Cwm Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor up Trum y Ddysgl: route map, distance and time
710 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Cwm Pennant public path.
Cwm Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor starts at about 150 m and gains 539 m over 4.8 km to 679 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 20 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 4.8 km, which climbs 162 m at an average of 20%, with a 500 m stretch from 4.1 km at about 30%. That last pull ends at the summit. About 19% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Cwm Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor at a glance
| Distance | 4.8 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 580 m |
| Climb on the track | 539 m up, 6 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 140 m to 686 m (summit 710 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 30%, from 4.1 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 19% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 55m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 55m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Cwm Pennant public path |
| Start grid reference | SH 535 486 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 544 516 |
| Parking | No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby |
Cwm Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor 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 Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor 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 Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor 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 | 170 m | +20 m | 2% | SH 542 493 |
| 2 km | 289 m | +119 m | 12% | SH 547 497 |
| 3 km | 410 m | +122 m | 12% | SH 551 503 |
| 4 km | 517 m | +107 m | 11% | SH 545 509 |
| 4.8 km | 679 m | +162 m | 20% steep | SH 544 516 |
How long Cwm Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 35m | 2h 20m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 55m | 2h 55m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 20m | 3h 35m |
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 07:07, sunset 16:53. Start by 12:58 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:09, sunset 16:51. Start by 12:56 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Trum y Ddysgl summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Trum y Ddysgl right now. The main Trum y Ddysgl page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Trum y Ddysgl forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Trum y Ddysgl
More about Trum y Ddysgl, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Trum y Ddysgl
Other routes up Trum y Ddysgl
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu | 2.5 km one way | 470 m | 1h 15m | Scramble |
| Nantlle Ridge from Nebo | 9.9 km one way | — | — | Scramble |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 535 486, the summit at SH 544 516), 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 Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor: questions and answers
How far is Cwm Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor?
Cwm Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor is 4.8 km one way to the summit of Trum y Ddysgl, with 580 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 9.6 km.
How long does Cwm Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor take?
About 1h 55m to the summit of Trum y Ddysgl and 2h 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 3h 35m for the round trip.
How steep is Cwm Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor?
The steepest 500 m averages about 30%, starting 4.1 km from the start, and 19% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Cwm Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor climbs 539 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Cwm Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor?
Cwm Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor starts from Cwm Pennant public path. The grid reference is SH 535 486. No checked car park for this start; find lawful parking nearby
Is Cwm Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor 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 Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor today?
By 12:58 at the latest. Sunset on Trum y Ddysgl today is 16:53, Cwm Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor takes about 2h 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 Pennant and Bwlch y Ddwy Elor?
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.