Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn up Gyrn Wigau: route map, distance and time
643 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Aber Falls upper car park.
Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn starts at about 93 m and gains 575 m over 6.4 km to 624 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 180 m at an average of 18%, with a 500 m stretch from 3.4 km at about 24%. The final 0.4 km eases to the top.
Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn at a glance
| Distance | 6.4 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 590 m |
| Climb on the track | 575 m up, 43 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 87 m to 656 m (summit 643 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 24%, from 3.4 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 9% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 15m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 35m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Aber Falls upper car park, LL33 0LP |
| Start grid reference | SH 664 719 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 654 675 |
| Parking | Aber Falls upper car park (SH664718); the postcode is approximate |
Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn 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 Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn 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.
Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn 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 | 151 m | +58 m | 6% | SH 665 710 |
| 2 km | 196 m | +45 m | 4% | SH 668 701 |
| 3 km | 257 m | +61 m | 6% | SH 660 698 |
| 4 km | 437 m | +180 m | 18% | SH 654 693 |
| 5 km | 528 m | +91 m | 9% | SH 656 686 |
| 6 km | 647 m | +119 m | 12% | SH 658 677 |
| 6.4 km | 624 m | -23 m | -5% | SH 654 675 |
How long Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 50m | 2h 55m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 15m | 3h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 45m | 4h 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 07:50, sunset 18:11. Start by 13:36 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:09. Start by 13:34 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Gyrn Wigau summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Gyrn Wigau right now. The main Gyrn Wigau page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Gyrn Wigau forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Gyrn Wigau
More about Gyrn Wigau, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Gyrn Wigau
More walks from Aber Falls upper car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn up Bera Bach
Other routes up Gyrn Wigau
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rachub northern upland paths | 3.6 km one way | 330 m | 1h 15m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 664 719, the summit at SH 654 675), 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.
Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn: questions and answers
How far is Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn?
Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn is 6.4 km one way to the summit of Gyrn Wigau, with 590 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.8 km.
How long does Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn take?
About 2h 15m to the summit of Gyrn Wigau and 3h 35m 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 25m for the round trip.
How steep is Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn?
The steepest 500 m averages about 24%, starting 3.4 km from the start, and 9% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn climbs 575 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn?
Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn starts from Aber Falls upper car park (postcode LL33 0LP). The grid reference is SH 664 719. Aber Falls upper car park (SH664718); the postcode is approximate
Is Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn 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.
What time should I start Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn today?
By 13:36 at the latest. Sunset on Gyrn Wigau today is 18:11, Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn takes about 3h 35m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Aber Falls and Bwlch Y Mawn?
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.