Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl up Moel Lefn: route map, distance and time
638 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from NRW Beddgelert Forest car park.
Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl starts at about 173 m and gains 457 m over 4.5 km to 615 m on the track. The first 3 km are the easy part, averaging 6%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 4 km, which climbs 204 m at an average of 20%, with a 500 m stretch from 3.2 km at about 27%. It keeps climbing at 16% to the top. About 18% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl at a glance
| Distance | 4.5 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 490 m |
| Climb on the track | 457 m up, 14 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 172 m to 616 m (summit 638 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 27%, from 3.2 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 18% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 45m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 35m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | NRW Beddgelert Forest car park, LL55 4UU |
| Start grid reference | SH 572 503 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 552 485 |
| Parking | NRW Beddgelert Forest car park (SH574503) |
Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Download the Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl 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.
Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl 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 | 198 m | +25 m | 3% | SH 567 503 |
| 2 km | 266 m | +68 m | 7% | SH 561 498 |
| 3 km | 336 m | +71 m | 7% | SH 553 496 |
| 4 km | 540 m | +204 m | 20% steep | SH 553 489 |
| 4.5 km | 615 m | +75 m | 16% | SH 552 485 |
How long Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 25m | 2h 10m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 5m | 3h 15m |
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 07:48, sunset 18:15. Start by 14:40 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12. Start by 14:37 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Moel Lefn summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Moel Lefn right now. The main Moel Lefn page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Moel Lefn forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Moel Lefn
More about Moel Lefn, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Moel Lefn
More walks from NRW Beddgelert Forest car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Rhyd Ddu via Moel Lefn and Moel yr Ogof up Moel Hebog
- Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl up Moel yr Ogof
Other routes up Moel Lefn
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beddgelert via Moel Hebog | 5.8 km one way | — | — | Hard |
| Cwm Pennant and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl | 3.5 km one way | 500 m | 1h 30m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 572 503, the summit at SH 552 485), 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.
Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl: questions and answers
How far is Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl?
Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl is 4.5 km one way to the summit of Moel Lefn, with 490 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 9.0 km.
How long does Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl take?
About 1h 45m to the summit of Moel Lefn and 2h 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 3h 15m for the round trip.
How steep is Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl?
The steepest 500 m averages about 27%, starting 3.2 km from the start, and 18% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl climbs 457 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl?
Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl starts from NRW Beddgelert Forest car park (postcode LL55 4UU). The grid reference is SH 572 503. NRW Beddgelert Forest car park (SH574503)
Is Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl 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 Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl today?
By 14:40 at the latest. Sunset on Moel Lefn today is 18:15, Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl takes about 2h 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 Rhyd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Trwsgl?
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.