Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge 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 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 5.7 km to 653 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%. It keeps climbing at 10% to the top.
Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge at a glance
| Distance | 5.7 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 550 m |
| Climb on the track | 523 m up, 47 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 172 m to 653 m (summit 676 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 17%, from 3.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 5% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 5m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 10m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Llyn Crafnant public lane, LL27 0JZ |
| Start grid reference | SH 755 618 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 728 615 |
| 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 |
| 5.7 km | 653 m | +74 m | 10% | SH 729 615 |
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 40m | 2h 40m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 5m | 3h 10m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 30m | 3h 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 07:06, sunset 16:52. Start by 12:42 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 10m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:08, sunset 16:50. Start by 12:40 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 10m 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
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 Craiglwyn
- Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge up Creigiau Gleision North Top
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 | 4.7 km one way | 503 m | 1h 45m | Moderate |
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 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 and northern ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge?
The Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge is 5.7 km one way to the summit of Creigiau Gleision, with 550 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 11.4 km.
How long does the Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge take?
About 2h 5m to the summit of Creigiau Gleision and 3h 10m 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 55m 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, such as Capel Curig over Craiglwyn.
What time should I start the Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge today?
By 12:42 at the latest. Sunset on Creigiau Gleision today is 16:52, The Llyn Crafnant and northern ridge takes about 3h 10m 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.