Llyn Crafnant up Creigiau Gleision: route map, distance and time
676 m · Snowdonia
Creigiau Gleision is a 676m craggy ridge in the eastern Carneddau, rising between Llyn Cowlyd and Llyn Crafnant above the Conwy valley.
A steep climb from the Crafnant valley onto the ridge, on narrow paths through heather and rock.
Llyn Crafnant at a glance
| Distance | 4.7 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 503 m |
| Time up | 1h 45m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 45m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Llyn Crafnant car park |
| Start grid reference | SH 750 611 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 728 615 |
Llyn Crafnant map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Llyn Crafnant takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 25m | 2h 15m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 45m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 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 13:07 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:08, sunset 16:50. Start by 13:05 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Creigiau Gleision summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Creigiau Gleision right now. The main Creigiau Gleision page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Creigiau Gleision forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Creigiau Gleision
Creigiau Gleision is a 676m craggy ridge in the eastern Carneddau, rising between Llyn Cowlyd and Llyn Crafnant above the Conwy valley. More about Creigiau Gleision, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Craiglwyn (622 m), 0.7 km south
- Creigiau Gleision North Top (632 m), 0.8 km north-east
- Pen Llithrig y Wrach (799 m), 1.5 km north-west
Challenges that include Creigiau Gleision
Other routes up Creigiau Gleision
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capel Curig over Craiglwyn | 4.8 km one way | 586 m | 1h 55m | Moderate |
| Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge | 5.7 km one way | 550 m | 2h 5m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 750 611, the summit at SH 728 615), 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: questions and answers
How far is Llyn Crafnant?
Llyn Crafnant is 4.7 km one way to the summit of Creigiau Gleision, with 503 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 9.4 km.
How long does Llyn Crafnant take?
About 1h 45m to the summit of Creigiau Gleision and 2h 45m 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 3h 20m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Llyn Crafnant?
Llyn Crafnant starts from Llyn Crafnant car park. The grid reference is SH 750 611.
Is Llyn Crafnant suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start Llyn Crafnant today?
By 13:07 at the latest. Sunset on Creigiau Gleision today is 16:52, Llyn Crafnant takes about 2h 45m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Llyn Crafnant?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).