Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas up Crib y Ddysgl: route map, distance and time
1,065 m · Snowdonia
Crib y Ddysgl, also called Garnedd Ugain, is the second highest summit in Wales, on the Snowdon Horseshoe north of Yr Wyddfa.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Pen y Pass car park.
Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas starts at about 367 m and gains 696 m over 5.2 km to 1,035 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 92 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 5 km, which climbs 209 m at an average of 21%, with a 500 m stretch from 4.1 km at about 29%. It keeps climbing at 13% to the top. About 29% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas at a glance
| Distance | 5.2 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 720 m |
| Climb on the track | 696 m up, 30 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 366 m to 1,035 m (summit 1,065 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 29%, from 4.1 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 29% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 15m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 15m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Pen y Pass car park, LL55 4NU |
| Start grid reference | SH 646 556 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 610 551 |
| Parking | Pen y Pass car park (SH647556) |
Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas 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 Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas 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.
Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas 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 | 459 m | +92 m | 9% | SH 637 553 |
| 2 km | 579 m | +120 m | 12% | SH 630 550 |
| 3 km | 673 m | +94 m | 9% | SH 621 547 |
| 4 km | 797 m | +124 m | 12% | SH 613 548 |
| 5 km | 1,006 m | +209 m | 21% steep | SH 608 550 |
| 5.2 km | 1,035 m | +29 m | 13% | SH 610 551 |
How long Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 50m | 2h 40m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 15m | 3h 15m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 45m | 4h 0m |
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 07:48, sunset 18:14. Start by 13:59 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12. Start by 13:57 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Crib y Ddysgl summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Sunday 18 October
Partly cloudy, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 27 mph gusting 33 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:14.
-
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Moderate drizzle, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 41 mph gusting 51 mph, 90% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12.
Best day of the next seven for Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 33 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 0% (Low), best around 05:00. 7-day inversion outlook.
Hour-by-hour Crib y Ddysgl forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Crib y Ddysgl?
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -5°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 33 mph.
- Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
- Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
- A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.
About Crib y Ddysgl
Crib y Ddysgl, also called Garnedd Ugain, is the second highest summit in Wales, on the Snowdon Horseshoe north of Yr Wyddfa. More about Crib y Ddysgl, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Furth, Hewitt, Nuttall.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Yr Wyddfa - Snowdon (1,085 m), 0.8 km south
- Crib Goch (923 m), 1.3 km east
- Llechog (720 m), 1.7 km north
- Y Lliwedd (898 m), 2.2 km south-east
- Y Lliwedd East Top (893 m), 2.3 km south-east
- Lliwedd Bach (819 m), 2.5 km south-east
Challenges that include Crib y Ddysgl
- Welsh 3000s · 15
- Welsh 100 Challenge · 100
- Welsh 1000m Peaks · 5
- Snowdonia 900m Peaks · 16
- Snowdon Horseshoe · 4
- Paddy Buckley Round · 47
- Furths · 34
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
More walks from Pen y Pass car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch up Crib Goch
- East Ridge and crest up Crib Goch
- Fox's Path and Crib Goch North Ridge up Crib Goch
- Pen-y-Pass ridge approach and plateau traverse up Glyder Fach
- Pen y Pass up Glyder Fawr
- Pen y Pass via Llyn Llydaw up Y Lliwedd
- Miners' Track and east ridge up Y Lliwedd
- Pyg Track up Snowdon
- Miners' Track up Snowdon
- Crib Goch up Snowdon
- Y Lliwedd traverse up Snowdon
- Fox's Path and Crib Goch North Ridge up Snowdon
Other routes up Crib y Ddysgl
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Llanberis Path via Bwlch Glas | 6.8 km one way | 950 m | 2h 55m | Moderate |
| Miners' Track via Bwlch Glas | 6.7 km one way | 750 m | 2h 35m | Hard |
| East Ridge via Crib Goch | 4.1 km one way | 730 m | 2h 0m | Scramble |
| Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant | 4.4 km one way | 930 m | 2h 25m | Scramble |
| Fox's Path and Crib Goch North Ridge | 5.5 km one way | 800 m | 2h 25m | Scramble |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 646 556, the summit at SH 610 551), 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.
Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas: questions and answers
How far is Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas?
Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas is 5.2 km one way to the summit of Crib y Ddysgl, with 720 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.4 km.
How long does Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas take?
About 2h 15m to the summit of Crib y Ddysgl and 3h 15m 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 0m for the round trip.
How steep is Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas?
The steepest 500 m averages about 29%, starting 4.1 km from the start, and 29% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas climbs 696 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas?
Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas starts from Pen y Pass car park (postcode LL55 4NU). The grid reference is SH 646 556. Pen y Pass car park (SH647556)
Is Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas 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 Llanberis Path via Bwlch Glas.
What time should I start Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas today?
By 13:59 at the latest. Sunset on Crib y Ddysgl today is 18:14, Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas takes about 3h 15m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas?
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.