Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge up Craiglwyn: route map, distance and time
622 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Llyn Crafnant public lane.
The Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge starts at about 174 m and gains 523 m over 6.5 km to 598 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 145 m at an average of 15%. The final 0.5 km eases to the top.
Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge at a glance
| Distance | 6.5 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 550 m |
| Climb on the track | 523 m up, 98 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 172 m to 653 m (summit 622 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 17%, from 3.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 5% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 15m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 30m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Llyn Crafnant public lane, LL27 0JZ |
| Start grid reference | SH 755 618 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 730 608 |
| Parking | NRW Llyn Crafnant car park (SH756618) |
Llyn Crafnant and northern 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 Llyn Crafnant and northern 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.
Llyn Crafnant and northern 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 | 204 m | +30 m | 3% | SH 749 612 |
| 2 km | 263 m | +60 m | 6% | SH 740 608 |
| 3 km | 408 m | +145 m | 15% | SH 740 615 |
| 4 km | 498 m | +90 m | 9% | SH 741 623 |
| 5 km | 578 m | +80 m | 8% | SH 732 621 |
| 6 km | 615 m | +36 m | 4% | SH 728 613 |
| 6.5 km | 598 m | -16 m | -3% | SH 730 608 |
How long the Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 50m | 2h 55m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 15m | 3h 30m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 45m | 4h 20m |
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 07:06, sunset 16:52. Start by 12:22 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 30m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:08, sunset 16:50. Start by 12:20 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 30m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Craiglwyn summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Craiglwyn right now. The main Craiglwyn page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Craiglwyn forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Craiglwyn
More about Craiglwyn, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Craiglwyn
More walks from Llyn Crafnant public lane
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge up Creigiau Gleision
- Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge up Creigiau Gleision North Top
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 755 618, the summit at SH 730 608), 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.
Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge?
The Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge is 6.5 km one way to the summit of Craiglwyn, with 550 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 13.0 km.
How long does the Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge take?
About 2h 15m to the summit of Craiglwyn and 3h 30m 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 20m for the round trip.
How steep is the Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 17%, starting 3.9 km from the start, and 5% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge climbs 523 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge?
The Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge starts from Llyn Crafnant public lane (postcode LL27 0JZ). The grid reference is SH 755 618. NRW Llyn Crafnant car park (SH756618)
Is the Llyn Crafnant and northern 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.
What time should I start the Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge today?
By 12:22 at the latest. Sunset on Craiglwyn today is 16:52, The Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge takes about 3h 30m 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 Llyn Crafnant and northern 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.