Carneddau Horseshoe Plus

QMD Walks

Relevant OS Maps include: OS Explorer OL17 (1:25), OS Landranger 115 (1:50), Harvey North Snowdonia Superwalker (1:25), Harvey Snowdonia North XT40 (1:40).

Distance: c. 11 miles

Going: Demanding. Some rough ground. PRoW and FPs not always clear. Route finding necessary. Some boulder fields and steep ground. Some Grade 1 scrambles available

1. Start at Llyn Ogwen SH661604. For this route suggest parking on East end of Llyn and even in the layby near Gwern Gof Isaf SH685602 or the layby near Gwern Gof Uchaf SH672605. Cross the road. Pick up PRoW at top of Llyn near Glan Dena SH668605. Follow PRoW to pick up FP on CB 355. NOTE: numerous little FPs here so stay on CB to find the right one.

2. Follow FP towards Clogwyn Mawr and as you approach look to BL on rough CB 280 at aaround wall/fence JNCT SH666617 towards crags. Again, there are a number of FPs and this is OA so look for clear FP on the rough bearing.

3. As you approach crags there is a FP leading up to a grade 1 scramble rough CB 280. This becomes a good FP once you get past the scramble and takes you up to the summit of Pen Yr Ole Wen SH655619.

4. From summit follow FP CB 305 for c. 100m then CB 035 to Carnedd Fach SH658626, Carnedd Dafydd, SH662630, CB 050, along Cefn Ysgolion Dduon CB 080, and past Bwlch Cyfryw Drum to Carnedd Llewellyn SH683644, rough CB 025. NOTE: From Carnedd Dafydd the path runs close to the edge to avoid boggy ground. There is a boulder field after c. 1000m and the path runs ‘below’ the boulder field and can be boggy.

5. From Carnedd Llewellyn follow the FP to the cairn SH689641, CB 105, then down Penywaun-wen to Bwlch Eryl Farchog and up to Pen Yr Helgi Ddu SH698630, rough CB 145 (some short grade 1 available).

6. From Pen Yr Helgi Ddu follow FP across Y Lasallt to 637m ring contour SH708626, CB 105. From 637 ascend Pen Llithrig y Wrach SH716623, CB 120. From summit descend to FB over watercourse and track SH704615, CB 235. Follow watercourse to pick up FP at FB SH700607, rough CB 230. Follow FP to JNCT with PRoW SH693602, CB 235. Follow PRoW to road. Cross over. Pick up PRoW on far side of

1 road and follow to JNCT with big PRoW and TR. Follow PRoW and take FP back down to road near car. FP at SH685602 to get back to road near Gwern Gof Isaf and FP at SH672603 to get back to road near Gwern Gof Uchaf. NOTE: these last two FPs are not PRoW nor are they on OA so please respect landowners.

Glossary BL - Bear Left BR - Bear Right CB - Compass Bearing FB – Footbridge FP - Footpath. Usually marked on 1:25 but not on 1:50 JNCT - Junction (paths/tracks cross/join) OA – Open Access PRoW - Public Right of Way. Usually marked on 1:25 and 1:50 Quad bike track - Two parallel lines going across the fell made by continued use by quad bike RHS – Right hand side LHS – Left hand side TL - Turn Left TR - Turn Right Track - A wide track that looks suitably for 4x4 vehicles