Carnedd Llewelyn routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX

Peakify lists 13 measured routes up Carnedd Llewelyn, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.

Carnedd Llewelyn 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.

Carnedd Llewelyn 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 Carnedd Llewelyn route

Ogwen via Carnedd Dafydd

Up Pen yr Ole Wen and along the ridge over Carnedd Dafydd to Carnedd Llewelyn. It starts from Glan Dena, Ogwen valley. 7.4 km one way with 910 m of ascent. About 3h 0m to the summit and 4h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.

South-west ridge from Ogwen and Carneddau ridge

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Ogwen Cottage north-side path. It starts from Ogwen Cottage north-side path. 6.5 km one way with 940 m of ascent. About 2h 50m to the summit and 4h 10m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Gerlan via Yr Elen north-west ridge

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Gerlan public footpath. It starts from Gerlan public footpath. 6.7 km one way with 890 m of ascent. About 2h 50m to the summit and 4h 10m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Cwm Eigiau via the eastern Foel Grach ridge

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Pen y Gaer hillfort car park. It starts from Pen y Gaer hillfort car park. 12.0 km one way with 830 m of ascent. About 3h 45m to the summit and 6h 10m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Rachub via Drosgl and Yr Aryg flanks, via Bera Bach

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Rachub upland path junction. It starts from Rachub upland path junction. 9.8 km one way with 830 m of ascent. About 3h 20m to the summit and 5h 20m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Bwlch y Ddeufaen mapped track junction. It starts from Bwlch y Ddeufaen mapped track junction. 11.1 km one way with 840 m of ascent. About 3h 35m to the summit and 5h 50m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Llanfairfechan via Drum and northern ridge

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Llanfairfechan mapped track junction. It starts from Llanfairfechan mapped track junction. 11.7 km one way with 1,000 m of ascent. About 4h 0m to the summit and 6h 20m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Abergwyngregyn via Drum via Drum and northern ridge

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Abergwyngregyn via Drum mapped track junction. It starts from Abergwyngregyn via Drum mapped track junction. 11.3 km one way with 960 m of ascent. About 3h 50m to the summit and 6h 5m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Ogwen via Pen yr Helgi Du

A path over Pen yr Helgi Du, down into Bwlch Eryl Farchog and up the rocky ridge to the summit. It starts from Glan Dena, Ogwen valley. 8.3 km one way with 879 m of ascent. About 3h 10m to the summit and 4h 45m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Scramble.

East Ridge via Ffynnon Lloer and Carneddau ridge

A grade 1 scramble to the summit from Glan Denau path junction. It starts from Glan Denau path junction. 7.4 km one way with 920 m of ascent. About 3h 0m to the summit and 4h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Scramble.

Crib Lem / Llech Ddu Spur and Carnedd Dafydd

A grade 1 scramble to the summit from Gerlan public footpath. It starts from Gerlan public footpath. 9.2 km one way with 1,000 m of ascent. About 3h 30m to the summit and 5h 20m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Scramble.

Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa

A grade 1 scramble to the summit from Cwm Llugwy reservoir access track. It starts from Cwm Llugwy reservoir access track. 5.0 km one way with 780 m of ascent. About 2h 20m to the summit and 3h 20m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Scramble.

Cwm Eigiau via Bwlch Eryl Farchog and Craig yr Ysfa

A grade 1 scramble to the summit from Cwm Eigiau road-end track. It starts from Cwm Eigiau road-end track. 9.7 km one way with 930 m of ascent. About 3h 30m to the summit and 5h 25m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Scramble.

Carnedd Llewelyn route GPX

Download a GPX for each route with a track: South-west ridge from Ogwen and Carneddau ridge, Gerlan via Yr Elen north-west ridge, Cwm Eigiau via the eastern Foel Grach ridge, Rachub via Drosgl and Yr Aryg flanks, via Bera Bach, Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge, Llanfairfechan via Drum and northern ridge, Abergwyngregyn via Drum via Drum and northern ridge, East Ridge via Ffynnon Lloer and Carneddau ridge, Crib Lem / Llech Ddu Spur and Carnedd Dafydd, Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa, Cwm Eigiau via Bwlch Eryl Farchog and Craig yr Ysfa. 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 Carnedd Llewelyn today and the Carnedd Llewelyn 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.

Planning a day on Carnedd Llewelyn 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 Carnedd Llewelyn, 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 Carnedd Llewelyn

What is the easiest route up Carnedd Llewelyn?

The ridge from Carnedd Dafydd avoids scrambling but is a long walk from Ogwen.

How much time does each Carnedd Llewelyn route take?

Ogwen via Carnedd Dafydd: about 3h 0m up and 4h 30m there and back. South-west ridge from Ogwen and Carneddau ridge: about 2h 50m up and 4h 10m there and back. Gerlan via Yr Elen north-west ridge: about 2h 50m up and 4h 10m there and back. Cwm Eigiau via the eastern Foel Grach ridge: about 3h 45m up and 6h 10m there and back. Rachub via Drosgl and Yr Aryg flanks, via Bera Bach: about 3h 20m up and 5h 20m there and back. Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge: about 3h 35m up and 5h 50m there and back. Llanfairfechan via Drum and northern ridge: about 4h 0m up and 6h 20m there and back. Abergwyngregyn via Drum via Drum and northern ridge: about 3h 50m up and 6h 5m there and back. Ogwen via Pen yr Helgi Du: about 3h 10m up and 4h 45m there and back. East Ridge via Ffynnon Lloer and Carneddau ridge: about 3h 0m up and 4h 30m there and back. Crib Lem / Llech Ddu Spur and Carnedd Dafydd: about 3h 30m up and 5h 20m there and back. Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa: about 2h 20m up and 3h 20m there and back. Cwm Eigiau via Bwlch Eryl Farchog and Craig yr Ysfa: about 3h 30m up and 5h 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 Carnedd Llewelyn route?

Yes. Open a route below and download its GPX: an ascent track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths.