Moel Siabod routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX
872 m ยท Snowdonia
Moel Siabod is the solitary mountain above Capel Curig, climbed by the rocky Daear Ddu ridge past Llyn y Foel or a simple path from Plas y Brenin.
Peakify lists 5 measured routes up Moel Siabod, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.
Moel Siabod routes, easiest to hardest
Sorted by grade, easiest first: Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble. Routes with the same grade keep the order in which Peakify's editors listed them.
| Route | Start | Distance | Ascent | Time up | There and back | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plas y Brenin | Plas y Brenin footpath by Afon Mymbyr | 3.5 km one way | 690 m | 1h 50m | 2h 35m | Moderate |
| North-east approach from Pont Cyfyng | Pont Cyfyng public lane | 4.1 km one way | 700 m | 2h 0m | 2h 50m | Hard |
| Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd | Pen-y-Gwryd mapped path entrance | 5.2 km one way | 600 m | 2h 0m | 3h 5m | Hard |
| Pont Cyfyng via Llyn y Foel and Daear Ddu | Pont Cyfyng public lane | 4.7 km one way | 740 m | 2h 10m | 3h 5m | Scramble |
| Daear Ddu from Dolwyddelan | Dolwyddelan public path | 6.2 km one way | 740 m | 2h 30m | 3h 45m | Scramble |
Moel Siabod route times by Naismith's rule
The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.
Each Moel Siabod route
Plas y Brenin
A path through woodland and up the north-east slopes to the summit. It starts from Plas y Brenin footpath by Afon Mymbyr. 3.5 km one way with 690 m of ascent. About 1h 50m to the summit and 2h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.
North-east approach from Pont Cyfyng
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Pont Cyfyng public lane. It starts from Pont Cyfyng public lane. 4.1 km one way with 700 m of ascent. About 2h 0m to the summit and 2h 50m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.
Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Pen-y-Gwryd mapped path entrance. It starts from Pen-y-Gwryd mapped path entrance. 5.2 km one way with 600 m of ascent. About 2h 0m to the summit and 3h 5m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.
Pont Cyfyng via Llyn y Foel and Daear Ddu
A track past old quarries to Llyn y Foel, then the easy scramble up the Daear Ddu ridge. It starts from Pont Cyfyng public lane. 4.7 km one way with 740 m of ascent. About 2h 10m to the summit and 3h 5m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Scramble.
Daear Ddu from Dolwyddelan
A grade 1 scramble to the summit from Dolwyddelan public path. It starts from Dolwyddelan public path. 6.2 km one way with 740 m of ascent. About 2h 30m to the summit and 3h 45m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Scramble.
Moel Siabod route GPX
Download a GPX for each route with a track: Plas y Brenin, North-east approach from Pont Cyfyng, Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd, Pont Cyfyng via Llyn y Foel and Daear Ddu, Daear Ddu from Dolwyddelan. Each is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.
Before you pick a route
The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Moel Siabod today and the Moel Siabod 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.
Planning a day on Moel Siabod routes
The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.
Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.
Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
If you are new to Moel Siabod, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.
Questions about Moel Siabod
What is the easiest route up Moel Siabod?
The path from Plas y Brenin up the north-east slopes avoids scrambling.
How much time does each Moel Siabod route take?
Plas y Brenin: about 1h 50m up and 2h 35m there and back. North-east approach from Pont Cyfyng: about 2h 0m up and 2h 50m there and back. Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd: about 2h 0m up and 3h 5m there and back. Pont Cyfyng via Llyn y Foel and Daear Ddu: about 2h 10m up and 3h 5m there and back. Daear Ddu from Dolwyddelan: about 2h 30m up and 3h 45m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.
Can I get a GPX file for a Moel Siabod route?
Yes. Open a route below and download its GPX: an ascent track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths.