Miners' Track and Lliwedd col up Gallt y Wenallt: route map, distance and time
620 m · Snowdonia
A grade 1 scramble to the summit from Pen-y-Pass, over other tops on the way.
Miners' Track and Lliwedd col starts at about 366 m and gains 368 m over 5.0 km to 598 m on the track. The first 3 km are the easy part, averaging 5%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 4 km, which climbs 143 m at an average of 14%, with a 500 m stretch from 3.1 km at about 32%. The final kilometre eases to the top. About 14% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Miners' Track and Lliwedd col at a glance
| Distance | 5.0 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 390 m |
| Climb on the track | 368 m up, 135 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 365 m to 683 m (summit 620 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 32%, from 3.1 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 14% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 40m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 40m, down the same way |
| Grade | Scramble |
| Start | Pen-y-Pass, LL55 4NU |
| Start grid reference | SH 646 556 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 642 532 |
| Parking | Pen y Pass car park (SH647556) |
Miners' Track and Lliwedd col 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 Miners' Track and Lliwedd col 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.
Miners' Track and Lliwedd col 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 | 408 m | +42 m | 4% | SH 645 548 |
| 2 km | 427 m | +19 m | 2% | SH 637 545 |
| 3 km | 509 m | +82 m | 8% | SH 631 540 |
| 4 km | 652 m | +143 m | 14% | SH 634 535 |
| 5 km | 598 m | -54 m | -5% | SH 642 532 |
How long Miners' Track and Lliwedd col takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 20m | 2h 10m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 40m | 2h 40m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 3h 15m |
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 07:06, sunset 16:53. Start by 13:13 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:08, sunset 16:51. Start by 13:11 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Gallt y Wenallt summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Gallt y Wenallt right now. The main Gallt y Wenallt page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Gallt y Wenallt forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Gallt y Wenallt
More about Gallt y Wenallt, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Gallt y Wenallt
More walks from Pen-y-Pass
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch up Crib Goch
- East Ridge and crest up Crib Goch
- Fox's Path and Crib Goch North Ridge up Crib Goch
- East Ridge via Crib Goch up Crib y Ddysgl
- Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas up Crib y Ddysgl
- Miners' Track via Bwlch Glas up Crib y Ddysgl
- Fox's Path and Crib Goch North Ridge up Crib y Ddysgl
- Pen-y-Pass ridge approach and plateau traverse up Glyder Fach
- Pen y Pass up Glyder Fawr
- Pen y Pass via Llyn Llydaw up Y Lliwedd
- Miners' Track and east ridge up Y Lliwedd
- Pyg Track up Snowdon
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 646 556, the summit at SH 642 532), 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.
Miners' Track and Lliwedd col: questions and answers
How far is Miners' Track and Lliwedd col?
Miners' Track and Lliwedd col is 5.0 km one way to the summit of Gallt y Wenallt, with 390 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.0 km.
How long does Miners' Track and Lliwedd col take?
About 1h 40m to the summit of Gallt y Wenallt and 2h 40m 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 15m for the round trip.
How steep is Miners' Track and Lliwedd col?
The steepest 500 m averages about 32%, starting 3.1 km from the start, and 14% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Miners' Track and Lliwedd col climbs 368 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Miners' Track and Lliwedd col?
Miners' Track and Lliwedd col starts from Pen-y-Pass (postcode LL55 4NU). The grid reference is SH 646 556. Pen y Pass car park (SH647556)
Is Miners' Track and Lliwedd col suitable for beginners?
No. It is a scramble: you use your hands on rock, often with big drops below. Go with someone experienced, on a dry and calm day.
What time should I start Miners' Track and Lliwedd col today?
By 13:13 at the latest. Sunset on Gallt y Wenallt today is 16:53, Miners' Track and Lliwedd col takes about 2h 40m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Miners' Track and Lliwedd col?
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.