Walk leader: Miles
Meet time: 8.30am
Start time: 9am
Estimated finish time: 4.30pm to 5pm.
Distance: About 11.6 miles (18.67 kilometres).
Ascent: About 3710 feet (1131 meters).
Ramblers walk grading: A (Strenuous).
Start point: Idwal Cottage YHA.
Postcode: LL57 3LZ
Car parking: There is a car park right next to Idwal Cottage YHA, and there are additional car parks by the lake of Llyn Ogwen. Strongly recommend parking up at 8am or even earlier! For those who have stayed over it may be best to car share so the group can meet up with fewer cars. Please contact the walk leader for more details about this.
It is the responsibility of each walker to make sure they understand where to park. If you are not sure where the car parking/meeting point is, you must contact the walk leader at the latest the day before the walk. You should not rely on mobile phones or postcodes. There is often no mobile reception near walk meeting points and postcodes are for the nearest place nearby but should only serve as a guideline. Please allow plenty of time to find a parking space so that walks can start promptly.
Description: Starting from Idwal Cottage YHA we cross the A5 and follow the Cambrian Way as it goes along the lake of Llyn Ogwen. Now we continue following the Cambrian Way to reach the first mountain of the day: Pen yr Ole Wen. This is a long ascent though since the Cambrian Way snakes around it blunts the steepness- mercifully!
The summit of Pen yr Ole Wen is 978 meters high, which is the same height as Scafell Pike. From here not only do most of the mountain tops of Snowdonia become visible, but so does the rest of the walk since, from the summit of Pen yr Ole Wen, this walk becomes a glorious stroll along the Cambrian Way as we follow the high ground — and not once going below 3000 feet — going to Carnedd Dafydd (1044 meters) and then the main mountain of the walk: Carnedd Llewelyn, 1064 meters, the third highest mountain of Wales.
These mountains are said to be quieter and not as popular as Snowdon and this is why I have chosen them for a bank holiday weekend. There are various escarpments and ridgelines that the Cambrian Way goes along and past, though thankfully the path sticks to descent ground.
For the way back we retrace our steps, heading in the direction of the Snowdon Masif, and continuing to enjoy the high ground which means returning to Carnedd Dafydd and then Pen yr Ole Wen. When we return to Pen yr Ole Wen we have a choice of either descending via the Cambrian Way or going straight down the (steep!) southern path back to the very bottom and Idwal Cottage YHA.
Please fill out the Registration Form to join by 10pm on Friday 22 May if you are coming on this walk. If this doesn’t work then please contact the walk leader, Miles, on 07842 783319 (text or phone, WhatsApp, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)). When you register online, I will reply within 24 hours.
Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing (waterproofs and spare warm clothing), footwear and enough food and water. The leader reserves the right to turn away any walker not suitably equipped. The leader may cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.
Car sharing may be possible – please contact the walk leader to arrange.
New members: please note the walk leader may ask for more information about your walking experience. This is to ensure you have the fitness required to complete the walk that is planned safely.
Attending? Please register your intent to join the walk using the booking form below before 6pm the eve of the walk.
Registration Form
One form entry per person please. Resubmit the form if registering additional persons.
You may also wish to consider carrying an ICE card. Available here: