Carneddau Traverse – Conwy to Capel Curig
Route Summary:
Epic route along the Carneddau.
Distance |
Ascent |
Time |
29.4 km | 1662 m | 12 hours |
Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.
Start and Finish: Conwy to Capel Curig
Facilities:
Cafe at Aber and Trefriw. Shop in Trefriw
Check out the businesses nearby for more places to stay and drink.
Hazards:
Navigation on pathless sections and high Carneddau. Some difficult downclimbing with packs.
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.
Public Transport:
Sherpa Buses to Llanberis and Betws y Coed.
Traveline for UK Public TransportParking and Post Code for Sat Nav (where applicable):Â
Weather Forecast:
Met Office Snowdonia Mountain Weather
Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
 Guidebooks:
Summits on this Route
- Carnedd Llewelyn (1064 metres)
- Foel Grach (976 metres)
- Foel-fras (Carneddau) (942 metres)
- Garnedd Uchaf (Carnedd Gwenllian) (926 metres)
- Pen yr Helgi Du (833 metres)
- Pen Llithrig y Wrach (799 metres)
- Drum (770 metres)
- Carnedd y Ddelw (688 metres)
- Clogwyn Llech Lefn [Bwlch y Tri Marchog Top] (637 metres)
- Tal y Fan (610 metres)
Places Nearby
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The Carneddau11.7km
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Dulyn Bothy13.2km
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Afon Rhaeadr Fach13.8km
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Bera Mawr Wild Camp14.3km
Routes Nearby
Accommodation Nearby:Â
Campsites Nearby:
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Gwern Gôf Isaf Campsite19.8km
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Dol Gam Campsite and B&B20.8km
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Llyn Gwynant Campsite28.4km
Pubs and Cafes Nearby:Â
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The Royal Oak Hotel21.8km
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Pen y Gwryd Hotel25.0km
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Mallorys YHA, Pen y Pass25.6km
Other Businesses Nearby:Â
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The Royal Oak Hotel21.8km
-
Breese Adventures24.2km
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Pen y Gwryd Hotel25.0km
Carneddau Traverse – Conwy to Capel Curig Details
Walk the Carneddau in one go – if you’re up to the challenge!
There’s nothing more satisfying than a decent traverse of an entire mountain range. This walk takes you loosely from Conwy over the Carneddau and down to Capel Curig and can be an ideal wild camping trip. Why not extend your trip by returning via the Eryri Way and a tough but doable 30k day?
Navigation can be tricky in some places, and you’ll certainly need to be able to take and walk on a bearing if the mists come down.
All in all, a satisfying day or two in the hills!
The RouteÂ
Starts off just outside the walled town at a railway crossing bridge on the A547 Bangor road opposite Ysgol Aberconwy (streetview link – note that there are houses here now!). This route is easily followed up Conwy Mountain, past the hill fort and onward to Pen y Sychnant.
Follow this route to Tal y Fan, though you can easily take a direct route up the grassy slopes rather than following the path at SH736 735 before continuing onwards to Foel Lwyd and descending the wall to Bwlch y Ddeufaen. Alternatively, you can descend from Tal y Fan to Bwlch y Ddeufaen directly, but is slightly longer.
Ascend the steep grassy slope up Drum by following the path on the western side of the wall. This provides a quick, if inelegant approach to the hills and you’re soon atop the ridge. The path from here is clear and you can follow the fence over Carnedd y Ddelw or lazily contour to the right and to Drum.
The fence continues to provide a foolproof route as you cross a wide boggy col and ascend the whaleback of Foel Fras. There’s a handy wall here, so if it’s blowing  a hoolie, you can usually get respite by crossing the wall.
The next section may need some compass work as the wall ends. The path is clear enough to follow, but any sort of lapse in concentration and you can easily lose it in mist so best take a bearing at this point. In clear weather there should be no problem!
Once at Garnedd Uchaf, you can follow this route over Carnedd Llewelyn and Pen Lithrig before rejoining us at Bwlch y Tri Marchog.
Follow this route now in reverse by slogging up the final ascent of the day to the summit of Pen Llithrig y Wrach and steady descent to Capel Curig.