Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge up Moel y Cerrig Duon: route map, distance and time
625 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Bwlch y Groes pass viewpoint parking area.
The Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge starts at about 546 m and gains 76 m over 1.5 km to 614 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 16 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 1.5 km, which climbs 51 m at an average of 11%. That last pull ends at the summit.
Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge at a glance
| Distance | 1.5 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 90 m |
| Climb on the track | 76 m up, 13 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 546 m to 614 m (summit 625 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 10%, from 0.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 7% of the way |
| Time up | 0h 25m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 0h 45m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Bwlch y Groes pass viewpoint parking area |
| Start grid reference | SH 913 232 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 923 241 |
| Parking | Bwlch y Groes pass viewpoint parking area |
Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge 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 Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge 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.
Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge 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 | 562 m | +16 m | 2% | SH 920 238 |
| 1.5 km | 614 m | +51 m | 11% | SH 923 241 |
How long the Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 0h 20m | 0h 35m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 0h 25m | 0h 45m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 0h 35m | 0h 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 07:04, sunset 16:52. Start by 15:07 to be down before dark, allowing 0h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:06, sunset 16:50. Start by 15:05 to be down before dark, allowing 0h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Moel y Cerrig Duon summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Moel y Cerrig Duon right now. The main Moel y Cerrig Duon page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Moel y Cerrig Duon forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Moel y Cerrig Duon
More about Moel y Cerrig Duon, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Moel y Cerrig Duon
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 913 232, the summit at SH 923 241), 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.
Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge?
The Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge is 1.5 km one way to the summit of Moel y Cerrig Duon, with 90 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 3.0 km.
How long does the Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge take?
About 0h 25m to the summit of Moel y Cerrig Duon and 0h 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 0h 55m for the round trip.
How steep is the Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 10%, starting 0.9 km from the start, and 7% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge climbs 76 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge?
The Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge starts from Bwlch y Groes pass viewpoint parking area. The grid reference is SH 913 232. Bwlch y Groes pass viewpoint parking area
Is the Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge 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 the Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge today?
By 15:07 at the latest. Sunset on Moel y Cerrig Duon today is 16:52, The Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge takes about 0h 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 the Bwlch y Groes north-east ridge?
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.