Home » Routes » Europe » Wales » Snowdonia National Park » The Meirionnydd Round

The Meirionnydd Round

By Dave Roberts   

on January 4, 2015    No ratings yet.

Posted as a walk in – Europe, Snowdonia National Park, Wales

The Meirionnydd Round

Route Essentials

Route Summary

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

Distance

124.57 km

Ascent

6352 m

Time

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

Start Location

Difficulty

Hazards

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. 

The Meirionnydd Round Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

The Meirionnydd Round

If the Paddy Buckley Round isn’t sufficient Snowdonia for your challenge, then there is one other that’s tougher in terms of statistics but by virtue of geography poses as much of a problem of route finding as it does physically.

The Meirionnydd Round was devised by Yiannis Tridimas in 1993, and covers most of the significant peaks in the old county of Meirionnydd in a distance of 120km and ascent of 7000m depending on whether you take the hillwalker’s line or the fell runner’s seemingly pell-mell direct line. Similar to the PBR in the north of Snowdonia, 24 hours is merely a guide as to how long the route could take, rather than a cut-off point to failure. When Yiannis first ran the route in 1998, he took 23hrs 32 minutes and actually cut one dog leg to Maesglase out due to time constraints.

idris_100

There are plenty of support stops on the way, dividing the route into five natural but certainly unequal parts. The first section over Cadair Idris is probably on of the easiest as regard terrain, with a semblance of a path to start with and reasonably easy going hills to finish the descent. However, the next section is enough of a challenge over two days for most, with a complete traverse of the Rhinogydd.

rhinogfach

Considering that’s the toughest terrain south of Knoydart, and even that’s a close run thing, you’d be forgiven for thinking it can’t get much worse? Well the next leg across the Arenig hills is remote, wild and with hardly a path to be seen. Throw a mountain bike into the mix and you could get the world’s first bog snorkelling triathlon completed instead. You’ll be glad of the relative solidity of the mighty Aran ridge, with Aran Fawddwy being the highest point on the route at 905m.

arenig_llyfnant_119Thankfully, the final section across Cribin Fawr and Waun-oer is short and comparatively straightforward, though tackling anything after running 100km isn’t exactly easy!

Maesglase_620_18

Of course, this naturally lends itself as a multi-day backpacking trip, though one that would be best savoured over a week owing to the toughness of the conditions underfoot. It would allow for some truly wild wild camping in the Rhinogydd and Arenig areas, and memorable spots along the whole route.

north_rhinogydd_063

An account of Yiannis Tridimas’ inaugural Meirionnydd Round can be found here.

And for a downloadable schedule as well as details of how to register a completion – http://www.gofar.org.uk/MeirionnyddRound.html

NOTE – Route given is just for information only. Part of the challenge is working out the route to be taken!

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

This walk includes the 4 Washis of Arenig Fawr, Rhobell Fawr, Rhinog Fawr, Cadair Idris – Penygadair

This walk includes the 4 Hewitts of Arenig Fawr, Rhobell Fawr, Rhinog Fawr, Cadair Idris – Penygadair

This walk includes the 4 Nuttalls of Arenig Fawr, Rhobell Fawr, Rhinog Fawr, Cadair Idris – Penygadair

Route Start Location:

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
124.57 km 6352 m

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

Activivity Type: 

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Check out the businesses nearby for more places to stay and drink.

Hazards

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 Transport:

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

Please rate this

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

Leave a Reply