Abergynolwyn station and southern ridge up Tarren y Gesail: route map, distance and time
667 m · Snowdonia
Tarren y Gesail is a 667 m Hewitt and Marilyn, the higher of the Tarren hills between Cadair Idris and the Dyfi estuary.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Abergynolwyn village hall car park (Y Canolfan Gymunedol).
The Abergynolwyn station and southern ridge starts at about 39 m and gains 971 m over 12.4 km to 655 m on the track. The first 6 km are the easy part, averaging 5%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 7 km, which climbs 262 m at an average of 26%, with a 500 m stretch from 6.6 km at about 34%. The final 0.4 km eases to the top. About 11% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Abergynolwyn station and southern ridge at a glance
| Distance | 12.4 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Climb on the track | 971 m up, 354 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 39 m to 657 m (summit 667 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 34%, from 6.6 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 11% of the way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Abergynolwyn village hall car park (Y Canolfan Gymunedol), LL36 9UU |
| Start grid reference | SH 677 069 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 710 058 |
| Parking | Abergynolwyn village hall car park (Y Canolfan Gymunedol) |
Abergynolwyn station and southern 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
Near the start
- Railway Inn0.0 km
- Quarryman's tearoom0.9 km
- Public toilets0.0 km
- Public toilets0.9 km
- Public toilets2.0 km
- Cedis farm1.5 km
- Cedris Farm Campsite1.6 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Abergynolwyn station and southern 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.
Abergynolwyn station and southern 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 | 103 m | +64 m | 6% | SH 680 067 |
| 2 km | 104 m | +1 m | 0% | SH 671 063 |
| 3 km | 164 m | +60 m | 6% | SH 675 064 |
| 4 km | 195 m | +31 m | 3% | SH 683 061 |
| 5 km | 290 m | +95 m | 9% | SH 679 054 |
| 6 km | 336 m | +46 m | 5% | SH 679 050 |
| 7 km | 599 m | +262 m | 26% steep | SH 681 042 |
| 8 km | 524 m | -74 m | -7% | SH 689 038 |
| 9 km | 467 m | -57 m | -6% | SH 698 042 |
| 10 km | 437 m | -30 m | -3% | SH 706 047 |
| 11 km | 498 m | +61 m | 6% | SH 715 050 |
| 12 km | 648 m | +149 m | 15% | SH 713 058 |
| 12.4 km | 655 m | +8 m | 2% | SH 710 058 |
How long the Abergynolwyn station and southern ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 3h 20m | 5h 25m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 4h 5m | 6h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 5h 5m | 8h 10m |
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.
Tarren y Gesail summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Tarren y Gesail right now. The main Tarren y Gesail page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Tarren y Gesail forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Tarren y Gesail
Tarren y Gesail is a 667 m Hewitt and Marilyn, the higher of the Tarren hills between Cadair Idris and the Dyfi estuary. More about Tarren y Gesail, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn.
Challenges that include Tarren y Gesail
More walks from Abergynolwyn village hall car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Abergynolwyn station and southern ridge up Tarrenhendre
- Nant Gwernol and Bryn Eglwys forest paths up Tarrenhendre
Other routes up Tarren y Gesail
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Abergynolwyn | 6.3 km one way | 629 m | 2h 20m | Moderate |
| Nant Gwernol and Bryn Eglwys forest paths | 6.1 km one way | 630 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 677 069, the summit at SH 710 058), 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.
Abergynolwyn station and southern ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Abergynolwyn station and southern ridge?
The Abergynolwyn station and southern ridge is 12.4 km one way to the summit of Tarren y Gesail. There and back by the same way is about 24.8 km.
How steep is the Abergynolwyn station and southern ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 34%, starting 6.6 km from the start, and 11% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Abergynolwyn station and southern ridge climbs 971 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Abergynolwyn station and southern ridge?
The Abergynolwyn station and southern ridge starts from Abergynolwyn village hall car park (Y Canolfan Gymunedol) (postcode LL36 9UU). The grid reference is SH 677 069. Abergynolwyn village hall car park (Y Canolfan Gymunedol)
Is the Abergynolwyn station and southern 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, such as From Abergynolwyn.
Is there a GPX for the Abergynolwyn station and southern 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.