Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen up Glyder Fawr: route map, distance and time
1,001 m · Snowdonia
Glyder Fawr is the highest of the Glyderau, a rocky plateau above Llyn Idwal reached by the steep path past the Devil's Kitchen.
A path past Llyn Idwal, then up beside the Devil's Kitchen to the plateau and the summit.
Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen at a glance
| Distance | 4.9 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 890 m |
| Time up | 2h 30m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 25m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Ogwen Cottage car park |
| Start grid reference | SH 660 604 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 642 579 |
Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen 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
Near the start
- Ogwen Tea Bar1.1 km
- Public toilets1.1 km
- Public toilets1.2 km
- Gwern Gof Uchaf Campsite1.2 km
- YHA Idwal1.2 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 2h 50m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 30m | 3h 25m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 0m | 4h 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 07:48, sunset 18:14. Start by 13:49 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12. Start by 13:47 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Glyder Fawr summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Overcast, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 24 mph gusting 30 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:14.
-
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Moderate drizzle, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 43 mph gusting 53 mph, 90% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12.
Best day of the next seven for Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 30 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 0% (Low), best around 04:00. 7-day inversion outlook.
Hour-by-hour Glyder Fawr forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Glyder Fawr?
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.
- 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 Fawr
Glyder Fawr is the highest of the Glyderau, a rocky plateau above Llyn Idwal reached by the steep path past the Devil's Kitchen. More about Glyder Fawr, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Furth, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Castell y Gwynt (972 m), 1.2 km east
- Glyder Fach (994 m), 1.4 km east
- Y Garn (947 m), 2 km north-west
- Tryfan (918 m), 2.6 km north-east
Challenges that include Glyder Fawr
- Welsh 3000s · 15
- Welsh 100 Challenge · 100
- Welsh 1000m Peaks · 5
- Snowdonia 900m Peaks · 16
- Welsh Skyline · 9
- Paddy Buckley Round · 47
- Furths · 34
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- Marilyns · 1,555
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 Bristly Ridge up Glyder Fach
- 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 Fawr
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pen y Pass | 3.1 km one way | 630 m | 1h 40m | Moderate |
| Devil's Kitchen / Twll Du | 3.9 km one way | 720 m | 2h 0m | Hard |
| Miners' Track from Pen-y-Gwryd and plateau traverse | 5.5 km one way | 780 m | 2h 25m | Hard |
| Afon Las from Nant Peris | 3.5 km one way | 860 m | 2h 10m | Hard |
| Senior's Gully and Ridge | 4.6 km one way | 830 m | 2h 20m | Scramble |
| Y Gribin | 4.0 km one way | 720 m | 2h 0m | Scramble |
| Bristly Ridge and plateau traverse | 4.6 km one way | 760 m | 2h 10m | 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 642 579), 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 the Devil's Kitchen: questions and answers
How far is Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen?
Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen is 4.9 km one way to the summit of Glyder Fawr, with 890 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 9.8 km.
How long does Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen take?
About 2h 30m to the summit of Glyder Fawr and 3h 25m 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 15m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen?
Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen starts from Ogwen Cottage car park. The grid reference is SH 660 604.
Is Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen 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, such as Pen y Pass.
What time should I start Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen today?
By 13:49 at the latest. Sunset on Glyder Fawr today is 18:14, Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen takes about 3h 25m 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 the Devil's Kitchen?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).