Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track 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 up the south side of the mountain to the plateau and the summit boulders.
The Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track starts at about 278 m and gains 690 m over 3.9 km to 959 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 183 m (18%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 226 m at an average of 23%, with a 500 m stretch from 0.6 km at about 31%. It keeps climbing at 16% to the top. About 49% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track at a glance
| Distance | 3.9 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 720 m |
| Climb on the track | 690 m up, 7 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 278 m to 969 m (summit 994 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 31%, from 0.6 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 49% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 0m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 45m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Pen-y-Gwryd |
| Start grid reference | SH 661 559 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 656 582 |
| Parking | No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby |
Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track 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 Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track 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.
Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track 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 | 461 m | +183 m | 18% | SH 662 567 |
| 2 km | 688 m | +226 m | 23% steep | SH 667 575 |
| 3 km | 809 m | +121 m | 12% | SH 664 582 |
| 3.9 km | 959 m | +150 m | 16% | SH 656 583 |
How long the Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 35m | 2h 15m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 2h 45m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 25m | 3h 25m |
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 14:29 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:12. Start by 14:27 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 45m 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 Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track: 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
- Welsh 3000s · 15
- Welsh 100 Challenge · 100
- Snowdonia 900m Peaks · 16
- Welsh Skyline · 9
- Paddy Buckley Round · 47
- Furths · 34
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
More walks from Pen-y-Gwryd
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Miners' Track from Pen-y-Gwryd and plateau traverse up Glyder Fawr
- Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd up Moel Siabod
- Pen-y-Gwryd via Llyn y Caseg Fraith up Gallt yr Ogof
- Pen-y-Gwryd via Llyn y Caseg Fraith up Y Foel Goch
Other routes up Glyder Fach
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Ogwen via Bristly Ridge | 3.7 km one way | 828 m | 2h 5m | Scramble |
| 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 661 559, 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.
Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track: questions and answers
How far is the Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track?
The Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track is 3.9 km one way to the summit of Glyder Fach, with 720 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 7.8 km.
How long does the Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track take?
About 2h 0m to the summit of Glyder Fach and 2h 45m 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 25m for the round trip.
How steep is the Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track?
The steepest 500 m averages about 31%, starting 0.6 km from the start, and 49% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track climbs 690 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track?
The Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track starts from Pen-y-Gwryd. The grid reference is SH 661 559. No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby
Is the Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start the Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track today?
By 14:29 at the latest. Sunset on Glyder Fach today is 18:14, The Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track takes about 2h 45m 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 Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track?
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.