Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge up Pen y Castell (Snowdonia): route map, distance and time
624 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Bwlch y Ddeufaen track junction.
The Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge starts at about 399 m and gains 383 m over 6.2 km to 615 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 3%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 164 m at an average of 16%, with a 500 m stretch from 1.9 km at about 21%. The final 0.2 km eases to the top.
Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge at a glance
| Distance | 6.2 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 400 m |
| Climb on the track | 383 m up, 171 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 399 m to 757 m (summit 624 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 21%, from 1.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 5% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 55m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 10m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Bwlch y Ddeufaen track junction, LL32 8UR |
| Start grid reference | SH 729 714 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 721 688 |
| Parking | Bwlch y Ddeufaen eastern road-end car park (SH720715); the postcode is approximate |
Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum 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 Ddeufaen and Drum 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 Ddeufaen and Drum 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 | 422 m | +23 m | 2% | SH 720 715 |
| 2 km | 460 m | +38 m | 4% | SH 711 717 |
| 3 km | 624 m | +164 m | 16% | SH 705 710 |
| 4 km | 689 m | +65 m | 7% | SH 707 701 |
| 5 km | 715 m | +27 m | 3% | SH 712 694 |
| 6 km | 599 m | -116 m | -12% | SH 720 689 |
| 6.2 km | 615 m | +16 m | 9% | SH 721 688 |
How long the Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 35m | 2h 35m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 55m | 3h 10m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 20m | 3h 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 07:49, sunset 18:11. Start by 14:01 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 10m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:09. Start by 13:59 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 10m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Pen y Castell summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Pen y Castell right now. The main Pen y Castell page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Pen y Castell forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Pen y Castell
More about Pen y Castell, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Pen y Castell
More walks from Bwlch y Ddeufaen track junction
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge up Carnedd Llewelyn
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge up Foel Grach
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge up Foel-fras
- South ascent from Bwlch y Ddeufaen up Tal y Fan
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and northern ridge up Garnedd Uchaf
- Drum from Bwlch y Ddeufaen up Drum
- Bwlch y Ddeufaen via Drum and Foel-fras up Llwytmor
Other routes up Pen y Castell
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands | 8.4 km one way | 350 m | 2h 15m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 729 714, the summit at SH 721 688), 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 Ddeufaen and Drum ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge?
The Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge is 6.2 km one way to the summit of Pen y Castell, with 400 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.4 km.
How long does the Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge take?
About 1h 55m to the summit of Pen y Castell and 3h 10m 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 55m for the round trip.
How steep is the Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 21%, starting 1.9 km from the start, and 5% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge climbs 383 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge?
The Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge starts from Bwlch y Ddeufaen track junction (postcode LL32 8UR). The grid reference is SH 729 714. Bwlch y Ddeufaen eastern road-end car park (SH720715); the postcode is approximate
Is the Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum 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 Ddeufaen and Drum ridge today?
By 14:01 at the latest. Sunset on Pen y Castell today is 18:11, The Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge takes about 3h 10m 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 Ddeufaen and Drum 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.