Route Summary:
One of the toughest walks in Snowdonia – exceptionally difficult to finish in one day.
| Distance | Ascent | Time |
| 30.4 km | 1471 m | 12 hours or more |
Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.
Start and Finish: Trawsfynydd to Bontddu or Barmouth
Facilities:
Pub and shop at start. All facilities if you choose to end the walk at Barmouth (recommended!)
Hazards:
Just about everything. Tough navigation, vertical sheer drops that appear from nowhere and sections of down scrambling. Where isn’t rock , you might well find bogs. However, it’s a rewarding route that should be on every hill walker’s wish list.
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:
Buses to the start and from the end to Dolgellau. You can catch a bus from the end to Trawsfynydd, but you’ll need to change in Dolgellau. Alternatively, you can use a bus from Porthmadog to Trawsfynydd and return by train to Porthmadog. Completing the route by public transport is probably the best option and easy enough if you’re camping overnight.
Traveline for UK Public TransportParking and Post Code for Sat Nav (where applicable):
Weather Forecast:
Met Office Snowdonia Mountain Weather
Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Recommended Maps: 
Guidebooks:
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Summits and Places on this Route
- Foel Penolau (614 metres)
- Moel Morwynion (518.4 metres)
- Craig Wion (565.6 metres)
- Craig y Grut (Llawlech) (589 metres)
- Clip (595 metres)
- Craig Ddrwg (596 metres)
- Moel Ysgyfarnogod (623 metres)
- Rhinog Fach (712 metres)
- Rhinog Fawr (720 metres)
- Diffwys (750 metres)
Places Nearby
- Snowdonia National Park - 3.7km
- Rhinogydd Moel Ysgyfarnogod Wild Camp - 4.9km
- Llyn Du (Craig Drwg) Wild Camp - 5.2km
- Llyn Twr Glas Wild Camp - 5.3km
- Llyn Morwynion Wild Camp - 7.1km
Routes Nearby
- Moel Ysgyfarnogod from Trawsfynydd. - 0.2km
- Moel Ysgyfarnogod and Craig Drwg from Trawsfynydd. - 0.2km
- Trawsfynydd to Gellilydan Local Cycle Route - 0.2km
- Craig Wion from Trawsfynydd - 0.2km
- Across the Rhinogydd – Rhinog Fawr and Llyn Du. - 1.6km
- Tomen y Mur Walk - 3.3km
- On the Edge of Yr Arenig – Mynydd Maentwrog and Graig Wen - 3.3km
- Roughing it over Moel Oernant - 4.3km
Accommodation Nearby:
- Snowdonia Cabin - 3.8km
- Nook Snowdonia - 16.0km
- Summit to Savour - 17.3km
- Llyn Gwynant Campsite - 17.7km
- Pen y Gwryd Hotel - 20.6km
Campsites Nearby:
- Llyn Gwynant Campsite - 17.7km
- Your Snowdonia Business Here for free? - 20.6km
- Dol Gam Campsite and B&B - 22.1km
- Gwern Gôf Uchaf Campsite - 24.8km
- Gwern Gôf Isaf Campsite - 24.8km
Pubs and Cafes Nearby:
- Pen y Gwryd Hotel - 20.6km
- Your Snowdonia Business Here for free? - 20.6km
- Mallorys YHA, Pen y Pass - 20.9km
- The Royal Oak Hotel - 22.5km
- Tŷ Te Cadair Tea Room - 24.2km
Other Businesses Nearby:
- Snowdonia Cabin - 3.8km
- Summit to Savour - 17.3km
- Breese Adventures - 20.3km
- Pen y Gwryd Hotel - 20.6km
- Your Snowdonia Business Here for free? - 20.6km
If you don’t think any of the Rhinogydd routes are sufficiently challenging, then this one might be!
Featured in a Mud and Routes article on the most challenging Snowdonia Walks, this is a composite route from our other Rhinogydd walks.
You’ll need excellent navigational skills to complete this route, not to mention a decent level of fitness. The best way to complete this is by wild camping and you’ll find any of the small lakes will have a half decent spot, not to mention one or two with what’s approaching the perfect spot!
OS Map Required Explorer 018, Landranger 124, BMC Snowdonia South
The Route This is a composite route and you’ll need to follow the following routes to complete this!
Start off from Trawsfynydd on this route as far as Llyn Pryfed.
Continue across the badlands and the summit of Rhinog Fawr via this one.
Cross from Rhinog Fawr by descending roughly in an easterly direction, following the rather faint path. If you’re lucky, you’ll end up in Bwlch Drws Ardudwy, but an alternative path leads to some tricky down scrambling. Either way, you need to navigate your own way off as the route is far from clear.
From Bwlch Drws Ardudwy, a path leads straight up Rhinog Fach. Don’t be tempted to look at the map and contour left looking for an easier route as there isn’t one. The only alternative is to ascend via Cwm Hosan and either up from there or Llyn Hywel.
From the summit of Rhinog Fach, this route takes you as far as the old coach road. You could continue along that route and finish on the west coast, or finish off by following the coach road down to Bontddu instead.
