be climbed by approaching it from the south, starting from the unclassified road from Porthmadog to Black Rock Sands.

[1] At the summit of Moel y Gest is a hillfort which shows some resemblance to the "nuclear forts" of the Early Middle Ages found in Scotland.

The perimeter wall contains a selectively large numbers of white, quartz stones, and it is possible the fort had a religious rather than military significance.