Cadair Idris routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX
893 m · Barmouth to Betws-y-Coed and Bala · OS grid SH711130
Cadair Idris is the great mountain above Dolgellau in southern Snowdonia, with its summit Penygadair above the cliff-ringed lake of Llyn Cau.
Peakify lists 5 measured routes up Cadair Idris, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.
Cadair Idris routes, easiest to hardest
Sorted by grade, easiest first: Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble. Routes with the same grade keep the order in which Peakify's editors listed them.
| Route | Start | Distance | Ascent | Time up | There and back | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pony Path from Ty Nant | Tŷ Nant car park (Pony Path) | 4.6 km one way | 740 m | 2h 10m | 3h 5m | Moderate |
| Minffordd Path via Craig Cwm Amarch | Dôl Idris / Minffordd Path car park | 4.6 km one way | 850 m | 2h 20m | 3h 15m | Hard |
| Fox's Path via Llyn Gafr and Llyn y Gadair | Tŷ Nant car park (Pony Path) | 4.5 km one way | 740 m | 2h 10m | 3h 0m | Hard |
| Llanfihangel-y-pennant Path | Llanfihangel-y-pennant public path | 8.7 km one way | 870 m | 3h 10m | 4h 55m | Hard |
| Minffordd via Mynydd Moel | Dôl Idris / Minffordd Path car park | 5.0 km one way | 860 m | 2h 25m | 3h 25m | Hard |
Cadair Idris route times by Naismith's rule
The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.
Each Cadair Idris route
Pony Path from Ty Nant
A long, steady path up the northern slopes to the ridge and along to the summit. It starts from Tŷ Nant car park (Pony Path). 4.6 km one way with 740 m of ascent. About 2h 10m to the summit and 3h 5m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.
Minffordd Path via Craig Cwm Amarch
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Dôl Idris / Minffordd Path car park. It starts from Dôl Idris / Minffordd Path car park. 4.6 km one way with 850 m of ascent. About 2h 20m to the summit and 3h 15m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.
Fox's Path via Llyn Gafr and Llyn y Gadair
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Tŷ Nant car park (Pony Path). It starts from Tŷ Nant car park (Pony Path). 4.5 km one way with 740 m of ascent. About 2h 10m to the summit and 3h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.
Llanfihangel-y-pennant Path
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Llanfihangel-y-pennant public path. It starts from Llanfihangel-y-pennant public path. 8.7 km one way with 870 m of ascent. About 3h 10m to the summit and 4h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.
Minffordd via Mynydd Moel
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Dôl Idris / Minffordd Path car park. It starts from Dôl Idris / Minffordd Path car park. 5.0 km one way with 860 m of ascent. About 2h 25m to the summit and 3h 25m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.
Cadair Idris route GPX
Download a GPX for each route with a track: Pony Path from Ty Nant, Minffordd Path via Craig Cwm Amarch, Fox's Path via Llyn Gafr and Llyn y Gadair, Llanfihangel-y-pennant Path, Minffordd via Mynydd Moel. Each is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.
Before you pick a route
The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Cadair Idris today and the Cadair Idris 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.
Planning a day on Cadair Idris routes
The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.
Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.
Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
If you are new to Cadair Idris, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.
Questions about Cadair Idris
What is the easiest route up Cadair Idris?
The Pony Path from Ty Nant is the most gradual route, on a clear path all the way to Penygadair.
How much time does each Cadair Idris route take?
Pony Path from Ty Nant: about 2h 10m up and 3h 5m there and back. Minffordd Path via Craig Cwm Amarch: about 2h 20m up and 3h 15m there and back. Fox's Path via Llyn Gafr and Llyn y Gadair: about 2h 10m up and 3h 0m there and back. Llanfihangel-y-pennant Path: about 3h 10m up and 4h 55m there and back. Minffordd via Mynydd Moel: about 2h 25m up and 3h 25m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.
Can I get a GPX file for a Cadair Idris route?
Yes. Open a route below and download its GPX: an ascent track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths.