Y Braich from Tal-y-waun up Pen yr Helgi Du: route map, distance and time
833 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Public car park behind Joe Brown, Capel Curig.
Y Braich from Tal-y-waun starts at about 197 m and gains 617 m over 7.8 km to 787 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 5.2 km at about 26%. The final 0.8 km eases to the top.
Y Braich from Tal-y-waun at a glance
| Distance | 7.8 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 680 m |
| Climb on the track | 617 m up, 27 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 196 m to 813 m (summit 833 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 26%, from 5.2 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 8% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 40m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 15m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Public car park behind Joe Brown, Capel Curig, LL24 0EN |
| Start grid reference | SH 720 582 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 697 630 |
| Parking | Public car park behind Joe Brown, Capel Curig (SH720582); the postcode is approximate |
Y Braich from Tal-y-waun 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 from Tal-y-waun 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 from Tal-y-waun 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 |
| 7.8 km | 787 m | +67 m | 8% | SH 697 630 |
How long Y Braich from Tal-y-waun takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 30m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 40m | 4h 15m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 20m | 5h 15m |
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 07:06, sunset 16:52. Start by 11:37 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:08, sunset 16:50. Start by 11:35 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Pen yr Helgi Du summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Pen yr Helgi Du right now. The main Pen yr Helgi Du page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Pen yr Helgi Du forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Pen yr Helgi Du
More about Pen yr Helgi Du, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Pen yr Helgi Du
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 via Pen yr Helgi Du up Pen Llithrig y Wrach
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 697 630), 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 from Tal-y-waun: questions and answers
How far is Y Braich from Tal-y-waun?
Y Braich from Tal-y-waun is 7.8 km one way to the summit of Pen yr Helgi Du, with 680 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 15.6 km.
How long does Y Braich from Tal-y-waun take?
About 2h 40m to the summit of Pen yr Helgi Du and 4h 15m 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 5h 15m for the round trip.
How steep is Y Braich from Tal-y-waun?
The steepest 500 m averages about 26%, starting 5.2 km from the start, and 8% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Y Braich from Tal-y-waun climbs 617 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Y Braich from Tal-y-waun?
Y Braich from Tal-y-waun 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 from Tal-y-waun 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 Y Braich from Tal-y-waun today?
By 11:37 at the latest. Sunset on Pen yr Helgi Du today is 16:52, Y Braich from Tal-y-waun takes about 4h 15m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Y Braich from Tal-y-waun?
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.