Pen y Pass 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 rough, eroded path from the south up to the summit plateau.
Pen y Pass starts at about 367 m and gains 610 m over 3.1 km to 979 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 117 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 274 m at an average of 27%, with a 500 m stretch from 0.9 km at about 32%. The final 0.1 km eases to the top. About 57% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Pen y Pass at a glance
| Distance | 3.1 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 630 m |
| Climb on the track | 610 m up, 0 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 367 m to 980 m (summit 1,001 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 32%, from 0.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 57% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 40m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 15m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Pen y Pass car park, LL55 4NU |
| Start grid reference | SH 647 556 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 642 579 |
| Parking | Pen y Pass car park (SH647556) |
Pen y Pass 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.
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 Pass 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 | 484 m | +117 m | 12% | SH 642 563 |
| 2 km | 758 m | +274 m | 27% steep | SH 639 570 |
| 3 km | 977 m | +219 m | 22% steep | SH 642 578 |
| 3.1 km | 979 m | +2 m | 2% | SH 642 579 |
How long Pen y Pass takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 20m | 1h 50m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 40m | 2h 15m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 2h 50m |
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 14:59 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12. Start by 14:57 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 15m 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 Pen y Pass: 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 Pen y Pass car park
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 via Llyn Llydaw up Y Lliwedd
- Miners' Track and east ridge up Y Lliwedd
- Pyg Track up Snowdon
- Miners' Track up Snowdon
Other routes up Glyder Fawr
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ogwen via the Devil's Kitchen | 4.9 km one way | 890 m | 2h 30m | Hard |
| 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 647 556, 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.
Pen y Pass: questions and answers
How far is Pen y Pass?
Pen y Pass is 3.1 km one way to the summit of Glyder Fawr, with 630 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 6.2 km.
How long does Pen y Pass take?
About 1h 40m to the summit of Glyder Fawr and 2h 15m 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 2h 50m for the round trip.
How steep is Pen y Pass?
The steepest 500 m averages about 32%, starting 0.9 km from the start, and 57% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Pen y Pass climbs 610 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Pen y Pass?
Pen y Pass starts from Pen y Pass car park (postcode LL55 4NU). The grid reference is SH 647 556. Pen y Pass car park (SH647556)
Is Pen y Pass 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 Pen y Pass today?
By 14:59 at the latest. Sunset on Glyder Fawr today is 18:14, Pen y Pass takes about 2h 15m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Pen y Pass?
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.