Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths up Foel Gron (Snowdonia): route map, distance and time
629 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Llyn Cwellyn car park (Snowdon Ranger).
Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths starts at about 150 m and gains 538 m over 4.1 km to 611 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 132 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 144 m at an average of 14%, with a 500 m stretch from 2.3 km at about 24%. It keeps climbing at 14% to the top. About 17% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths at a glance
| Distance | 4.1 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 550 m |
| Climb on the track | 538 m up, 81 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 150 m to 611 m (summit 629 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 24%, from 2.3 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 17% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 45m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 35m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Llyn Cwellyn car park (Snowdon Ranger), LL54 7YS |
| Start grid reference | SH 564 550 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 560 568 |
| Parking | Llyn Cwellyn car park (Snowdon Ranger) (SH564551); the postcode is approximate |
Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths 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 Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths 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.
Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths 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 | 282 m | +132 m | 13% | SH 568 553 |
| 2 km | 426 m | +144 m | 14% | SH 573 555 |
| 3 km | 569 m | +143 m | 14% | SH 569 563 |
| 4 km | 596 m | +27 m | 3% | SH 561 567 |
| 4.1 km | 611 m | +15 m | 14% | SH 560 568 |
How long Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 25m | 2h 5m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 10m |
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 07:50, sunset 18:12. Start by 14:37 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:52, sunset 18:10. Start by 14:35 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Foel Gron summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Foel Gron right now. The main Foel Gron page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Foel Gron forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Foel Gron
More about Foel Gron, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Foel Gron
More walks from Llyn Cwellyn car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron up Moel Eilio
- Snowdon Ranger Path up Snowdon
- Snowdon Ranger via Bwlch Clogwyn up Moel Cynghorion
Other routes up Foel Gron
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Llanberis via Moel Eilio | 5.0 km one way | — | — | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 564 550, the summit at SH 560 568), 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.
Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths: questions and answers
How far is Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths?
Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths is 4.1 km one way to the summit of Foel Gron, with 550 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 8.2 km.
How long does Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths take?
About 1h 45m to the summit of Foel Gron and 2h 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 3h 10m for the round trip.
How steep is Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths?
The steepest 500 m averages about 24%, starting 2.3 km from the start, and 17% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths climbs 538 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths?
Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths starts from Llyn Cwellyn car park (Snowdon Ranger) (postcode LL54 7YS). The grid reference is SH 564 550. Llyn Cwellyn car park (Snowdon Ranger) (SH564551); the postcode is approximate
Is Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths 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 Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths today?
By 14:37 at the latest. Sunset on Foel Gron today is 18:12, Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths takes about 2h 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 Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths?
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.