Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu up Y Garn (Snowdonia): route map, distance and time
633 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Rhyd Ddu westbound public path.
Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu at a glance
| Distance | 1.0 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 340 m |
| Climb on the track | 285 m up, 23 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 314 m to 601 m (summit 633 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 37%, from 0.3 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 89% of the way |
| Time up | 0h 45m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 1h 0m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Rhyd Ddu westbound public path, LL54 6TN |
| Start grid reference | SH 559 524 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 551 526 |
| Parking | Rhyd Ddu station car park (SH571527); the postcode is approximate |
Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu 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
- Cwellyn Arms1.1 km
- Tŷ Mawr1.1 km
- Public toilets1.2 km
- Public toilets1.8 km
- Public toilets1.8 km
- Cwellyn Arms Campsite1.8 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu 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.
How long Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 0h 35m | 0h 45m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 0h 45m | 1h 0m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 0h 55m | 1h 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.
- Today: sunrise 07:07, sunset 16:53. Start by 14:53 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:08, sunset 16:51. Start by 14:51 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Y Garn summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Y Garn right now. The main Y Garn page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Y Garn forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Y Garn
More about Y Garn, with the live forecast.
More walks from Rhyd Ddu westbound public path
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu up Craig Cwm Silyn
- Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu up Mynydd Drws-y-coed
- Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu up Trum y Ddysgl
- Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu up Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd
- Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu up Garnedd-goch
- Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu up Mynydd Graig Goch
Other routes up Y Garn
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nantlle Ridge from Nebo | 11.4 km one way | — | — | Scramble |
| Nantlle via Tal-y-mignedd and Drws-y-coed | 6.7 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 559 524, the summit at SH 551 526), 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.
Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu: questions and answers
How far is Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu?
Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu is 1.0 km one way to the summit of Y Garn, with 340 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 2.0 km.
How long does Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu take?
About 0h 45m to the summit of Y Garn and 1h 0m 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 1h 10m for the round trip.
How steep is Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu?
The steepest 500 m averages about 37%, starting 0.3 km from the start, and 89% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu climbs 285 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu?
Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu starts from Rhyd Ddu westbound public path (postcode LL54 6TN). The grid reference is SH 559 524. Rhyd Ddu station car park (SH571527); the postcode is approximate
Is Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu 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 Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu today?
By 14:53 at the latest. Sunset on Y Garn today is 16:53, Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu takes about 1h 0m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu?
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.