Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge up Erw y Ddafad-ddu: route map, distance and time
872 m · Bala to Welshpool
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Llanuwchllyn car park beside Afon Twrch.
The Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge starts at about 177 m and gains 726 m over 7.0 km to 860 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 7%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 6 km, which climbs 155 m at an average of 15%, with a 500 m stretch from 5 km at about 24%. The final kilometre eases to the top.
Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge at a glance
| Distance | 7.1 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 750 m |
| Climb on the track | 726 m up, 47 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 177 m to 864 m (summit 872 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 24%, from 5 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 7% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 40m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 5m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Llanuwchllyn car park beside Afon Twrch, LL23 7TL |
| Start grid reference | SH 879 297 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 864 233 |
| Parking | Llanuwchllyn car park beside Afon Twrch (SH879297); the postcode is approximate |
Llanuwchllyn and Aran north 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
- Eagles Inn0.8 km
- Station Café0.2 km
- Public toilets0.2 km
- Public toilets0.2 km
- Public toilets0.6 km
- Bwch-Yn-Uchaf Campsite0.5 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Llanuwchllyn and Aran north 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.
Llanuwchllyn and Aran north 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 | 257 m | +80 m | 8% | SH 875 289 |
| 2 km | 307 m | +50 m | 5% | SH 874 280 |
| 3 km | 442 m | +135 m | 14% | SH 871 270 |
| 4 km | 579 m | +137 m | 14% | SH 871 261 |
| 5 km | 703 m | +124 m | 12% | SH 870 251 |
| 6 km | 858 m | +155 m | 15% | SH 867 242 |
| 7 km | 860 m | +2 m | 0% | SH 864 234 |
How long the Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 20m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 40m | 4h 5m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 15m | 5h 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 07:48, sunset 18:11. Start by 13:06 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:09. Start by 13:04 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Erw y Ddafad-ddu summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Erw y Ddafad-ddu right now. The main Erw y Ddafad-ddu page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Erw y Ddafad-ddu forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Erw y Ddafad-ddu
More about Erw y Ddafad-ddu, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Erw y Ddafad-ddu
More walks from Llanuwchllyn car park beside Afon Twrch
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge up Aran Fawddwy
- Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge up Aran Benllyn
- Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn up Esgeiriau Gwynion
- Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn up Foel Rhudd
- Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn up Llechwedd Du
- Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn up Foel Hafod-fynydd
Other routes up Erw y Ddafad-ddu
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cwm Cywarch via Gwaun y Llwyni | 7.9 km one way | 850 m | 3h 0m | Hard |
| Cwm Cywarch via Bwlch y Main and Waun Camddwr | 7.0 km one way | 790 m | 2h 45m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 879 297, the summit at SH 864 233), 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.
Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge?
The Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge is 7.1 km one way to the summit of Erw y Ddafad-ddu, with 750 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 14.2 km.
How long does the Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge take?
About 2h 40m to the summit of Erw y Ddafad-ddu and 4h 5m 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 5h 5m for the round trip.
How steep is the Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 24%, starting 5 km from the start, and 7% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge climbs 726 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge?
The Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge starts from Llanuwchllyn car park beside Afon Twrch (postcode LL23 7TL). The grid reference is SH 879 297. Llanuwchllyn car park beside Afon Twrch (SH879297); the postcode is approximate
Is the Llanuwchllyn and Aran north 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 Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge today?
By 13:06 at the latest. Sunset on Erw y Ddafad-ddu today is 18:11, The Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge takes about 4h 5m 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 Llanuwchllyn and Aran north 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.