Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan up Moelwyn Bach: route map, distance and time

712 m · Snowdonia

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Cwmorthin car park, Tanygrisiau.

Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan starts at about 258 m and gains 494 m over 3.8 km to 692 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs -44 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3.8 km, which climbs 180 m at an average of 23%, with a 500 m stretch from 3.1 km at about 27%. That last pull ends at the summit. About 30% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.

Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan at a glance

Distance	3.8 km one way, to the top
Ascent	510 m
Climb on the track	494 m up, 63 m down on the way
Start and top of the track	199 m to 692 m (summit 712 m)
Steepest 500 m	About 27%, from 3.1 km
Steeper than 1 in 5	30% of the way
Time up	1h 35m by Naismith's rule
There and back	2h 20m, down the same way
Grade	Hard
Start	Cwmorthin car park, Tanygrisiau, LL41 3ST
Start grid reference	SH 683 454
Summit grid reference	SH 660 437
Parking	Cwmorthin car park, Tanygrisiau (SH68304542); the postcode is approximate

Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan map

The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start 258 m3.8 km to the top

Start grid ref SH 683 454 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

Download the Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan 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.

Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan 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	214 m	-44 m	-4%	SH 678 446
2 km	364 m	+150 m	15%	SH 671 443
3 km	512 m	+147 m	15%	SH 663 441
3.8 km	692 m	+180 m	23% steep	SH 660 437

How long Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	1h 20m	1h 55m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	1h 35m	2h 20m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	2h 0m	2h 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 07:47, sunset 18:14. Start by 14:54 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:12. Start by 14:52 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Moelwyn Bach summit weather for this route

There is no recent summit forecast cached for Moelwyn Bach right now. The main Moelwyn Bach page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Moelwyn Bach forecast.

Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.

About Moelwyn Bach

More about Moelwyn Bach, with the live forecast.

Challenges that include Moelwyn Bach

More walks from Cwmorthin car park, Tanygrisiau

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

Cwmorthin, Rhosydd and the north ridge up Cnicht
From Tanygrisiau via Craigysgafn up Moelwyn Mawr
Cwmorthin and Rhosydd from Tanygrisiau up Moelwyn Mawr
Tanygrisiau via Cwmorthin and Rhosydd up Cnicht North Top
Tanygrisiau and Cwmorthin paths up Craigysgafn
Tanygrisiau and Cwmorthin paths up Moel-yr-hydd
Tanygrisiau via Cwmorthin and Rhosydd up Moel Druman
Tanygrisiau via Cwmorthin and Rhosydd up Ysgafell Wen
Tanygrisiau via Cwmorthin and Rhosydd up Ysgafell Wen North Top
Tanygrisiau via Cwmorthin and Rhosydd up Ysgafell Wen Far North Top

Other routes up Moelwyn Bach

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
South-west ascent from Croesor	4.2 km one way	560 m	1h 45m	Hard
Cwmorthin via Moelwyn Mawr and Craigysgafn	6.2 km one way	640 m	2h 20m	Hard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 683 454, the summit at SH 660 437), 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.

Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan: questions and answers

How far is Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan?

Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan is 3.8 km one way to the summit of Moelwyn Bach, with 510 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 7.6 km.

How long does Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan take?

About 1h 35m to the summit of Moelwyn Bach and 2h 20m 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 2h 55m for the round trip.

How steep is Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan?

The steepest 500 m averages about 27%, starting 3.1 km from the start, and 30% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan climbs 494 m in all on the track.

Where do you park for Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan?

Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan starts from Cwmorthin car park, Tanygrisiau (postcode LL41 3ST). The grid reference is SH 683 454. Cwmorthin car park, Tanygrisiau (SH68304542); the postcode is approximate

Is Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan 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 Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan today?

By 14:54 at the latest. Sunset on Moelwyn Bach today is 18:14, Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan takes about 2h 20m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Llyn Stwlan and Bwlch Stwlan?

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.