Moel y Dyniewyd Walk From Beddgelert
By Dave Roberts
on August 23, 2014 No ratings yet.
Posted as a walk in – Best Walks in the Moelwynion, Europe, Low Level and Easier Walks in Snowdonia, Snowdonia National Park, The Moelwynion, Wales
Moel y Dyniewyd Walk From Beddgelert
Route Essentials
Route Summary
Surprisingly rewarding walk to a minor summit with exceptional views towards Snowdon and the Moelwynion
See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.
Distance
10.7 kmAscent
481 mTime
3 hoursCalculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.
Start Location
Beddgelert, but can also be started from Nantmor or Llyn Dinas
Difficulty
Moderate Walk
Hazards
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.
Moel y Dyniewyd Walk From Beddgelert Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download
Moel y Dyniewyd Walk From Beddgelert
Nestling between the popular peaks of Yr Wyddfa, Moel Hebog and Cnicht is an area of rough, lower ground that other than a few choice paths, is rarely visited.
Directly below Cnicht there’s Yr Arddu, a wild rocky terrain with the twin rocky lakes of Llynnoedd Cerrig y Myllt and Llyn yr Arddu being among some of the more beautiful in the park.
To the north is Moel y Dyniewyd, a marilyn at 382 m, but even if it is half the height of all the surrounding mountains, it’s easily as tough to get to the top!
The Route
Starting from Beddgelert, at the bridge in the village centre, make sure you’re the opposite side of the river to Llewelyn arms and follow the quiet road past some cafes and crafty shops to the bridge over the Afon Glaslyn (at he confluence of the Colwyn and Glaslyn). Turn right and the path is unmissable alongside the river, being virtually a road. This is very busy in the tourist season.
You soon cross the WHR, and soon after this the path narrows and gets a little more interesting. The fisherman’s path is a rough scramble alongside the Aberglaslyn Gorge, though very easy with metal handholds and wooden steps on the more tricky sections. If you did the route from Llyn Dinas, then you’d miss out this section completely, which is one of the best parts!
Just beyond this, the path starts to climb steeply for a short distance uphill to the left above the main road. Follow the path as far as the WHR (again) and at this point you have to descend right to the Cwm Bychan car park and toilets, cross under the railway and pass through a picnic area before rejoining the path.
You climb steeply initially, but it soon steadies off, up into Cwm Bychan and past old mine workings, including the supports for the aerial wirethings. This was once a copper mining area and you can visit the Sygyn Copper Mine attraction on the retutn leg of this trip if you wished.
The valley divides after the final pylon, but you need to keep to the right, and soon arrive at a stile over a wall. Be prepared at this point to stop for a while as the view from this point is just stunning.
A faint path can be seen to the right, and vaguely follows the fence. The dog leg to Moel y Dyniewyd is hardly challenging on paper, but is much harder than the rest of the route. I’d go as far as saying that this short section is very similar to the Rhinogydd to the south, and we know what reputation they have. So after clambering up, and then down, before a bit more ups and down, you’ll come to the final steep section to the summit alongside a barbed wire fence. With care, you’ll be at the summit in a matter of minutes.
If you thought the view from the previous bwlch was good, then this one is breathtaking. Heightwise, I’d rank it as one of the best in the Park as the view ranges from Hebog, Nantlle, Aran, Wyddfa, Crib Goch, Lliwedd, Glyderau, Siabod and the Moelwynion. Of course, you’ve also got the Rhinogydd across the wide Glaslyn estuary. You feel in the thick of it.
Reluctantly, you can return the way you came to the bwlch. The path continues to a fingerpost that helpfully points to Llyn Dinas. Alternatively, you can take one down directly to Sygyn.
The Llyn dinas path is straightforward, and at the lake, turn left along the river once more. The path joins a road for a while at the Sygyn Mine, and after this stretch of tarmac, the road crosses the river, but the path continues along the river through a shiny new gate. Within minutes you’ll be back at the start after a walk that’s a little more challenging than it at first appears!
Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks
Route Summary:
Surprisingly rewarding walk to a minor summit with exceptional views towards Snowdon and the Moelwynion
Route Start Location: Beddgelert, but can also be started from Nantmor or Llyn Dinas
Distance |
Ascent |
Time |
10.7 km | 481 m | 3 hours |
Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.
Activivity Type: Moderate Walk
Summits and Places on this Route
Facilities
Pubs and Cafes in Beddglert, toilet in Nantmor
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 :
Large car park in Beddglert.
Public Transport:
Sherpa buses from Caernarfon, Porthmadog and Pen y Pass. Welsh Highland Railway from Porthmadog and Caernarfon.
Weather Forecast:
Met Office Snowdonia Mountain Weather
Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?