Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du up Pen Llithrig y Wrach: route map, distance and time
799 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Public car park behind Joe Brown, Capel Curig.
Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du starts at about 197 m and gains 799 m over 10.0 km to 770 m on the track. The first 5 km are the easy part, averaging 3%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 6 km, which climbs 217 m at an average of 22%, with a 500 m stretch from 9.2 km at about 27%. It keeps climbing at 16% to the top. About 10% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du at a glance
| Distance | 10.0 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Climb on the track | 799 m up, 225 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 196 m to 813 m (summit 799 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 27%, from 9.2 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 10% of the way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Public car park behind Joe Brown, Capel Curig, LL24 0EN |
| Start grid reference | SH 720 582 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 716 622 |
| Parking | Public car park behind Joe Brown, Capel Curig (SH720582); the postcode is approximate |
Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du 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 Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du 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.
Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du 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 | 239 m | +42 m | 4% | SH 715 589 |
| 2 km | 261 m | +21 m | 2% | SH 705 592 |
| 3 km | 258 m | -2 m | 0% | SH 696 596 |
| 4 km | 282 m | +23 m | 2% | SH 690 601 |
| 5 km | 341 m | +59 m | 6% | SH 699 604 |
| 6 km | 557 m | +217 m | 22% steep | SH 698 612 |
| 7 km | 720 m | +163 m | 16% | SH 698 622 |
| 8 km | 812 m | +92 m | 9% | SH 698 629 |
| 9 km | 613 m | -199 m | -20% | SH 708 626 |
| 10 km | 770 m | +157 m | 16% | SH 716 622 |
How long Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 45m | 4h 25m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 3h 20m | 5h 20m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 4h 5m | 6h 35m |
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.
Pen Llithrig y Wrach summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Pen Llithrig y Wrach right now. The main Pen Llithrig y Wrach page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Pen Llithrig y Wrach forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Pen Llithrig y Wrach
More about Pen Llithrig y Wrach, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Pen Llithrig y Wrach
More walks from Public car park behind Joe Brown, Capel Curig
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Capel Curig over Craiglwyn up Creigiau Gleision
- Y Braich from Tal-y-waun up Pen yr Helgi Du
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 720 582, the summit at SH 716 622), 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.
Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du: questions and answers
How far is Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du?
Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du is 10.0 km one way to the summit of Pen Llithrig y Wrach. There and back by the same way is about 20.0 km.
How steep is Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du?
The steepest 500 m averages about 27%, starting 9.2 km from the start, and 10% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du climbs 799 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du?
Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du starts from Public car park behind Joe Brown, Capel Curig (postcode LL24 0EN). The grid reference is SH 720 582. Public car park behind Joe Brown, Capel Curig (SH720582); the postcode is approximate
Is Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du 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.
Is there a GPX for Y Braich via Pen yr Helgi Du?
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.