Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen up Manod Mawr North Top: route map, distance and time
658 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Dolwyddelan railway station community car park.
Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen starts at about 142 m and gains 542 m over 7.5 km to 642 m on the track. The first 4 km are the easy part, averaging 5%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 5 km, which climbs 194 m at an average of 19%, with a 500 m stretch from 4.4 km at about 25%. It keeps climbing at 11% to the top. About 11% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen at a glance
| Distance | 7.5 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 570 m |
| Climb on the track | 542 m up, 45 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 140 m to 645 m (summit 658 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 25%, from 4.4 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 11% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 25m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 55m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Dolwyddelan railway station community car park, LL25 0SZ |
| Start grid reference | SH 737 521 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 727 458 |
| Parking | Dolwyddelan railway station community car park (SH737521) |
Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen 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 Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen 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.
Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen 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 | 206 m | +64 m | 6% | SH 738 515 |
| 2 km | 242 m | +36 m | 4% | SH 737 505 |
| 3 km | 259 m | +17 m | 2% | SH 737 495 |
| 4 km | 317 m | +58 m | 6% | SH 737 485 |
| 5 km | 511 m | +194 m | 19% | SH 735 477 |
| 6 km | 495 m | -16 m | -2% | SH 734 468 |
| 7 km | 590 m | +96 m | 10% | SH 729 462 |
| 7.5 km | 642 m | +52 m | 11% | SH 727 458 |
How long Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 3h 15m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 25m | 3h 55m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 0m | 4h 55m |
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 13:16 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:09. Start by 13:14 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Manod Mawr North Top summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Monday 19 October
Slight rain, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -1°C, summit wind 29 mph gusting 37 mph, 34% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:11.
-
Good Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October
Fog, up to 9°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 18 mph gusting 22 mph, 58% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:09.
Best day of the next seven for Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen: Tuesday 20 October, with summit gusts around 22 mph and a 58% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Manod Mawr North Top 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 -1°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- 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 Manod Mawr North Top
More about Manod Mawr North Top, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Manod Mawr North Top
More walks from Dolwyddelan railway station community car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen up Manod Mawr
- Daear Ddu from Dolwyddelan up Moel Siabod
- Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen up Moel Penamnen
Other routes up Manod Mawr North Top
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manod village and quarry-side mountain paths | 8.8 km one way | 620 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 737 521, the summit at SH 727 458), 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.
Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen: questions and answers
How far is Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen?
Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen is 7.5 km one way to the summit of Manod Mawr North Top, with 570 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 15.0 km.
How long does Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen take?
About 2h 25m to the summit of Manod Mawr North Top and 3h 55m 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 55m for the round trip.
How steep is Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen?
The steepest 500 m averages about 25%, starting 4.4 km from the start, and 11% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen climbs 542 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen?
Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen starts from Dolwyddelan railway station community car park (postcode LL25 0SZ). The grid reference is SH 737 521. Dolwyddelan railway station community car park (SH737521)
Is Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen 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 Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen today?
By 13:16 at the latest. Sunset on Manod Mawr North Top today is 18:11, Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen takes about 3h 55m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen?
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.