Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm up Moel Cynghorion: route map, distance and time
674 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Snowdon car park opposite Snowdon Mountain Railway.
Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm starts at about 115 m and gains 544 m over 6.0 km to 661 m on the track. The first 4 km are the easy part, averaging 7%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 5 km, which climbs 134 m at an average of 13%, with a 500 m stretch from 4.8 km at about 18%. It keeps climbing at 12% to the top.
Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm at a glance
| Distance | 6.0 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 560 m |
| Climb on the track | 544 m up, 0 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 115 m to 662 m (summit 674 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 18%, from 4.8 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 3% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 10m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 20m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Snowdon car park opposite Snowdon Mountain Railway, LL55 4TD |
| Start grid reference | SH 582 597 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 586 563 |
| Parking | Snowdon car park opposite Snowdon Mountain Railway; the postcode is approximate |
Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm 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
- Y Gwynedd0.4 km
- Sports Bar0.5 km
- The Heights0.6 km
- Platform Grill0.0 km
- Llygad Yr Haul0.4 km
- Coffee Pot0.4 km
- Public toilets0.0 km
- Public toilets0.4 km
- Public toilets0.7 km
- Llwyn Celyn bach1.0 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm 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.
Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm 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 | 197 m | +82 m | 8% | SH 579 590 |
| 2 km | 254 m | +57 m | 6% | SH 576 581 |
| 3 km | 347 m | +93 m | 9% | SH 578 572 |
| 4 km | 406 m | +59 m | 6% | SH 574 563 |
| 5 km | 540 m | +134 m | 13% | SH 576 559 |
| 6 km | 661 m | +120 m | 12% | SH 585 563 |
How long Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 45m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 20m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 4h 5m |
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 18:12. Start by 13:52 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:52, sunset 18:10. Start by 13:50 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Moel Cynghorion summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Moel Cynghorion right now. The main Moel Cynghorion page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Moel Cynghorion forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Moel Cynghorion
More about Moel Cynghorion, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Moel Cynghorion
More walks from Snowdon car park opposite Snowdon Mountain Railway
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Llanberis Path via Bwlch Glas up Crib y Ddysgl
- Llanberis Path up Snowdon
- Llanberis via Moel Eilio up Foel Gron
Other routes up Moel Cynghorion
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowdon Ranger via Bwlch Clogwyn | 4.4 km one way | 520 m | 1h 45m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 582 597, the summit at SH 586 563), 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.
Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm: questions and answers
How far is Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm?
Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm is 6.0 km one way to the summit of Moel Cynghorion, with 560 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.0 km.
How long does Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm take?
About 2h 10m to the summit of Moel Cynghorion and 3h 20m 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 5m for the round trip.
How steep is Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm?
The steepest 500 m averages about 18%, starting 4.8 km from the start, and 3% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm climbs 544 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm?
Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm starts from Snowdon car park opposite Snowdon Mountain Railway (postcode LL55 4TD). The grid reference is SH 582 597. Snowdon car park opposite Snowdon Mountain Railway; the postcode is approximate
Is Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm 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 Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm today?
By 13:52 at the latest. Sunset on Moel Cynghorion today is 18:12, Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm takes about 3h 20m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm?
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.