Marchlyn mountain-road approach up Foel-goch: route map, distance and time
831 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Marchlyn public road end.
Marchlyn mountain-road approach starts at about 362 m and gains 570 m over 5.6 km to 782 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 10%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 140 m at an average of 14%, with a 500 m stretch from 2.5 km at about 22%. It keeps climbing at 11% to the top. About 14% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Marchlyn mountain-road approach at a glance
| Distance | 5.6 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 610 m |
| Climb on the track | 570 m up, 151 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 362 m to 806 m (summit 831 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 22%, from 2.5 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 14% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 10m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 15m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Marchlyn public road end |
| Start grid reference | SH 596 630 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 628 612 |
| Parking | No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby |
Marchlyn mountain-road approach 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 Marchlyn mountain-road approach 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.
Marchlyn mountain-road approach 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 | 463 m | +101 m | 10% | SH 605 627 |
| 2 km | 560 m | +97 m | 10% | SH 612 624 |
| 3 km | 701 m | +140 m | 14% | SH 618 629 |
| 4 km | 784 m | +83 m | 8% | SH 622 624 |
| 5 km | 710 m | -73 m | -7% | SH 625 615 |
| 5.6 km | 782 m | +71 m | 11% | SH 628 612 |
How long Marchlyn mountain-road approach takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 40m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 15m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 4h 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 18:14. Start by 13:59 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12. Start by 13:57 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Foel-goch summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Foel-goch right now. The main Foel-goch page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Foel-goch forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Foel-goch
More about Foel-goch, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Foel-goch
More walks from Marchlyn public road end
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Marchlyn via Elidir Fach up Elidir Fawr
- Marchlyn via Mynydd Perfedd up Elidir Fawr
- Marchlyn via Elidir Fawr and Mynydd Perfedd up Y Garn
- Marchlyn mountain-road approach up Carnedd y Filiast
- Marchlyn mountain-road approach up Mynydd Perfedd
Other routes up Foel-goch
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ogwen via Y Garn | 4.4 km one way | 720 m | 2h 5m | Hard |
| Nant Peris via Elidir Fawr | 5.8 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 596 630, the summit at SH 628 612), 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.
Marchlyn mountain-road approach: questions and answers
How far is Marchlyn mountain-road approach?
Marchlyn mountain-road approach is 5.6 km one way to the summit of Foel-goch, with 610 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 11.2 km.
How long does Marchlyn mountain-road approach take?
About 2h 10m to the summit of Foel-goch and 3h 15m 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 0m for the round trip.
How steep is Marchlyn mountain-road approach?
The steepest 500 m averages about 22%, starting 2.5 km from the start, and 14% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Marchlyn mountain-road approach climbs 570 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Marchlyn mountain-road approach?
Marchlyn mountain-road approach starts from Marchlyn public road end. The grid reference is SH 596 630. No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby
Is Marchlyn mountain-road approach 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 Marchlyn mountain-road approach today?
By 13:59 at the latest. Sunset on Foel-goch today is 18:14, Marchlyn mountain-road approach takes about 3h 15m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Marchlyn mountain-road approach?
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.