Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach up Rhobell Fawr: route map, distance and time
734 m · Snowdonia
Rhobell Fawr is a 734 m Hewitt and Marilyn north-east of Dolgellau, a craggy volcanic hill standing apart from the main Snowdonia ranges.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Cwm yr Allt-lwyd public path.
Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach starts at about 316 m and gains 480 m over 6.8 km to 722 m on the track. The first 6 km are the easy part, averaging 4%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 6.8 km, which climbs 151 m at an average of 19%, with a 500 m stretch from 5.9 km at about 27%. That last pull ends at the summit.
Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach at a glance
| Distance | 6.8 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 500 m |
| Climb on the track | 480 m up, 76 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 286 m to 722 m (summit 734 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 27%, from 5.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 6% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 10m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 35m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Cwm yr Allt-lwyd public path |
| Start grid reference | SH 781 294 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 786 256 |
| Parking | No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby |
Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach 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 Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach 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 yr Allt-lwyd northern approach 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 | 287 m | -29 m | -3% | SH 788 292 |
| 2 km | 304 m | +17 m | 2% | SH 795 287 |
| 3 km | 418 m | +114 m | 11% | SH 798 279 |
| 4 km | 511 m | +93 m | 9% | SH 797 269 |
| 5 km | 498 m | -13 m | -1% | SH 799 260 |
| 6 km | 570 m | +72 m | 7% | SH 794 257 |
| 6.8 km | 722 m | +151 m | 19% | SH 786 256 |
How long Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 50m | 2h 55m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 40m | 4h 25m |
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 07:05, sunset 16:52. Start by 12:17 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:06, sunset 16:50. Start by 12:15 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Rhobell Fawr summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Rhobell Fawr right now. The main Rhobell Fawr page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Rhobell Fawr forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Rhobell Fawr
Rhobell Fawr is a 734 m Hewitt and Marilyn north-east of Dolgellau, a craggy volcanic hill standing apart from the main Snowdonia ranges. More about Rhobell Fawr, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Dduallt (663 m), 2.9 km north-east
Challenges that include Rhobell Fawr
More walks from Cwm yr Allt-lwyd public path
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach up Dduallt
Other routes up Rhobell Fawr
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Llanfachreth | 5.6 km one way | 566 m | 2h 5m | Moderate |
| Rhydymain and forest paths | 5.7 km one way | 590 m | 2h 5m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 781 294, the summit at SH 786 256), 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 yr Allt-lwyd northern approach: questions and answers
How far is Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach?
Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach is 6.8 km one way to the summit of Rhobell Fawr, with 500 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 13.6 km.
How long does Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach take?
About 2h 10m to the summit of Rhobell Fawr and 3h 35m 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 25m for the round trip.
How steep is Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach?
The steepest 500 m averages about 27%, starting 5.9 km from the start, and 6% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach climbs 480 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach?
Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach starts from Cwm yr Allt-lwyd public path. The grid reference is SH 781 294. No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby
Is Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach 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, such as From Llanfachreth.
What time should I start Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach today?
By 12:17 at the latest. Sunset on Rhobell Fawr today is 16:52, Cwm yr Allt-lwyd northern approach takes about 3h 35m 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 yr Allt-lwyd northern approach?
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.