Cwm Hirnant and west ridge up Foel y Geifr (Snowdonia): route map, distance and time
626 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Cwm Hirnant westbound public path.
The Cwm Hirnant and west ridge starts at about 296 m and gains 401 m over 5.3 km to 619 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 157 m (16%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 1 km, which climbs 157 m at an average of 16%, with a 500 m stretch from 0.4 km at about 20%. It keeps climbing at 10% to the top.
Cwm Hirnant and west ridge at a glance
| Distance | 5.3 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 420 m |
| Climb on the track | 401 m up, 82 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 295 m to 619 m (summit 626 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 20%, from 0.4 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 9% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 45m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 50m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Cwm Hirnant westbound public path |
| Start grid reference | SH 948 308 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 937 275 |
| Parking | No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby |
Cwm Hirnant and west 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
Download the Cwm Hirnant and west 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.
Cwm Hirnant and west 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 | 453 m | +157 m | 16% | SH 941 309 |
| 2 km | 496 m | +43 m | 4% | SH 939 302 |
| 3 km | 548 m | +52 m | 5% | SH 942 296 |
| 4 km | 558 m | +10 m | 1% | SH 943 286 |
| 5 km | 586 m | +28 m | 3% | SH 938 278 |
| 5.3 km | 619 m | +33 m | 10% | SH 937 275 |
How long the Cwm Hirnant and west ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 25m | 2h 20m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 50m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 30m |
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 07:04, sunset 16:51. Start by 13:01 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:06, sunset 16:49. Start by 12:59 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Foel y Geifr summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Foel y Geifr right now. The main Foel y Geifr page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Foel y Geifr forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Foel y Geifr
More about Foel y Geifr, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Foel y Geifr
More walks from Cwm Hirnant westbound public path
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 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
- Cwm Hirnant by the forest tracks up Foel Cwm-Sian Llwyd
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 948 308, the summit at SH 937 275), 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 and west ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Cwm Hirnant and west ridge?
The Cwm Hirnant and west ridge is 5.3 km one way to the summit of Foel y Geifr, with 420 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.6 km.
How long does the Cwm Hirnant and west ridge take?
About 1h 45m to the summit of Foel y Geifr and 2h 50m 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 30m for the round trip.
How steep is the Cwm Hirnant and west ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 20%, starting 0.4 km from the start, and 9% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Cwm Hirnant and west ridge climbs 401 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Cwm Hirnant and west ridge?
The Cwm Hirnant and west ridge starts from Cwm Hirnant westbound public path. The grid reference is SH 948 308. No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby
Is the Cwm Hirnant and west 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 Cwm Hirnant and west ridge today?
By 13:01 at the latest. Sunset on Foel y Geifr today is 16:51, The Cwm Hirnant and west ridge takes about 2h 50m 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 Cwm Hirnant and west 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.