Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge up Moel Druman: route map, distance and time

676 m · Snowdonia

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Crimea Pass public mountain-path entrance.

The Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge starts at about 378 m and gains 347 m over 3.8 km to 650 m on the track. The first 3 km are the easy part, averaging 9%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 1 km, which climbs 106 m at an average of 11%, with a 500 m stretch from 2.2 km at about 26%. The final 0.8 km eases to the top. About 16% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.

Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge at a glance

Distance3.8 km one way, to the top
Ascent390 m
Climb on the track347 m up, 75 m down on the way
Start and top of the track379 m to 678 m (summit 676 m)
Steepest 500 mAbout 26%, from 2.2 km
Steeper than 1 in 516% of the way
Time up1h 25m by Naismith's rule
There and back2h 10m, down the same way
GradeHard
StartCrimea Pass public mountain-path entrance
Start grid referenceSH 700 488
Summit grid referenceSH 671 476
ParkingNo checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby

Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge map

The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start 379 m3.8 km to the top
Start grid ref SH 700 488 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

Download the Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge 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.

Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge 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.

AtHeightClimbGradientGrid ref
1 km484 m+106 m11%SH 692 485
2 km545 m+60 m6%SH 685 479
3 km645 m+101 m10%SH 678 474
3.8 km650 m+5 m1%SH 671 476

How long the Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge takes

PaceTo the topThere and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up1h 10m1h 45m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up1h 25m2h 10m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up1h 45m2h 40m

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 18:12. Start by 15:02 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 10m for the walk and an hour for stops.
  • Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:09. Start by 14:59 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 10m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Moel Druman summit weather for this route

There is no recent summit forecast cached for Moel Druman right now. The main Moel Druman page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Moel Druman forecast.

Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.

About Moel Druman

More about Moel Druman, with the live forecast.

Challenges that include Moel Druman

More walks from Crimea Pass public mountain-path entrance

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

Other routes up Moel Druman

RouteDistanceAscentTime upGrade
Tanygrisiau via Cwmorthin and Rhosydd7.8 km one way520 m2h 25mHard
Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar7.7 km one way660 m2h 40mHard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 700 488, the summit at SH 671 476), 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.

Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge: questions and answers

How far is the Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge?

The Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge is 3.8 km one way to the summit of Moel Druman, with 390 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 7.6 km.

How long does the Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge take?

About 1h 25m to the summit of Moel Druman and 2h 10m 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 2h 40m for the round trip.

How steep is the Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge?

The steepest 500 m averages about 26%, starting 2.2 km from the start, and 16% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge climbs 347 m in all on the track.

Where do you park for the Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge?

The Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge starts from Crimea Pass public mountain-path entrance. The grid reference is SH 700 488. No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby

Is the Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge 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 the Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge today?

By 15:02 at the latest. Sunset on Moel Druman today is 18:12, The Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge takes about 2h 10m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for the Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge?

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.