CARNEDDAU
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 11.78 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,684 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 3,684 ft
- Max elevation
- 3,505 ft
- TrailRank
- 39
- Min elevation
- 986 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 6 hours 42 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2188
- Uploaded
- September 27, 2015
- Recorded
- September 2015
near Pont Pen - y - benglog, Wales (United Kingdom)
Viewed 996 times, downloaded 33 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
The traditional circuit of the southern Carneddau, with an out-and-back to the shapely Yr Elen tacked on.
Starting from the long lay-by beside the A5, the route first ascends Pen Yr Ole Wen by its east ridge (short section of very simple scrambling) before circling round and up to Carnedd Dafydd. From Dafydd, head off along the top of Ysgolion Duon (the Black Ladders cliffs) towards Carnedd Llewelyn but before reaching the final summit pull, head off left across its flanks towards the col below Yr Elen (faint path, vague in places but just keep heading in the same general direction).
A quick visit to Yr Elen's top is followed by a return to the col and a climb up the blunt ridge to Llewelyn's summit plateau. From the summit shelter at the east edge of the plateau, head down east past a large cairn and follow the good path across to the top of Craig yr Ysfa, then carefully climb down to the pass of Bwlch Eryl Farchog (some more easy scrambling but can look daunting from above. Easiest way down is generally on the left side).
Head across the pass and scramble (easy but loose in places) up the other side to the top of Pen yr Helgi Du. Then enjoy a carefree romp down the easy, grassy south ridge (Y Braich) before following the leet to the reservoir access road, which is then followed back to the A5.
Depending on where you parked, you can avoid a section of road walking by taking the 'old road' between the two Gwern Gof campsites.
Starting from the long lay-by beside the A5, the route first ascends Pen Yr Ole Wen by its east ridge (short section of very simple scrambling) before circling round and up to Carnedd Dafydd. From Dafydd, head off along the top of Ysgolion Duon (the Black Ladders cliffs) towards Carnedd Llewelyn but before reaching the final summit pull, head off left across its flanks towards the col below Yr Elen (faint path, vague in places but just keep heading in the same general direction).
A quick visit to Yr Elen's top is followed by a return to the col and a climb up the blunt ridge to Llewelyn's summit plateau. From the summit shelter at the east edge of the plateau, head down east past a large cairn and follow the good path across to the top of Craig yr Ysfa, then carefully climb down to the pass of Bwlch Eryl Farchog (some more easy scrambling but can look daunting from above. Easiest way down is generally on the left side).
Head across the pass and scramble (easy but loose in places) up the other side to the top of Pen yr Helgi Du. Then enjoy a carefree romp down the easy, grassy south ridge (Y Braich) before following the leet to the reservoir access road, which is then followed back to the A5.
Depending on where you parked, you can avoid a section of road walking by taking the 'old road' between the two Gwern Gof campsites.
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