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Walk up Cader Idris from Dolgellau

By Dave Roberts   

on February 18, 2023    5/5 (2)

Posted as a walk in – Cader Idris and Nearby Hills, Europe, Ridge Walks in Snowdonia, Snowdonia National Park, Wales

Walk up Cader Idris from Dolgellau

Route Essentials

Route Summary

This is a long approach to Cader Idris from Dolgellau along a quiet ridge offering stupendous views of Cader’s northern cliffs and returning to Dolgellau along the picturesque Mawddach Trail.

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

24.23 km

Ascent

972 m

Time

10 hours plus

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Dolgellau

Difficulty

Strenuous Walk

Hazards

This is a long route and some good navigation is required, especially along the pathless approach to Gau Graig.

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Snowdonia Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Walk up Cader Idris from Dolgellau Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Walk up Cader Idris from Dolgellau

This route finds a quiet ascent up Cader Idris from Dolgellau, ideally suited to a 2 day trip, before returning along the pleasant and easy Mawddach Trail. It also makes a manageable day walk from Dolgellau by cutting out the Mawddach Trail and descending directly from Ty Nant to Dolgellau via Llyn Gwernan at around 18km.

Cader Idris may not be the tallest mountain in the area, though it is often falsely thought to be, it is certainly the most popular mountain in Southern Snowdonia and for good reason. This approach up Cader Idris from Dolgellau up to Gau Graig allows you to walk the entire summit ridge, something that most people will miss out while walking the usual Minffordd Path. 

Walk up Cader Idris from Dolgellau Route Description

1 The walk starts in the Square in Dolgellau (from wherever you arrive!) and you need to walk in an Easterly direction, out of the town centre. You will pass a fire station on the left, and cross over a river before you arrive at a road junction indicating “Tabor”. Follow this road, ignoring the first junction to the left and keep right. To the left is a forest with a river flowing through it.

2 Continue up the hill, and you will need to turn to the left past a phone to stay on the right track, which eventually takes you up to the track. Follow the right of way ahead, and take the clear path initially across fields, and then follow towards the skyline in the second field.

The path here is clear, but will lead you over the ridge and down into the next valley. There is an obvious path leading right across the moorland, crossing some boggy sections. Follow this as far as the stile at SH 745 152, where you should now follow the wall up. There is a faint path along the path, but this often disappears. You may find you need to walk away from the wall to avoid obstacles too. The summit to the right that dominates the skyline is Mynydd Moel, and Penygadair (the name for Cader Idris’ summit) is visible to the right.

3 By the top of Gau Graig, the path is much more obvious, and you can cross to this summit by a stile that lies past the summit to your left. The path now carries on along the broad and boggy ridge towards Mynydd Moel. Some bits have boards to help crossing, and you definitely need them! The path follows the fence to the right, but there is also a path to the opposite side. By the time you reach the end of the plateau, you will need to be on the right (north) side of the fence.

4 Follow the path over a wide, grassy ridge, before the slope steepens and the path becomes scree and difficult going. It is only a short difficult section, before it levels out and you are on top of Mynydd Moel. The summit feels quite airy as you are close to the sheer northern cliffs, and there is a platform stretching out into the void that brave or foolhardy summiteers can wander over.

5 Penygadair is now easily reached across the wide plateau area. There is a trig point on top, and there are steps for the milder walker to reach this on the right as you approach. Failing that, clamber over. Views from here are extensive, with Snowdon and the Mid Wales hills being visible. To the north, you can see the summit shelter. This is an insalubrious stone building, rather damp inside, but I’d imagine a godsend in an emergency. Just past this you can peer over the cliffs to Llyn y Gadair below, or across to the serrated arete of Cyfrwy. Tonight we were to camp by this lake, and it turned out to be an excellent wild camp location. Continue now past the shelter, and past an other ruined building (you can see a fireplace), and keep initially to the right to take the Pony Path down. It is a rocky and eroded. but easy, path.

6 Follow the cairns, and you can ascend the peak of Cyfrwy if you want. We didn’t and wanted to get down to our wild camp as soon as possible. The path leads quickly to the col, where you cross a stile to the right to start the descent. If you wish to wild camp, then continue right off the path, finding a faint path that leads to Llyn y Gadair. There are only a few suitable pitches here, but it is surely one of the most impressive amphitheatres to spend the night.

7 Follow the pony path now, which is initially steep, but eases to become an easy descent to the car park and toilets at SH 697 152. If you want to shorten the walk, then follow the minor road to the East, and it returns you to Dolgellau in less than an hour and is a beautiful walk past Llyn Gwernan (and a pint to keep your spirits up!). To extend the day, follow the bridleway that starts behind the toilets. Keep an eye out for the blue arrows that indicate the bridleway, or stones painted with “Path”. The bridleway takes you past the farm of Tyddyn Evan, and through some enjoyable partly-wooded countryside. Our target today was the Youth Hostel at Kings.

8 You will, if you follow the signs, pass a ruined cottage, cross a stream, past a sign that points down to Kings. Follow the track down to Kings, and then the minor road as far as the main road. The road follows the river, and you will be following this to the sea now. Once at the main road, turn left, and directly across the road there is a narrow road leading along the river. Follow this past some redwoods, and to the wall before the caravan site.

9 Turn left, and you find yourself on a wide track along the river. The navigation should be easy now. This takes you through some wetlands and to the estuary, where you find the Penmaenpool to Mawddach walk. It’s the route of an old railway, and takes you directly to the centre of Dolgellau. Make sure you stop in the George III for a pint on the way though!

The walk up Cader Idris from Dolgellau isn’t the only route up this iconic mounthain.  See them all on our All the Walking Routes up Cader Idris article.

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

This is a long approach to Cader Idris from Dolgellau along a quiet ridge offering stupendous views of Cader’s northern cliffs and returning to Dolgellau along the picturesque Mawddach Trail.

This walk includes the 2 Washis of Cadair Idris – Penygadair, Mynydd Moel

This walk includes the 4 Hewitts of Cadair Idris – Penygadair, Mynydd Moel, Cyfrwy, Gau Graig

This walk includes the 4 Nuttalls of Cadair Idris – Penygadair, Mynydd Moel, Cyfrwy, Gau Graig

Route Start Location: Dolgellau

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
24.23 km 972 m 10 hours plus

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Strenuous Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

All local facilities can be found in Dolgellau. The Gwernan Lake Hotel is a short detour off the walk, and the George III in Penmaenpool is conveniently placed near the walk’s end.

Hazards

This is a long route and some good navigation is required, especially along the pathless approach to Gau Graig.

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking :

Public car parks in Dolgellau.

Public Transport:

Dolgellau is well served by local bus routes from Machynlleth, Bala and the north. There are railway stations at Abermaw and Machynlleth.

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Snowdonia Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

More Posts by Dave Roberts

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