Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands up Pen y Castell (Snowdonia): route map, distance and time
624 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Pen y Gaer hillfort car park.
Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands starts at about 357 m and gains 308 m over 8.4 km to 615 m on the track. The first 7 km are the easy part, averaging 2%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 8 km, which climbs 121 m at an average of 12%. The final 0.4 km eases to the top.
Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands at a glance
| Distance | 8.4 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 350 m |
| Climb on the track | 308 m up, 52 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 357 m to 615 m (summit 624 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 14%, from 7 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 0% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 15m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 55m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Pen y Gaer hillfort car park |
| Start grid reference | SH 743 692 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 721 688 |
| Parking | Pen y Gaer hillfort car park (SH74376931) |
Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands 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 Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands 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.
Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands 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 | 394 m | +37 m | 4% | SH 735 687 |
| 2 km | 393 m | -1 m | 0% | SH 728 680 |
| 3 km | 403 m | +10 m | 1% | SH 721 675 |
| 4 km | 444 m | +41 m | 4% | SH 719 677 |
| 5 km | 427 m | -17 m | -2% | SH 728 682 |
| 6 km | 434 m | +6 m | 1% | SH 734 689 |
| 7 km | 481 m | +48 m | 5% | SH 729 686 |
| 8 km | 602 m | +121 m | 12% | SH 721 688 |
| 8.4 km | 615 m | +13 m | 3% | SH 721 688 |
How long Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 50m | 3h 15m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 15m | 3h 55m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 50m | 4h 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 13:16 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:09. Start by 13:14 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 55m 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 Pen y Gaer hillfort car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Cwm Eigiau via the eastern Foel Grach ridge up Carnedd Llewelyn
- Cwm Eigiau via the eastern Foel Grach ridge up Foel Grach
Other routes up Pen y Castell
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bwlch y Ddeufaen and Drum ridge | 6.2 km one way | 400 m | 1h 55m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 743 692, 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.
Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands: questions and answers
How far is Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands?
Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands is 8.4 km one way to the summit of Pen y Castell, with 350 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 16.8 km.
How long does Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands take?
About 2h 15m to the summit of Pen y Castell and 3h 55m 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 4h 55m for the round trip.
How steep is Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands?
The steepest 500 m averages about 14%, starting 7 km from the start, and 0% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands climbs 308 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands?
Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands starts from Pen y Gaer hillfort car park. The grid reference is SH 743 692. Pen y Gaer hillfort car park (SH74376931)
Is Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands 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 Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands today?
By 13:16 at the latest. Sunset on Pen y Castell today is 18:11, Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands takes about 3h 55m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Cwm Eigiau and northern uplands?
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.