Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan up Yr Aran: route map, distance and time
747 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Rhyd Ddu station car park.
Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan starts at about 191 m and gains 519 m over 5.1 km to 697 m on the track. The first 4 km are the easy part, averaging 8%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 5 km, which climbs 188 m at an average of 19%, with a 500 m stretch from 4.5 km at about 27%. The final 0.1 km eases to the top. About 10% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan at a glance
| Distance | 5.1 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 570 m |
| Climb on the track | 519 m up, 14 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 190 m to 698 m (summit 747 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 27%, from 4.5 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 10% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 0m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 0m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Rhyd Ddu station car park, LL54 6TN |
| Start grid reference | SH 570 526 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 604 515 |
| Parking | Rhyd Ddu station car park (SH571527); the postcode is approximate |
Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan 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 Arms0.3 km
- Tŷ Mawr0.3 km
- Public toilets0.1 km
- Public toilets1.4 km
- Public toilets1.5 km
- Cwellyn Arms Campsite1.5 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan 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.
Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan 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 | 261 m | +70 m | 7% | SH 578 525 |
| 2 km | 337 m | +76 m | 8% | SH 586 524 |
| 3 km | 430 m | +92 m | 9% | SH 596 521 |
| 4 km | 510 m | +80 m | 8% | SH 605 521 |
| 5 km | 698 m | +188 m | 19% | SH 605 515 |
| 5.1 km | 697 m | -1 m | -1% | SH 604 515 |
How long Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 35m | 2h 30m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 3h 0m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 25m | 3h 40m |
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 07:50, sunset 18:12. Start by 14:12 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:10. Start by 14:10 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Yr Aran summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Yr Aran right now. The main Yr Aran page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Yr Aran forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Yr Aran
More about Yr Aran, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Yr Aran
More walks from Rhyd Ddu station car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- From Rhyd Ddu up Mynydd Mawr
- Rhyd Ddu Path up Snowdon
- South Ridge (Allt Maenderyn) up Snowdon
Other routes up Yr Aran
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watkin Path and Bwlch Cwm Llan | 5.2 km one way | 710 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 570 526, the summit at SH 604 515), 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.
Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan: questions and answers
How far is Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan?
Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan is 5.1 km one way to the summit of Yr Aran, with 570 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.2 km.
How long does Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan take?
About 2h 0m to the summit of Yr Aran and 3h 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 3h 40m for the round trip.
How steep is Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan?
The steepest 500 m averages about 27%, starting 4.5 km from the start, and 10% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan climbs 519 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan?
Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan starts from Rhyd Ddu station car park (postcode LL54 6TN). The grid reference is SH 570 526. Rhyd Ddu station car park (SH571527); the postcode is approximate
Is Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan 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 Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan today?
By 14:12 at the latest. Sunset on Yr Aran today is 18:12, Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan takes about 3h 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 Rhyd Ddu via Ffordd Ddu and Bwlch Cwm Llan?
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.