Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron up Moel Eilio (Snowdonia): route map, distance and time
726 m · Snowdonia
Moel Eilio is a 726m grassy hill west of Llanberis and the high point of the Moel Eilio horseshoe, with wide views to Yr Wyddfa and Anglesey.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Llyn Cwellyn car park (Snowdon Ranger).
Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron starts at about 150 m and gains 660 m over 5.2 km to 715 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 132 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 5.2 km, which climbs 27 m at an average of 18%, with a 500 m stretch from 2.3 km at about 24%. That last pull ends at the summit. About 18% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron at a glance
| Distance | 5.2 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 670 m |
| Climb on the track | 660 m up, 95 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 150 m to 715 m (summit 726 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 24%, from 2.3 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 18% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 10m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 10m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Llyn Cwellyn car park (Snowdon Ranger), LL54 7YS |
| Start grid reference | SH 564 550 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 555 577 |
| Parking | Llyn Cwellyn car park (Snowdon Ranger) (SH564551); the postcode is approximate |
Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron 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 Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron 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.
Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron 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 | 282 m | +132 m | 13% | SH 568 553 |
| 2 km | 426 m | +144 m | 14% | SH 573 555 |
| 3 km | 571 m | +145 m | 14% | SH 569 563 |
| 4 km | 596 m | +25 m | 2% | SH 561 567 |
| 5 km | 687 m | +91 m | 9% | SH 556 575 |
| 5.2 km | 715 m | +27 m | 18% | SH 555 577 |
How long Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 40m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 10m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 40m | 3h 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 07:50, sunset 18:12. Start by 14:02 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 10m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:52, sunset 18:10. Start by 14:00 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 10m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Moel Eilio summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Monday 19 October
Light drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -1°C, summit wind 31 mph gusting 38 mph, 25% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October
Overcast, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -1°C, summit wind 27 mph gusting 34 mph, 54% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:52, sunset 18:10.
Best day of the next seven for Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron: Monday 19 October, with summit gusts around 38 mph and a 25% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Moel Eilio 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 38 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 Moel Eilio
Moel Eilio is a 726m grassy hill west of Llanberis and the high point of the Moel Eilio horseshoe, with wide views to Yr Wyddfa and Anglesey. More about Moel Eilio, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Foel Gron (629 m), 1 km south-east
Challenges that include Moel Eilio
More walks from Llyn Cwellyn car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Snowdon Ranger Path up Snowdon
- Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths up Foel Gron
- Snowdon Ranger via Bwlch Clogwyn up Moel Cynghorion
Other routes up Moel Eilio
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Llanberis and the horseshoe | 4.6 km one way | 570 m | 1h 50m | Moderate |
| Waunfawr via Bwlch-y-groes | 6.2 km one way | 600 m | 2h 15m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 564 550, the summit at SH 555 577), 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.
Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron: questions and answers
How far is Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron?
Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron is 5.2 km one way to the summit of Moel Eilio, with 670 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.4 km.
How long does Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron take?
About 2h 10m to the summit of Moel Eilio and 3h 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 3h 55m for the round trip.
How steep is Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron?
The steepest 500 m averages about 24%, starting 2.3 km from the start, and 18% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron climbs 660 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron?
Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron starts from Llyn Cwellyn car park (Snowdon Ranger) (postcode LL54 7YS). The grid reference is SH 564 550. Llyn Cwellyn car park (Snowdon Ranger) (SH564551); the postcode is approximate
Is Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron 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 the Llanberis and the horseshoe.
What time should I start Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron today?
By 14:02 at the latest. Sunset on Moel Eilio today is 18:12, Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron takes about 3h 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 Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron?
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.