Llechog & Moel Eilio - Thursday 27 September 2018
Route
Llanberis - Snowdon Mountain Railway - Halfway House - Llechog - Clogwyn Coch - Llyn Du'r Arddu - Bwlch Cwm Brwynog - Clogwen Llechwedd Llo - Moel Cynghorion - Bwlch Carreg y Gigfran - Bwlch Maesgwm - Foel Goch - Foel Gron - Bwlch Cwm Cesig - Bwlch Gwyn - Moel Eilio - Braich y Foel - Yr Aelgerth - Llanberis
Parking
Various Car Parks in Llanberis (Charge) - we parked in the Main Village Car Park opposite the Craft Centre on the A4086. The Grid Reference is SH 581601 and the postcode is LL55 4TA
Mileage
12.3 miles
Terrain
Well established mountain paths for the most part. The descent to Llyn Du'r Arddu below Clogwyn Coch is over loose stone in parts. From Llyn Du'r Arddu to Bwlch Cwm Brwynog the path becomes intermittent and is a bit of a boulder hop in part therefore care needs to be taken on this section.
Weather
Sunny with light breezes. Visibility was excellent.
Time Taken
7hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
4786ft (1459m)
Map
OL17 - Snowdon & Conwy Valley
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge with Lee & Karen James
Llanberis - Snowdon Mountain Railway - Halfway House - Llechog - Clogwyn Coch - Llyn Du'r Arddu - Bwlch Cwm Brwynog - Clogwen Llechwedd Llo - Moel Cynghorion - Bwlch Carreg y Gigfran - Bwlch Maesgwm - Foel Goch - Foel Gron - Bwlch Cwm Cesig - Bwlch Gwyn - Moel Eilio - Braich y Foel - Yr Aelgerth - Llanberis
Parking
Various Car Parks in Llanberis (Charge) - we parked in the Main Village Car Park opposite the Craft Centre on the A4086. The Grid Reference is SH 581601 and the postcode is LL55 4TA
Mileage
12.3 miles
Terrain
Well established mountain paths for the most part. The descent to Llyn Du'r Arddu below Clogwyn Coch is over loose stone in parts. From Llyn Du'r Arddu to Bwlch Cwm Brwynog the path becomes intermittent and is a bit of a boulder hop in part therefore care needs to be taken on this section.
Weather
Sunny with light breezes. Visibility was excellent.
Time Taken
7hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
4786ft (1459m)
Map
OL17 - Snowdon & Conwy Valley
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge with Lee & Karen James
GPX File
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Route Map
The start of the walk in Llanberis.
In the Summer months, Christmas, Easter & Half Terms it is advisable to get here early as the Car Parks fill up with people bound for Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa.
In the Summer months, Christmas, Easter & Half Terms it is advisable to get here early as the Car Parks fill up with people bound for Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa.
From the Car Park the route passes the Snowdon Railway and starts steeply on the popular main Snowdon path
Moel Eilio & our return route
Elidir Fawr & the disused inclines of the Dinorwig Quarry
Just follow the big stone sign (and everyone else!)
Foel Gron & Moel Eilio across Cwm Dwythwch with an appearance of the Snowdon Mountain Train
A panorama of our return route - Moel Cynghorion, Foel Goch, Foel Gron & Moel Eilio
Looking back to Llanberis & Llyn Padarn
Moel Cynghorion
Another view of our return route. We have been over the rollercoaster before but were looking forward to going again - it is a lovely walk.
With Lee having a welcome cuppa at the Halfway House
The Halfway House on the main Snowdon path from Llanberis
As height is gained the view of Moel Cynghorion just gets better
From the Halfway House it was nice to leave the main path of people and branch out on our own for Llechog
Llechog ahead as we cross the Snowdon Mountain Railway line
Once the line is crossed the railway can be handrailed almost to the summit of Llechog
Nant Peris down below with Elidir Fawr rising above the village
Another appearance by the choo-choo
Glyder Fawr across the Pass of Llanberis
Y Garn
Up on the summit ridge of Llechog looking down to Llyn Peris & across to Dinorwig & Elidir Fawr
Angie & Karen on Llechog with Elidir Fawr & Mynydd Perfedd providing the backdrop
Looking back on our route of ascent to Llechog.
The railway line snakes around back towards the Halfway House with the Moel Eilio Horseshoe behind and Clogwyn Mawr to the right.
The railway line snakes around back towards the Halfway House with the Moel Eilio Horseshoe behind and Clogwyn Mawr to the right.
The Pass of Llanberis from the summit of Llechog.
Glyder Fawr is to the left with Moel Siabod centre. The north ridge of Crib Goch rises majestically to the right.
Glyder Fawr is to the left with Moel Siabod centre. The north ridge of Crib Goch rises majestically to the right.
