Welsh 3000S RD

QMD Walks

Relevant Maps include: OS OL17 (1:25); OS LR 115 (1:50); Harvey Snowdonia North (1:40); Harvey Snowdonia North Superwalker XT25 (1:25)

Distance: c. 28 miles; ascent c. 3800m (officially given on some sites as 4500m)

Going: Demanding. Some rough ground. PRoW and FPs not always clear. Route finding necessary. Some steep and slippery ground. River crossings may be tricky in spate.

1. From Pen y Pass follow Pyg Track to Crib Goch (ascent) SH625552.

2. From Crib Goch continue to Garnedd Ugain (ascent) SH611551. BL after Garnedd Ugain and summit Snowdon SH609543. From Snowdon retrace steps past Garnedd Ugain on main FP to Clogwyn Station. From Clogwyn Station follow railway line to skirt around Llechog. Where railway line does a BL leave railway line and continue CB 325 along ridge line to 610m ring contour (descent) SH601574.

3. At 610 cross fence and descend c. CB 085. The path is on the LHS and bends around to the right just below the crag and the small boulder field. When around half to two thirds of way down look to BL CB 035. There is a flat place that is a little boggy. You are aiming to cross this flat place on roughly the middle line and that will place you almost directly above the stile over the wall. Continue down to stile over wall. Cross wall and continue on to FP and TL along FP. Follow FP to bridge over river into Nant Peris.

4. Follow FP to church in Nant Peris. Cross road and TL. Take the first road almost immediately on the Right SH606588. Follow road and BL with road to reach FP (ascent). Follow FP up to OA and river with remains of bridge

SH608595. Cross bridge and follow path CB 012 up Elidir Fawr (big ascent) SH611613.

5. From Elidir Fawr follow FP to Bwlch y Marchlyn (descent), Bwlch y Brecan, skirt below Foel Goch via Bwlch y Cywion, ascend Y Garn (three or four false summits on Y Garn) SH630595.

6. From Y Garn follow FP to Llyn y Cwn (descent), ascend Glyder Fawr SH642579 (NOTE: CB 140 at top of scree slope and then BL back up to Glyder Fawr). From Glyder Fawr follow FP to Castell y Gwynt CB 075, SH654581, then Glyder Fach SH656583. Make sure you stay on the FP to the left of Glyder Fach.

From Glyder Fach descend scree slope CB 045 and ascend Tryan CB 025, SH664593. Stay on main path up Tryfan. From Tryfan descend West Gully, SH663594. (West Gully runs at CB 285). EITHER 100m at 10-to12 from summit through small gap and short down scramble (three to four steps) into west gully OR continue 50-80m CB 020 to saddle and TL CB 270 into West Gully.

7. At foot of West gully EITHER continue with main FP and follow to road. At road TL and follow road to Idwal Cottage. At Idwal Cottage cross road and follow FP sign up main path to ascend Pen yr Ole Wen. OR (NOT RECCOMENDED UNLESS YOU ARE A MOUNTAIN GOAT) at road TR CB 365 alongside rock face but c. 20m from actual rock face and to the right of rocky outcrop, to descend Tryfan Dash route (clear path) to road, SH662595. Easiest route is inside small gully/stream bed to the LHS. Cross road the TR. After end of Llyn Ogwen TL up track/FP, SH668605. Continue on CB 355 to

3 wall at base of Pen yr Olen then BL CB 280 and follow path up Pen yr Ole Wen (ascent), SH663617.

8. At Pen yr Ole Wen, SH655619, follow FP CB 025 to Carnedd Dafydd (ascent) SH662630. Continue with FP along ridge and descend into Bwlch Cyfryw-Drum. From Bwlch Cyfryw-Drum ascend Carnedd Llewelyn SH683643. From Carnedd Llewelyn TL and follow FP to Yr Elen (descent then ascent) SH673651. Retrace steps from Yr Elen (descent then ascent) but at 1010-1020 contour around SH679645 BL on well marked FP keeping drop on LHS and cut corner CB 070 to join main path from Carnedd Llewelyn CB at 1000m. (ALTERNATIVE; NOT RECOMMENDED: As come off spur to flat place in Bwlch Cyfryw-Drum and prior to next ascent TL CB 320, SH682637, on faint path to Yr Elen (ascent) c. 910m-940m contour. Crosses quite a few boulder fields and path not always clear. When path reaches the saddle TL and continue on to Yr Elen (ascent). From Yr Elen retrace steps but stay on ridge CB 120 to Carnedd Llewelyn (ascent)).

9. Follow FP CB 018 to Foel Grach (desent then ascent) SH688658. From Foel Grach follow FP CB 355 to Carnedd Gwenllian (descent then ascent) SH687669. From Carnedd Gwenllian follow FP CB 035 to Foel Fras (descent then ascent) SH696681.

10. From Foel Fras follow FP CB 040 to Drum (descent then ascent) and continue to pile of stones on 665 (descent. NOTE continue past pile of stones on 688). TR, SH705708, CB 030 along fence line and descend to Roman Road SH712718. TR along Roman road to CP SH720715.