Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks up Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd (Bala to Welshpool): route map, distance and time
648 m · Bala to Welshpool
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Cwm Hirnant public track at SH949308.
Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks starts at about 362 m and gains 412 m over 7.1 km to 643 m on the track. The first 7 km are the easy part, averaging 4%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 7 km, which climbs 113 m at an average of 11%, with a 500 m stretch from 5.9 km at about 20%. The final 0.1 km eases to the top.
Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks at a glance
| Distance | 7.1 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 440 m |
| Climb on the track | 412 m up, 135 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 312 m to 643 m (summit 648 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 20%, from 5.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 4% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 10m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 35m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Cwm Hirnant public track at SH949308 |
| Start grid reference | SH 950 307 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 995 313 |
| Parking | No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby |
Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks 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 Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks 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.
Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks 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 | 341 m | -21 m | -2% | SH 956 306 |
| 2 km | 391 m | +50 m | 5% | SH 960 314 |
| 3 km | 324 m | -67 m | -7% | SH 966 320 |
| 4 km | 369 m | +44 m | 4% | SH 972 316 |
| 5 km | 432 m | +63 m | 6% | SH 981 313 |
| 6 km | 527 m | +95 m | 9% | SH 990 311 |
| 7 km | 640 m | +113 m | 11% | SH 995 312 |
| 7.1 km | 643 m | +3 m | 2% | SH 995 313 |
How long Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 55m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 40m | 4h 25m |
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 07:03, sunset 16:51. Start by 12:16 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:05, sunset 16:49. Start by 12:14 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd right now. The main Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd forecast.
About Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd
More about Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd
More walks from Cwm Hirnant public track at SH949308
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Cwm Hirnant and west ridge up Foel Goch
- Cwm Hirnant and west ridge up Trum y Gwragedd
- Cwm Hirnant and west ridge up Foel y Geifr
- Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks up Pen y Boncyn Trefeilw
- Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks up Stac Rhos
- Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks up Foel Cedig
- Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks up Y Groes Fagl
Other routes up Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cwm Hirnant by the Bwlch Hirnant track | 7.3 km one way | 470 m | 2h 15m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 950 307, the summit at SH 995 313), 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.
Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks: questions and answers
How far is Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks?
Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks is 7.1 km one way to the summit of Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd, with 440 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 14.2 km.
How long does Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks take?
About 2h 10m to the summit of Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd and 3h 35m 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 25m for the round trip.
How steep is Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks?
The steepest 500 m averages about 20%, starting 5.9 km from the start, and 4% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks climbs 412 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks?
Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks starts from Cwm Hirnant public track at SH949308. The grid reference is SH 950 307. No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby
Is Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks 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 Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks today?
By 12:16 at the latest. Sunset on Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd today is 16:51, Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks takes about 3h 35m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks?
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.