Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd up Moel Siabod: route map, distance and time

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Pen-y-Gwryd mapped path entrance.

Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd starts at about 276 m and gains 570 m over 5.2 km to 846 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 72 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 147 m at an average of 15%. The final 0.2 km eases to the top.

Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd at a glance

Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd 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 Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd 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.

Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd 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.

How long Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd takes

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 14:09 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
• Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:11. Start by 14:06 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Moel Siabod summit weather for this route

• Good Today Sunday 18 October

  Overcast, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 23 mph gusting 29 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:14.

• Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October

  Dense drizzle, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 38 mph gusting 48 mph, 53% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:11.

Best day of the next seven for Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 29 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 0% (Low), best around 04:00. 7-day inversion outlook.

Hour-by-hour Moel Siabod forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Moel Siabod?

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 -4°C on top.
• A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
• Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
• 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 Siabod

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. More about Moel Siabod, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn.

Challenges that include Moel Siabod

• Welsh 100 Challenge · 100
• Paddy Buckley Round · 47
• Hewitts · 523
• Nuttalls · 442
• Marilyns · 1,555

More walks from Pen-y-Gwryd mapped path entrance

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

• Pen y Gwryd via the Miners' Track up Glyder Fach
• Miners' Track from Pen-y-Gwryd and plateau traverse up Glyder Fawr
• Pen-y-Gwryd via Llyn y Caseg Fraith up Gallt yr Ogof
• Pen-y-Gwryd via Llyn y Caseg Fraith up Y Foel Goch

Other routes up Moel Siabod

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 660 555, the summit at SH 705 546), 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.

Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd: questions and answers

How far is Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd?

Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd is 5.2 km one way to the summit of Moel Siabod, with 600 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.4 km.

How long does Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd take?

About 2h 0m to the summit of Moel Siabod and 3h 5m 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 50m for the round trip.

How steep is Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd?

The steepest 500 m averages about 17%, starting 1.1 km from the start, and 4% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd climbs 570 m in all on the track.

Where do you park for Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd?

Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd starts from Pen-y-Gwryd mapped path entrance. The grid reference is SH 660 555. No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby

Is Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd 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 Plas y Brenin.

What time should I start Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd today?

By 14:09 at the latest. Sunset on Moel Siabod today is 18:14, Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd takes about 3h 5m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Western approach from Pen-y-Gwryd?

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.