Ogwen via Bristly Ridge up Glyder Fach: route map, distance and time

994 m · Snowdonia

Glyder Fach is a rocky Glyderau summit above Ogwen, famous for the Cantilever Stone, Castell y Gwynt and the scramble of Bristly Ridge.

A path to Bwlch Tryfan, then the steep scramble up Bristly Ridge to the summit plateau.

Ogwen via Bristly Ridge at a glance

Distance	3.7 km one way, to the top
Ascent	828 m
Time up	2h 5m by Naismith's rule
There and back	2h 50m, down the same way
Grade	Scramble
Start	Ogwen Cottage car park
Start grid reference	SH 660 604
Summit grid reference	SH 656 582

Ogwen via Bristly Ridge map

The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start grid ref SH 660 604 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

How long the Ogwen via Bristly Ridge takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	1h 45m	2h 20m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 5m	2h 50m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	2h 35m	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 07:48, sunset 18:14. Start by 14:24 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:12. Start by 14:22 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Glyder Fach summit weather for this route

Marginal Today Sunday 18 October

Overcast, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 26 mph gusting 32 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:14.
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October

Moderate drizzle, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 40 mph gusting 50 mph, 90% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:12.

Best day of the next seven for the Ogwen via Bristly Ridge: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 32 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 0% (Low), best around 09:00. 7-day inversion outlook.

Hour-by-hour Glyder Fach forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Glyder Fach?

Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.

What to take today

An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -5°C on top.
A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 32 mph.
Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.

About Glyder Fach

Glyder Fach is a rocky Glyderau summit above Ogwen, famous for the Cantilever Stone, Castell y Gwynt and the scramble of Bristly Ridge. More about Glyder Fach, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Furth, Hewitt, Nuttall.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Castell y Gwynt (972 m), 0.3 km south-west
Tryfan (918 m), 1.3 km north-east
Glyder Fawr (1,001 m), 1.4 km west
Y Foel Goch (805 m), 2.1 km east
Gallt yr Ogof (763 m), 2.9 km east
Y Garn (947 m), 2.9 km north-west

Challenges that include Glyder Fach

More walks from Ogwen Cottage car park

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen up Glyder Fawr
Ogwen via the south ridge up Pen yr Ole Wen
North Ridge from Llyn Ogwen up Tryfan
Ogwen via Llyn Clyd up Y Garn

Other routes up Glyder Fach

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track	3.9 km one way	720 m	2h 0m	Moderate
Devil's Kitchen / Twll Du and plateau traverse	5.4 km one way	790 m	2h 25m	Hard
Afon Las from Nant Peris and plateau traverse	5.1 km one way	930 m	2h 35m	Hard
Pen-y-Pass ridge approach and plateau traverse	4.6 km one way	700 m	2h 5m	Hard
Senior's Gully and Ridge and plateau traverse	6.1 km one way	900 m	2h 45m	Scramble
Y Gribin and plateau traverse	5.6 km one way	790 m	2h 25m	Scramble
Bristly Ridge	3.0 km one way	690 m	1h 45m	Scramble

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 660 604, the summit at SH 656 582), 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 Bristly Ridge: questions and answers

How far is the Ogwen via Bristly Ridge?

The Ogwen via Bristly Ridge is 3.7 km one way to the summit of Glyder Fach, with 828 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 7.4 km.

How long does the Ogwen via Bristly Ridge take?

About 2h 5m to the summit of Glyder Fach 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.

Where do you park for the Ogwen via Bristly Ridge?

The Ogwen via Bristly Ridge starts from Ogwen Cottage car park. The grid reference is SH 660 604.

Is the Ogwen via Bristly Ridge 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, or take the Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track instead.

What time should I start the Ogwen via Bristly Ridge today?

By 14:24 at the latest. Sunset on Glyder Fach today is 18:14, The Ogwen via Bristly 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 Ogwen via Bristly Ridge?

Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).