Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn up Llechwedd Du: route map, distance and time
613 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Llanuwchllyn car park beside Afon Twrch, over other tops on the way.
Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn starts at about 177 m and gains 988 m over 12.6 km to 607 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 7%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 6 km, which climbs 155 m at an average of 15%, with a 500 m stretch from 10.4 km at about 25%. The final 0.6 km eases to the top.
Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn at a glance
| Distance | 12.6 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Climb on the track | 988 m up, 557 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 177 m to 864 m (summit 613 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 25%, from 10.4 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 8% of the way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Llanuwchllyn car park beside Afon Twrch, LL23 7TL |
| Start grid reference | SH 879 297 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 893 223 |
| Parking | Llanuwchllyn car park beside Afon Twrch (SH879297); the postcode is approximate |
Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn 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
- Eagles Inn0.8 km
- Station Café0.2 km
- Public toilets0.2 km
- Public toilets0.2 km
- Public toilets0.6 km
- Bwch-Yn-Uchaf Campsite0.5 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn 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.
Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn 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 | 257 m | +80 m | 8% | SH 875 289 |
| 2 km | 307 m | +50 m | 5% | SH 874 280 |
| 3 km | 442 m | +135 m | 14% | SH 871 270 |
| 4 km | 579 m | +137 m | 14% | SH 871 261 |
| 5 km | 703 m | +124 m | 12% | SH 870 251 |
| 6 km | 858 m | +155 m | 15% | SH 867 242 |
| 7 km | 860 m | +2 m | 0% | SH 864 234 |
| 8 km | 642 m | -218 m | -22% | SH 869 228 |
| 9 km | 667 m | +25 m | 2% | SH 877 227 |
| 10 km | 516 m | -150 m | -15% | SH 883 227 |
| 11 km | 661 m | +144 m | 14% | SH 888 235 |
| 12 km | 582 m | -79 m | -8% | SH 893 229 |
| 12.6 km | 607 m | +26 m | 4% | SH 894 223 |
How long Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 3h 25m | 5h 30m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 4h 10m | 6h 40m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 5h 10m | 8h 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.
Llechwedd Du summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Llechwedd Du right now. The main Llechwedd Du page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Llechwedd Du forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Llechwedd Du
More about Llechwedd Du, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Llechwedd Du
More walks from Llanuwchllyn car park beside Afon Twrch
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge up Aran Fawddwy
- Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge up Aran Benllyn
- Llanuwchllyn and Aran north ridge up Erw y Ddafad-ddu
- Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn up Esgeiriau Gwynion
- Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn up Foel Rhudd
- Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn up Foel Hafod-fynydd
Other routes up Llechwedd Du
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cwm Cywarch via Aran Fawddwy and Bwlch Sirddyn | 11.8 km one way | — | — | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 879 297, the summit at SH 893 223), 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.
Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn: questions and answers
How far is Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn?
Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn is 12.6 km one way to the summit of Llechwedd Du. There and back by the same way is about 25.2 km.
How steep is Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn?
The steepest 500 m averages about 25%, starting 10.4 km from the start, and 8% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn climbs 988 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn?
Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn starts from Llanuwchllyn car park beside Afon Twrch (postcode LL23 7TL). The grid reference is SH 879 297. Llanuwchllyn car park beside Afon Twrch (SH879297); the postcode is approximate
Is Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn 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.
Is there a GPX for Llanuwchllyn via Aran Benllyn and Bwlch Sirddyn?
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.