Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen up Manod Mawr: route map, distance and time
661 m · Snowdonia
Manod Mawr is a 661m hill above Blaenau Ffestiniog, scarred by slate quarrying on its north side and climbed for its views over the Moelwynion.
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 555 m over 9.1 km to 651 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%. The final 0.1 km eases to the top.
Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen at a glance
| Distance | 9.1 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 590 m |
| Climb on the track | 555 m up, 50 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 140 m to 651 m (summit 661 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 25%, from 4.4 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 5% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 50m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 35m, 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 724 446 |
| 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 | 496 m | +1 m | 0% | SH 733 461 |
| 8 km | 555 m | +60 m | 6% | SH 730 454 |
| 9 km | 651 m | +96 m | 10% | SH 724 447 |
| 9.1 km | 651 m | +0 m | 0% | SH 724 446 |
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 20m | 3h 50m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 50m | 4h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 25m | 5h 45m |
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 12:36 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:09. Start by 12:34 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Manod Mawr summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Manod Mawr right now. The main Manod Mawr page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Manod Mawr forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Manod Mawr
Manod Mawr is a 661m hill above Blaenau Ffestiniog, scarred by slate quarrying on its north side and climbed for its views over the Moelwynion. More about Manod Mawr, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Manod Mawr North Top (658 m), 1.2 km north
Challenges that include Manod Mawr
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.
- Daear Ddu from Dolwyddelan up Moel Siabod
- Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen up Manod Mawr North Top
- Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen up Moel Penamnen
Other routes up Manod Mawr
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manod via Llyn Manod | 6.1 km one way | 510 m | 2h 5m | Moderate |
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 724 446), 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 9.1 km one way to the summit of Manod Mawr, with 590 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 18.2 km.
How long does Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen take?
About 2h 50m to the summit of Manod Mawr and 4h 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 5h 45m 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 5% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen climbs 555 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, such as Manod via Llyn Manod.
What time should I start Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen today?
By 12:36 at the latest. Sunset on Manod Mawr today is 18:11, Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen takes about 4h 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 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.