From Abergynolwyn 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.
Climb forest tracks and old quarry roads south of the village onto open hillside, then follow the grassy ridge to the summit.
From Abergynolwyn at a glance
| Distance | 6.3 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 629 m |
| Time up | 2h 20m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 35m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Abergynolwyn village car park |
| Start grid reference | SH 677 070 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 710 058 |
From Abergynolwyn map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
- Railway Inn0.1 km
- Quarryman's tearoom1.0 km
- Public toilets0.2 km
- Public toilets1.0 km
- Public toilets1.9 km
- Cedis farm1.5 km
- Cedris Farm Campsite1.5 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long From Abergynolwyn takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 55m | 2h 55m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 20m | 3h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 50m | 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 16:53. Start by 12:18 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:06, sunset 16:51. Start by 12:16 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abergynolwyn station and southern ridge | 12.4 km one way | — | — | Hard |
| 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 677 070, 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.
From Abergynolwyn: questions and answers
How far is From Abergynolwyn?
From Abergynolwyn is 6.3 km one way to the summit of Tarren y Gesail, with 629 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.6 km.
How long does From Abergynolwyn take?
About 2h 20m to the summit of Tarren y Gesail 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.
Where do you park for From Abergynolwyn?
From Abergynolwyn starts from Abergynolwyn village car park. The grid reference is SH 677 070.
Is From Abergynolwyn suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start From Abergynolwyn today?
By 12:18 at the latest. Sunset on Tarren y Gesail today is 16:53, From Abergynolwyn 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 From Abergynolwyn?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).