Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge up Cnicht: route map, distance and time
691 m · Snowdonia
Cnicht is a sharp peak above Croesor in Snowdonia, often called the Welsh Matterhorn for the pointed shape of its south-west ridge.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Tanygrisiau public path to Cwmorthin.
The Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge starts at about 226 m and gains 449 m over 7.7 km to 649 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 5%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 119 m at an average of 12%, with a 500 m stretch from 2.3 km at about 19%. The final 0.7 km eases to the top.
Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge at a glance
| Distance | 7.7 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 520 m |
| Climb on the track | 449 m up, 24 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 226 m to 652 m (summit 691 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 19%, from 2.3 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 5% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 25m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 55m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Tanygrisiau public path to Cwmorthin, LL41 3ST |
| Start grid reference | SH 682 451 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 645 466 |
| Parking | Cwmorthin car park, Tanygrisiau; the postcode is approximate |
Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge GPX
Ascent only: plan your way down. A planning track, not checked on the ground; it doesn't show safe scrambling moves. Track data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), heights from a terrain model.
Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge kilometre by kilometre
Height, climb and average gradient for each kilometre of the track, with a grid reference at the end of each one to check your position on the map.
| At | Height | Climb | Gradient | Grid ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 319 m | +93 m | 9% | SH 680 458 |
| 2 km | 331 m | +12 m | 1% | SH 672 464 |
| 3 km | 449 m | +119 m | 12% | SH 665 462 |
| 4 km | 518 m | +69 m | 7% | SH 659 465 |
| 5 km | 543 m | +25 m | 3% | SH 661 471 |
| 6 km | 583 m | +40 m | 4% | SH 656 477 |
| 7 km | 647 m | +64 m | 6% | SH 650 470 |
| 7.7 km | 649 m | +3 m | 0% | SH 645 466 |
How long the Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 3h 15m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 25m | 3h 55m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 0m | 4h 55m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:14. Start by 13:19 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:12. Start by 13:17 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Cnicht summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Cnicht right now. The main Cnicht page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Cnicht forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Cnicht
Cnicht is a sharp peak above Croesor in Snowdonia, often called the Welsh Matterhorn for the pointed shape of its south-west ridge. More about Cnicht, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Hewitt, Nuttall, HuMP.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Cnicht North Top (690 m), 0.4 km north-east
- Moelwyn Mawr (770 m), 2.2 km south-east
- Ysgafell Wen (672 m), 2.6 km north-east
- Ysgafell Wen North Top (669 m), 2.6 km north-east
- Craigysgafn (690 m), 2.7 km south-east
- Moel Druman (676 m), 2.8 km north-east
Challenges that include Cnicht
More walks from Tanygrisiau public path to Cwmorthin
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- From Tanygrisiau via Craigysgafn up Moelwyn Mawr
- Cwmorthin and Rhosydd from Tanygrisiau up Moelwyn Mawr
- Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan up Moelwyn Bach
- Cwmorthin via Moelwyn Mawr and Craigysgafn up Moelwyn Bach
- Tanygrisiau via Cwmorthin and Rhosydd up Cnicht North Top
- Tanygrisiau and Cwmorthin paths up Craigysgafn
- Tanygrisiau and Cwmorthin paths up Moel-yr-hydd
- Tanygrisiau via Cwmorthin and Rhosydd up Moel Druman
- Tanygrisiau via Cwmorthin and Rhosydd up Ysgafell Wen
- Tanygrisiau via Cwmorthin and Rhosydd up Ysgafell Wen North Top
- Tanygrisiau via Cwmorthin and Rhosydd up Ysgafell Wen Far North Top
Other routes up Cnicht
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croesor via the south-west ridge | 3.1 km one way | 530 m | 1h 30m | Moderate |
| Gelli Iago via Bwlch y Battel | 2.0 km one way | 410 m | 1h 5m | Hard |
| Llyn Llagi and Llyn yr Adar | 4.4 km one way | 490 m | 1h 40m | Hard |
| Rhosydd and the north ridge from Croesor | 7.7 km one way | 570 m | 2h 30m | Hard |
| Nantmor via Croesor | 6.4 km one way | — | — | Hard |
| Croesor via Moelwyn Bach and Moelwyn Mawr | 11.6 km one way | — | — | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 682 451, the summit at SH 645 466), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge?
The Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge is 7.7 km one way to the summit of Cnicht, with 520 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 15.4 km.
How long does the Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge take?
About 2h 25m to the summit of Cnicht and 3h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 4h 55m for the round trip.
How steep is the Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 19%, starting 2.3 km from the start, and 5% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge climbs 449 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge?
The Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge starts from Tanygrisiau public path to Cwmorthin (postcode LL41 3ST). The grid reference is SH 682 451. Cwmorthin car park, Tanygrisiau; the postcode is approximate
Is the Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge suitable for beginners?
Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first, such as the Croesor via the south-west ridge.
What time should I start the Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge today?
By 13:19 at the latest. Sunset on Cnicht today is 18:14, The Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge takes about 3h 55m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for the Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge?
Yes. Download it from this page. It is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.