Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn up Foel Grach: route map, distance and time

975 m · Snowdonia

Foel Grach is a Carneddau summit north of Carnedd Llewelyn, with a small emergency refuge hut below its top.

A grade 1 scramble to the summit from Cwm Llugwy reservoir access track.

Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn starts at about 294 m and gains 794 m over 6.7 km to 963 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 153 m (15%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 4 km, which climbs 254 m at an average of 25%, with a 500 m stretch from 3.2 km at about 30%. The final 0.7 km eases to the top. About 16% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.

Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn at a glance

Distance	6.7 km one way, to the top
Ascent	810 m
Climb on the track	794 m up, 127 m down on the way
Start and top of the track	294 m to 1,051 m (summit 975 m)
Steepest 500 m	About 30%, from 3.2 km
Steeper than 1 in 5	16% of the way
Time up	2h 40m by Naismith's rule
There and back	4h 0m, down the same way
Grade	Scramble
Start	Cwm Llugwy reservoir access track
Start grid reference	SH 687 602
Summit grid reference	SH 688 659
Parking	No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby

Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn map

The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start 294 m6.7 km to the top

Start grid ref SH 687 602 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

Download the Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn 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 Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn 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	447 m	+153 m	15%	SH 691 611
2 km	552 m	+105 m	10%	SH 695 620
3 km	607 m	+55 m	5%	SH 694 630
4 km	861 m	+254 m	25% steep	SH 691 638
5 km	1,049 m	+187 m	19%	SH 683 643
6 km	936 m	-113 m	-11%	SH 687 652
6.7 km	963 m	+27 m	4%	SH 688 659

How long Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn 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 0m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	3h 20m	5h 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 18:13. Start by 13:13 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:11. Start by 13:11 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Foel Grach summit weather for this route

Good Today Sunday 18 October

Overcast, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 23 mph gusting 29 mph, 21% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:13.
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October

Moderate drizzle, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 29 mph gusting 36 mph, 73% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:11.

Best day of the next seven for Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 29 mph and a 21% chance of rain.

Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 3% (Low), best around 09:00. 7-day inversion outlook.

Hour-by-hour Foel Grach forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Foel Grach?

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 -4°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 Foel Grach

Foel Grach is a Carneddau summit north of Carnedd Llewelyn, with a small emergency refuge hut below its top. More about Foel Grach, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Furth, Hewitt, Nuttall.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Garnedd Uchaf (925 m), 1 km north
Carnedd Llewelyn (1,064 m), 1.6 km south
Yr Elen (962 m), 1.7 km south-west
Foel-fras (944 m), 2.3 km north
Bera Bach (807 m), 2.5 km north-west
Craig Eigiau (735 m), 2.5 km east

Challenges that include Foel Grach

More walks from Cwm Llugwy reservoir access track

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa up Carnedd Llewelyn
Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn up Yr Elen

Other routes up Foel Grach

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Abergwyngregyn via Foel-fras	10.7 km one way	1,089 m	3h 55m	Hard
Cwm Eigiau via the eastern Foel Grach ridge	10.2 km one way	700 m	3h 10m	Hard
Rachub via Drosgl and Yr Aryg flanks, via Bera Bach	8.1 km one way	710 m	2h 50m	Hard
Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge	9.4 km one way	710 m	3h 5m	Hard
Llanfairfechan via Drum and northern ridge	10.0 km one way	880 m	3h 30m	Hard
Abergwyngregyn via Drum via Drum and northern ridge	9.6 km one way	840 m	3h 20m	Hard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 687 602, the summit at SH 688 659), 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 Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn: questions and answers

How far is Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn?

Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn is 6.7 km one way to the summit of Foel Grach, with 810 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 13.4 km.

How long does Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn take?

About 2h 40m to the summit of Foel Grach and 4h 0m 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 0m for the round trip.

How steep is Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn?

The steepest 500 m averages about 30%, starting 3.2 km from the start, and 16% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn climbs 794 m in all on the track.

Where do you park for Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn?

Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn starts from Cwm Llugwy reservoir access track. The grid reference is SH 687 602. No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby

Is Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn suitable for beginners?

No. It is a scramble: you use your hands on rock, often with big drops below. Go with someone experienced, on a dry and calm day.

What time should I start Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn today?

By 13:13 at the latest. Sunset on Foel Grach today is 18:13, Cwm Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn takes about 4h 0m 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 Llugwy and Craig yr Ysfa via Carnedd Llywelyn?

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.