Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar up Ysgafell Wen North Top: route map, distance and time
669 m · Snowdonia
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Croesor village car park.
Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar starts at about 157 m and gains 582 m over 7.1 km to 651 m on the track. The first 3 km are the easy part, averaging 8%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 4 km, which climbs 203 m at an average of 20%, with a 500 m stretch from 3.7 km at about 36%. The final 0.1 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.
Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar at a glance
| Distance | 7.1 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 620 m |
| Climb on the track | 582 m up, 89 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 157 m to 652 m (summit 669 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 36%, from 3.7 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 11% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 25m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 50m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Croesor village car park, LL48 6SR |
| Start grid reference | SH 631 446 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 663 485 |
| Parking | Croesor village car park (SH631446); the postcode is approximate |
Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar 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
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar 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.
Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar 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 | 250 m | +93 m | 9% | SH 630 454 |
| 2 km | 316 m | +66 m | 7% | SH 634 461 |
| 3 km | 381 m | +65 m | 7% | SH 637 471 |
| 4 km | 585 m | +203 m | 20% steep | SH 643 465 |
| 5 km | 629 m | +44 m | 4% | SH 651 471 |
| 6 km | 595 m | -34 m | -3% | SH 657 478 |
| 7 km | 647 m | +52 m | 5% | SH 663 484 |
| 7.1 km | 651 m | +4 m | 3% | SH 663 485 |
How long Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 3h 10m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 25m | 3h 50m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 0m | 4h 45m |
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 07:49, sunset 18:12. Start by 13:22 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:09. Start by 13:19 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Ysgafell Wen North Top summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Ysgafell Wen North Top right now. The main Ysgafell Wen North Top page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Ysgafell Wen North Top forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
About Ysgafell Wen North Top
More about Ysgafell Wen North Top, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Ysgafell Wen North Top
More walks from Croesor village car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Croesor via the south-west ridge up Cnicht
- Rhosydd and the north ridge from Croesor up Cnicht
- Croesor via Moelwyn Bach and Moelwyn Mawr up Cnicht
- From Croesor by the north-west ridge up Moelwyn Mawr
- Croesor via Moelwyn Bach and Craigysgafn up Moelwyn Mawr
- South-west ascent from Croesor up Moelwyn Bach
- Croesor via Cnicht south-west ridge up Cnicht North Top
- Croesor via Moelwyn Mawr up Craigysgafn
- Croesor via Moelwyn Mawr up Moel-yr-hydd
- Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar up Allt-fawr
- Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar up Moel Druman
- Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar up Ysgafell Wen
Other routes up Ysgafell Wen North Top
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimea Pass and Moelwynion ridge | 5.1 km one way | 420 m | 1h 45m | Hard |
| Tanygrisiau via Cwmorthin and Rhosydd | 7.3 km one way | 480 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 631 446, the summit at SH 663 485), 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.
Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar: questions and answers
How far is Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar?
Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar is 7.1 km one way to the summit of Ysgafell Wen North Top, with 620 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 14.2 km.
How long does Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar take?
About 2h 25m to the summit of Ysgafell Wen North Top and 3h 50m 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 45m for the round trip.
How steep is Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar?
The steepest 500 m averages about 36%, starting 3.7 km from the start, and 11% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar climbs 582 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar?
Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar starts from Croesor village car park (postcode LL48 6SR). The grid reference is SH 631 446. Croesor village car park (SH631446); the postcode is approximate
Is Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar 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 Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar today?
By 13:22 at the latest. Sunset on Ysgafell Wen North Top today is 18:12, Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar takes about 3h 50m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Gelli Iago via Llyn yr Adar?
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.