Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen up Moel Penamnen: route map, distance and time
628 m · Snowdonia
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 481 m over 7.3 km to 599 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 0.3 km eases to the top.
Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen at a glance
| Distance | 7.3 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 510 m |
| Climb on the track | 481 m up, 23 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 140 m to 605 m (summit 628 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 25%, from 4.4 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 6% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 20m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 45m, 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 716 483 |
| 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 | 553 m | +42 m | 4% | SH 727 479 |
| 7 km | 581 m | +27 m | 3% | SH 718 482 |
| 7.3 km | 599 m | +19 m | 6% | SH 716 483 |
How long Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 55m | 3h 5m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 20m | 3h 45m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 50m | 4h 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 07:47, sunset 18:14. Start by 13:29 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:11. Start by 13:26 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Moel Penamnen summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Overcast, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 16 mph gusting 24 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:14.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Dense drizzle, up to 9°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -1°C, summit wind 26 mph gusting 33 mph, 34% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:11.
Best day of the next seven for Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 24 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Moel Penamnen 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 -3°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- 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 Penamnen
More about Moel Penamnen, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Moel Penamnen
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.
- Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen up Manod Mawr
- Daear Ddu from Dolwyddelan up Moel Siabod
- Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen up Manod Mawr North Top
Other routes up Moel Penamnen
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manod village and quarry-side mountain paths | 11.1 km one way | 600 m | 3h 15m | Hard |
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 716 483), 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 7.3 km one way to the summit of Moel Penamnen, with 510 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 14.6 km.
How long does Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen take?
About 2h 20m to the summit of Moel Penamnen and 3h 45m 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 40m 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 6% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen climbs 481 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.
What time should I start Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen today?
By 13:29 at the latest. Sunset on Moel Penamnen today is 18:14, Dolwyddelan and Cwm Penamnen takes about 3h 45m 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.