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Dol Idris Walks – Pont Nant Cader Bridge and Taith y Ceunant Gorge Climb

By Dave Roberts   

on February 21, 2023    No ratings yet.

Posted as a walk in – Europe, Low Level and Easier Walks in Snowdonia, Snowdonia National Park, Wales

Dol Idris Walks – Pont Nant Cader Bridge and Taith y Ceunant Gorge Climb

Route Essentials

Route Summary

A Selection of easier walks at the foot of Cader Idris, varying from accessible parkland walks to a more challenging steep walk up the side of Cader

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

Distance

Various - from 0.6 to 2.3 km

Ascent

200m - though the lower walks ar flat

Time

1-2 hours

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

Start Location

Minffordd - Dol Idris Car Park

Difficulty

Easy Moderate Walk, Easy Walk

Hazards

The path up to the gorge and the bridge is steep in places and a real mountain path, in contrast to the parkland walk lower down

Weather Forecast:

Met Office 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. 

Dol Idris Walks – Pont Nant Cader Bridge and Taith y Ceunant Gorge Climb Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Dol Idris Walks – Pont Nant Cader Bridge and Taith y Ceunant Gorge Climb

Most visitors to Dôl Idris will be there to tackle the Minffordd and Mynydd Moel paths up Cader Idris, but there’s also a selection of easer Dôl Idris Walks.  The park is officially known as – “Dôl Idris parkland and Cadair Idris National Nature Reserve”

It’s worth paying a visit to the Cader Idris Visitor Centre and Tea Room that’s open on a seasonal basis, for refreshments and more information about the history, geography and legends of Cader Idris.

There are 4 waymarked routes that can be followed from here, which are more like two proper routes with a short and longer variation. The first, low level pair around the parkland is also accessible and has been classified as Access for All by the national park authority which means that it’s  suitable for Tramper style all-terrain mobility scooters. These are available free of charge by arrangement with the park – Tramper Hire.

There’s a downloadable leaflet of Dol Idris Walks on the ‘official’ site – but we no longer link to these resources as they all too often disappear without redirecting the webpage as is common practice, and you can see the information on this board below. 

Llyn Dôl Idris Lake (Waymarked Green) and the Parkland Circuit / Cylchdaith y Ddôl (Waymarked Purple) – Accessible Dol Idris Walks

There are two variations on this walk, the full Parkland Circuit / Cylchdaith y Ddôl at around 0.8km, and the short-cut around the lake which is slightly shorter at 0.6km. They are both classed as ‘easy’ by NRW, and would make an ideal family outing as you can add a loop or reduce the walk a little legs see fit. both routes have been classified as ‘accessible’ by the national park  and they state that the path is “suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs”.

You can see the map for this route on this following page – Dôl Idris Accessible Walk.

Taith y Ceunant – Gorge Climb

This walk, and the extension to Pont Nant Cader Bridge,  is a totally different proposition to the easier parkland walks. This is a short, but steep pull along a mountain path alongside the cascading Nant Cader through the ‘Celtic Rainforest’. 

Pont Nant Cader Bridge

Those who want a bit more of a workout can continue upwards for about half a kilometre towards the bridge over the Nant Gader, which is just a wooden footbridge, that marks the junction between the Minffordd and Mynydd Moel Paths.  

You’ve done the hard work, and if you’ve still got the fuel in the tank then you can plod on for 20 more minutes to Llyn Cau which really is a stunning location and makes the effort worthwhile.

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

A Selection of easier walks at the foot of Cader Idris, varying from accessible parkland walks to a more challenging steep walk up the side of Cader

Route Start Location: Minffordd - Dol Idris Car Park

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
Various - from 0.6 to 2.3 km 200m - though the lower walks ar flat 1-2 hours

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

Activivity Type: Easy Moderate Walk, Easy Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Toilets available in the car park and there’s the Cader Idris Visitor Centre and Tea Room that’s open on a seasonal basis.

The Gwesty Minffordd Hotel can be conveniently found next door to the car park and provides accommodation, a bar and a restaurant including breakfasts.

Hazards

The path up to the gorge and the bridge is steep in places and a real mountain path, in contrast to the parkland walk lower down

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 :

Parking is contactless only – no cash.

Daily rate (up to midnight): £6.00

Rate up to 4 hours: £3.00

Public Transport:

Trawscambria T2 from Machynlleth or Dolgellau (actually starting from Bangor) but only a handful daily.

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Met Office 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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