Ogwen via Y Garn up Foel-goch: route map, distance and time
831 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Ogwen Cottage.
Ogwen via Y Garn starts at about 307 m and gains 673 m over 4.4 km to 782 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 129 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 333 m at an average of 33%, with a 500 m stretch from 1 km at about 41%. The final 0.4 km eases to the top. About 27% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Ogwen via Y Garn at a glance
| Distance | 4.4 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 720 m |
| Climb on the track | 673 m up, 199 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 308 m to 913 m (summit 831 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 41%, from 1 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 27% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 5m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 0m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Ogwen Cottage, LL57 3LZ |
| Start grid reference | SH 649 603 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 628 612 |
| Parking | Llyn Ogwen / Ogwen Centre car park; the postcode is approximate |
Ogwen via Y Garn 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 Ogwen via Y Garn 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.
Ogwen via Y Garn 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 | 436 m | +129 m | 13% | SH 641 600 |
| 2 km | 769 m | +333 m | 33% steep | SH 633 599 |
| 3 km | 841 m | +73 m | 7% | SH 629 598 |
| 4 km | 789 m | -52 m | -5% | SH 627 607 |
| 4.4 km | 782 m | -7 m | -2% | SH 628 612 |
How long Ogwen via Y Garn takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 40m | 2h 25m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 5m | 3h 0m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 30m | 3h 40m |
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 14:12 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:09. Start by 14:09 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 0m 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 Ogwen Cottage
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- South-west ridge from Ogwen and Carneddau ridge up Carnedd Dafydd
- South-west ridge from Ogwen and Carneddau ridge up Carnedd Llewelyn
- Ogwen via Y Garn and Mynydd Perfedd up Elidir Fawr
- Devil's Kitchen / Twll Du and plateau traverse up Glyder Fach
- Senior's Gully and Ridge and plateau traverse up Glyder Fach
- Y Gribin and plateau traverse up Glyder Fach
- Bristly Ridge up Glyder Fach
- Devil's Kitchen / Twll Du up Glyder Fawr
- Senior's Gully and Ridge up Glyder Fawr
- Y Gribin up Glyder Fawr
- Bristly Ridge and plateau traverse up Glyder Fawr
- South-west ridge from Ogwen up Pen yr Ole Wen
Other routes up Foel-goch
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marchlyn mountain-road approach | 5.6 km one way | 610 m | 2h 10m | 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 649 603, 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.
Ogwen via Y Garn: questions and answers
How far is Ogwen via Y Garn?
Ogwen via Y Garn is 4.4 km one way to the summit of Foel-goch, with 720 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 8.8 km.
How long does Ogwen via Y Garn take?
About 2h 5m to the summit of Foel-goch and 3h 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 3h 40m for the round trip.
How steep is Ogwen via Y Garn?
The steepest 500 m averages about 41%, starting 1 km from the start, and 27% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Ogwen via Y Garn climbs 673 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Ogwen via Y Garn?
Ogwen via Y Garn starts from Ogwen Cottage (postcode LL57 3LZ). The grid reference is SH 649 603. Llyn Ogwen / Ogwen Centre car park; the postcode is approximate
Is Ogwen via Y Garn 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 Ogwen via Y Garn today?
By 14:12 at the latest. Sunset on Foel-goch today is 18:12, Ogwen via Y Garn takes about 3h 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 Ogwen via Y Garn?
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.