Foel-fras routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX

Peakify lists 6 measured routes up Foel-fras, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.

Foel-fras routes, easiest to hardest

Sorted by grade, easiest first: Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble. Routes with the same grade keep the order in which Peakify's editors listed them.

Foel-fras route times by Naismith's rule

The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.

Each Foel-fras route

Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum

A track and path along the ridge over Drum to Foel-fras. It starts from Bwlch y Ddeufaen road end. 5.1 km one way with 565 m of ascent. About 2h 0m to the summit and 3h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.

Rachub via Drosgl and Yr Aryg flanks, via Bera Bach

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Rachub upland path junction. It starts from Rachub upland path junction. 8.6 km one way with 670 m of ascent. About 2h 50m to the summit and 4h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Bwlch y Ddeufaen mapped track junction. It starts from Bwlch y Ddeufaen mapped track junction. 6.6 km one way with 600 m of ascent. About 2h 20m to the summit and 3h 40m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Llanfairfechan via Drum and northern ridge

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Llanfairfechan mapped track junction. It starts from Llanfairfechan mapped track junction. 7.2 km one way with 770 m of ascent. About 2h 45m to the summit and 4h 10m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Abergwyngregyn via Drum via Drum and northern ridge

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Abergwyngregyn via Drum mapped track junction. It starts from Abergwyngregyn via Drum mapped track junction. 6.8 km one way with 720 m of ascent. About 2h 35m to the summit and 3h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Abergwyngregyn via Llyn Anafon

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Abergwyngregyn mountain-road track junction. It starts from Abergwyngregyn mountain-road track junction. 6.3 km one way with 740 m of ascent. About 2h 30m to the summit and 3h 45m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Foel-fras route GPX

Download a GPX for each route with a track: Rachub via Drosgl and Yr Aryg flanks, via Bera Bach, Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge, Llanfairfechan via Drum and northern ridge, Abergwyngregyn via Drum via Drum and northern ridge, Abergwyngregyn via Llyn Anafon. Each is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.

Before you pick a route

The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Foel-fras today and the Foel-fras 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.

Planning a day on Foel-fras routes

The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.

Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.

Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.

If you are new to Foel-fras, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.

Questions about Foel-fras

What is the easiest route up Foel-fras?

Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum has the easiest grade of the 6 routes listed here (Moderate).

How much time does each Foel-fras route take?

Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum: about 2h 0m up and 3h 0m there and back. Rachub via Drosgl and Yr Aryg flanks, via Bera Bach: about 2h 50m up and 4h 35m there and back. Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge: about 2h 20m up and 3h 40m there and back. Llanfairfechan via Drum and northern ridge: about 2h 45m up and 4h 10m there and back. Abergwyngregyn via Drum via Drum and northern ridge: about 2h 35m up and 3h 55m there and back. Abergwyngregyn via Llyn Anafon: about 2h 30m up and 3h 45m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.

Can I get a GPX file for a Foel-fras route?

Yes. Open a route below and download its GPX: an ascent track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths.