Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen up Drum: route map, distance and time
771 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Bwlch y Ddeufaen track junction.
Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen starts at about 399 m and gains 368 m over 4.6 km to 756 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 3%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 164 m at an average of 16%, with a 500 m stretch from 1.9 km at about 21%. It keeps climbing at 12% to the top.
Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen at a glance
| Distance | 4.6 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 390 m |
| Climb on the track | 368 m up, 11 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 399 m to 756 m (summit 771 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 21%, from 1.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 7% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 35m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 30m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Bwlch y Ddeufaen track junction, LL32 8UR |
| Start grid reference | SH 729 714 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 708 695 |
| Parking | Bwlch y Ddeufaen eastern road-end car park (SH720715); the postcode is approximate |
Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Download the Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen 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.
Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen 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 | 422 m | +23 m | 2% | SH 720 715 |
| 2 km | 460 m | +38 m | 4% | SH 711 717 |
| 3 km | 624 m | +164 m | 16% | SH 705 710 |
| 4 km | 689 m | +65 m | 7% | SH 707 701 |
| 4.6 km | 756 m | +67 m | 12% | SH 708 695 |
How long Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 15m | 2h 5m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 35m | 2h 30m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 1h 55m | 3h 5m |
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 18:13. Start by 14:43 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 30m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:11. Start by 14:41 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 30m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Drum summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Moderate drizzle, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 18 mph gusting 22 mph, 25% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:13.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Moderate drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 25 mph gusting 31 mph, 47% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:11.
Best day of the next seven for Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 22 mph and a 25% chance of rain.
Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 35% (Marginal), best around 05:00.
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 -2°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- 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 Drum
More about Drum, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Drum
More walks from Bwlch y Ddeufaen track junction
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge up Carnedd Llewelyn
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge up Foel Grach
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge up Foel-fras
- South ascent from Bwlch y Ddeufaen up Tal y Fan
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge up Garnedd Uchaf
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras up Llwytmor
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge up Pen y Castell
Other routes up Drum
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drum from Abergwyngregyn | 4.8 km one way | 510 m | 1h 50m | Hard |
| Drum from Llanfairfechan | 5.1 km one way | 560 m | 1h 55m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 729 714, the summit at SH 708 695), 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.
Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen: questions and answers
How far is Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen?
Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen is 4.6 km one way to the summit of Drum, with 390 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 9.2 km.
How long does Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen take?
About 1h 35m to the summit of Drum and 2h 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 3h 5m for the round trip.
How steep is Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen?
The steepest 500 m averages about 21%, starting 1.9 km from the start, and 7% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen climbs 368 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen?
Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen starts from Bwlch y Ddeufaen track junction (postcode LL32 8UR). The grid reference is SH 729 714. Bwlch y Ddeufaen eastern road-end car park (SH720715); the postcode is approximate
Is Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen 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 Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen today?
By 14:43 at the latest. Sunset on Drum today is 18:13, Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen takes about 2h 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 Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen?
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.