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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 km

Ascent

481 m

Time

3 hours

Calculate 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

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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