The summit of Llechog
The Llechog ridge looking to Garnedd Ugain & Clogwyn Mawr
We would now head back to the railway line and cross it again roughly where the train is now. From the crossing point we would then drop down to the main Llanberis/Snowdon path before shortly heading off to the right just west of Clogwyn Station.
We would now head back to the railway line and cross it again roughly where the train is now. From the crossing point we would then drop down to the main Llanberis/Snowdon path before shortly heading off to the right just west of Clogwyn Station.
Our rendezvous with the main Llanberis/Snowdon path - Clogwyn Du'r Arddu (translated as Dark, black cliff), is to the right. It is considered to be one of the best climbing cliffs in Britain and is affectionately known as "Cloggy" by mountain climbers.
Angie & Karen on the rough descent down to Clogwyn Du'r Arddu
"Cloggy" with Llyn Du'r Arddu below - the path continues around to the left of the Llyn
Angie had an appointment on Anglesey that afternoon therefore she would make her way back to the north in order to return to Llanberis via the main path coming down from Snowdon. Just before she left we had some cake with the Birthday Boy. We couldn't put any candles on the cake because - a) the cake was too small to house that many candles and b) even if it was big enough, the massive backdraft when he blew them out would have set fire to the hillside. The cake was lovely by the way once we persuaded him to cut it into four pieces and share it.
At the cake stop looking to Mynedd Mawr, Moel Cynghorion & Moel Eilio
On the path below Clogwyn Du'r Arddu - looking up it is easy to see why this north facing cliff is so highly regarded by serious climbers.
Clogwyn Station is just about visible as we head along the outlet of Llyn Du'r Arddu
Just look at that - rock climbing at its best
Whilst there is a path detailed on the 1:25 map it is not that apparent on the ground.
Care needs to be taken on this section from the Llyn to Bwlch Cwm Brwynog, particularly if the conditions are wet or icy.
Care needs to be taken on this section from the Llyn to Bwlch Cwm Brwynog, particularly if the conditions are wet or icy.
Another view of Moel Cynghorion.
We were looking forward to the lung busting climb that clearly lied ahead - even though we had done it once before.
We were looking forward to the lung busting climb that clearly lied ahead - even though we had done it once before.
Looking to Bwlch Cwm Brwynog & Mynydd Mawr (well someone is!)
Llyn Ffynnon-y-gwas looking to the western slopes of Snowdon.
Just below is the Snowdon Ranger path coming up from the eastern side of Llyn Cwellyn
Just below is the Snowdon Ranger path coming up from the eastern side of Llyn Cwellyn
The steep ascent to Moel Cynghorion from Bwlch Cwm Brwynog
This view of the ascent gives a better indication as to how steep it is.
Behind Karen is the Snowdon Ranger path with Garnedd Ugain to the left and Snowdon to the right in wispy cloud.
Behind Karen is the Snowdon Ranger path with Garnedd Ugain to the left and Snowdon to the right in wispy cloud.
Lee, Karen & Fudge on the summit of Moel Cynghorion
To the rear is a superb view of Y Garn & Glyder Fawr with Tryfan peeping out in the centre of shot.
To the rear is a superb view of Y Garn & Glyder Fawr with Tryfan peeping out in the centre of shot.
The rest of the rollercoaster of Foel Goch, Foel Gron & Moel Eilio - hard work but a fantastic walk
A brief respite from the up and down as we head along Bwlch Carreg y Gigran - a flat stretch on our way to Bwlch Maesgwm
Our next summit of Foel Goch
The path running below leads to Llanberis from Bwlch Maesgwm and is a decent escape route should you decide you have had enough by this point.
The path running below leads to Llanberis from Bwlch Maesgwm and is a decent escape route should you decide you have had enough by this point.
Bwlch Maesgwm and our route to Foel Goch
Moel Cynghorion from the ascent to Foel Goch
Lee is clearly feeling the effects of eating all that cake as we head to Foel Gron from Foel Goch
Llyn Dwythwch & Llanberis from Foel Gron
The summit of Foel Gron looking to a cloudy Moel Eilio - hope that misty stuff buggers off
Thankfully the cloud passed us by revealing a glorious panorama from near Moel Eilio
Just look at that view.
After crossing this ladder stile the summit of Moel Eilio is but a couple of hundred yards to the north.
After crossing this ladder stile the summit of Moel Eilio is but a couple of hundred yards to the north.
Caernarfon, The Menai Strait & Anglesey from the summit of Moel Eilio
The large stone shelter on the summit of Moel Eilio
Fudge is waiting for the command to leg it over the stile - either that or he is wondering if it is his tea time yet.
Fudge is waiting for the command to leg it over the stile - either that or he is wondering if it is his tea time yet.
The descent to Llanberis from Moel Eilio
Birthday Beers with Lee & Karen at probably the best pub in Llanberis
Nothing better than topping off a grand day out in Snowdonia than with a pint of real ale, even though I had to buy them - again!