Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras up Llwytmor: route map, distance and time
849 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Bwlch y Ddeufaen track junction.
Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras starts at about 399 m and gains 632 m over 8.2 km to 837 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 3%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 8.2 km, which climbs 38 m at an average of 19%. That last pull ends at the summit.
Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras at a glance
| Distance | 8.2 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 660 m |
| Climb on the track | 632 m up, 196 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 399 m to 937 m (summit 849 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 22%, from 5.5 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 9% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 45m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 25m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Bwlch y Ddeufaen track junction, LL32 8UR |
| Start grid reference | SH 729 714 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 689 692 |
| Parking | Bwlch y Ddeufaen eastern road-end car park (SH720715); the postcode is approximate |
Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Download the Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras 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.
Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras 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 | 422 m | +23 m | 2% | SH 720 715 |
| 2 km | 460 m | +38 m | 4% | SH 711 717 |
| 3 km | 624 m | +164 m | 16% | SH 705 710 |
| 4 km | 689 m | +65 m | 7% | SH 707 701 |
| 5 km | 724 m | +35 m | 3% | SH 707 691 |
| 6 km | 850 m | +126 m | 13% | SH 701 683 |
| 7 km | 883 m | +34 m | 3% | SH 695 683 |
| 8 km | 799 m | -84 m | -8% | SH 690 691 |
| 8.2 km | 837 m | +38 m | 19% | SH 689 692 |
How long Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 15m | 3h 35m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 45m | 4h 25m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 20m | 5h 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 07:49, sunset 18:11. Start by 12:46 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:09. Start by 12:44 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Llwytmor summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Monday 19 October
Dense drizzle, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 30 mph gusting 37 mph, 86% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:11.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October
Light drizzle, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -1°C, summit wind 21 mph gusting 34 mph, 76% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:09.
Best day of the next seven for Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras: Tuesday 20 October, with summit gusts around 34 mph and a 76% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Llwytmor forecast
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 -2°C on top.
- Waterproof jacket and overtrousers: 86% chance of rain.
- A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 37 mph.
- 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 Llwytmor
More about Llwytmor, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Llwytmor
More walks from Bwlch y Ddeufaen track junction
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge up Carnedd Llewelyn
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge up Foel Grach
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge up Foel-fras
- South ascent from Bwlch y Ddeufaen up Tal y Fan
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge up Garnedd Uchaf
- Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen up Drum
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge up Pen y Castell
Other routes up Llwytmor
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abergwyngregyn via Drum and Foel-fras | 8.4 km one way | 780 m | 3h 0m | Hard |
| Llanfairfechan via Drum and Foel-fras | 8.8 km one way | 830 m | 3h 10m | Hard |
| Abergwyngregyn via Llyn Anafon | 7.7 km one way | 800 m | 2h 50m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 729 714, the summit at SH 689 692), 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.
Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras: questions and answers
How far is Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras?
Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras is 8.2 km one way to the summit of Llwytmor, with 660 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 16.4 km.
How long does Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras take?
About 2h 45m to the summit of Llwytmor and 4h 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 5h 25m for the round trip.
How steep is Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras?
The steepest 500 m averages about 22%, starting 5.5 km from the start, and 9% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras climbs 632 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras?
Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras starts from Bwlch y Ddeufaen track junction (postcode LL32 8UR). The grid reference is SH 729 714. Bwlch y Ddeufaen eastern road-end car park (SH720715); the postcode is approximate
Is Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras 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 Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras today?
By 12:46 at the latest. Sunset on Llwytmor today is 18:11, Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras takes about 4h 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 Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras?
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.