Moel Cynghorion, Foel Goch, Foel Gron & Moel Eilio -
Thursday 4 December 2014
Route
Snowdon Ranger - Bwlch Cwm Brwynog - Moel Cynghorion - Bwlch Carreg y Gigfran - Bwlch Maesgwm - Foel Goch - Foel Gron - Moel Eilio - Bwlch Maesgwm - Snowdon Ranger
Parking
Llyn Cwellyn Car Park, off the A4085 (Charge) - Grid Ref SH564551
Mileage
9 miles
Terrain
The Snowdon Ranger Path, one of the main routes up Snowdon is followed for a fair bit of this walk, both on the outward route and return journey. From Bwlch Cwm Brwynog until arriving at Bwlch Maesgwm on the return route, the path is mainly on grass. Our return to Bwlch Maesgwm from Bwlch Cwm Cesig was on an intermittent path but we hand railed a wall for most of the way.
Weather
Overcast yet dry.
Time Taken
5hrs 40mins
Total Ascent
3359ft (1024m)
Map
OL17 - Snowdon & Conwy Valley
Snowdon Ranger - Bwlch Cwm Brwynog - Moel Cynghorion - Bwlch Carreg y Gigfran - Bwlch Maesgwm - Foel Goch - Foel Gron - Moel Eilio - Bwlch Maesgwm - Snowdon Ranger
Parking
Llyn Cwellyn Car Park, off the A4085 (Charge) - Grid Ref SH564551
Mileage
9 miles
Terrain
The Snowdon Ranger Path, one of the main routes up Snowdon is followed for a fair bit of this walk, both on the outward route and return journey. From Bwlch Cwm Brwynog until arriving at Bwlch Maesgwm on the return route, the path is mainly on grass. Our return to Bwlch Maesgwm from Bwlch Cwm Cesig was on an intermittent path but we hand railed a wall for most of the way.
Weather
Overcast yet dry.
Time Taken
5hrs 40mins
Total Ascent
3359ft (1024m)
Map
OL17 - Snowdon & Conwy Valley
GPX File
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Walk Description
It was not going to be a good day for the light today therefore apologies in advance for the photographs - it was very overcast and remained dull for the rest of the day. However this was still a great walk, full of up and down, great views and a superb summit in Moel Eilio. Had it not been for being members of the Walking for Pleasure Facebook page we probably would have bypassed this walk and missed an opportunity of a great day out in a beautiful part of Snowdonia.
The walk started from the Llyn Cwellyn Car Park near the Snowdon Ranger Youth Hostel. Crossing the road, we headed up the Snowdon Ranger path passing the Welsh Highland Railway Station and then zig-zagged gently up the hillside and before too long the path gradient flattened out until we reached the junction at Bwlch Cwm Brwynog. The path then headed up to a ladder stile before bearing left to climb steeply to the summit of Moel Cynghorion. Leaving the summit we enjoyed a lovely walk down over the ridge descending to the gate at Bwlch Maesgwm - it was here we saw a large number of mountain bikers coming up the bridleway heading over to Llanberis to cycle up Snowdon and come back down the Snowdon Ranger - they looked to be having great fun and we were to see them later as we made our descent.
From the Bwlch we then summated Foel Goch and from here to Moel Eilio there are a succession of good calf busting ups and downs to enjoy before the final steep pull up to the summit. Even on this dank day, from Moel Eilio's summit shelter there are fabulous views to be had over Caernarfon, up and down the coast and back over to Snowdon and beyond. After some delicious home made soup in the summit shelter we headed back down to Bwlch Cwm Cesig and instead of the ups and downs over the two Foel's we contoured around the hillside along an initial path and then followed the wall to arrive back at the gate at Bwlch Maesgwm. We then headed down the Bwlch to rejoin the Snowdon Ranger zig-zag path back to the Car Park.
Despite the overcast outlook this was a super outing with glorious views.
The walk started from the Llyn Cwellyn Car Park near the Snowdon Ranger Youth Hostel. Crossing the road, we headed up the Snowdon Ranger path passing the Welsh Highland Railway Station and then zig-zagged gently up the hillside and before too long the path gradient flattened out until we reached the junction at Bwlch Cwm Brwynog. The path then headed up to a ladder stile before bearing left to climb steeply to the summit of Moel Cynghorion. Leaving the summit we enjoyed a lovely walk down over the ridge descending to the gate at Bwlch Maesgwm - it was here we saw a large number of mountain bikers coming up the bridleway heading over to Llanberis to cycle up Snowdon and come back down the Snowdon Ranger - they looked to be having great fun and we were to see them later as we made our descent.
From the Bwlch we then summated Foel Goch and from here to Moel Eilio there are a succession of good calf busting ups and downs to enjoy before the final steep pull up to the summit. Even on this dank day, from Moel Eilio's summit shelter there are fabulous views to be had over Caernarfon, up and down the coast and back over to Snowdon and beyond. After some delicious home made soup in the summit shelter we headed back down to Bwlch Cwm Cesig and instead of the ups and downs over the two Foel's we contoured around the hillside along an initial path and then followed the wall to arrive back at the gate at Bwlch Maesgwm. We then headed down the Bwlch to rejoin the Snowdon Ranger zig-zag path back to the Car Park.
Despite the overcast outlook this was a super outing with glorious views.
Llyn Cwellyn Car Park
Snowdon Ranger Youth Hostel
The Snowdon Ranger Path starts just over the road from the Car Park........
..... and has its own station on the Welsh Highland Railway line
Mynydd Mawr across Llyn Cwellyn
Moel Hebog, Moel yr Ogof and Moel Lefn with Mynydd Drws-y-coed centre
The path to Llanberis from the Snowdon Ranger Path - our route back would bring us down this path
Wigs on dogs will never catch on
Never seen these anywhere apart from Snowdonia - handy if you get lost and can plot a Grid Reference on a map
Bwlch Cwm Brwynog where the path splits to Moel Cynghorion.
We were heading left up to the ladder stile whilst the Ranger path carries on to Snowdon
We were heading left up to the ladder stile whilst the Ranger path carries on to Snowdon
The rise to Moel Cynghorion - just follow the fence
A mono look back to Clogwyn Du'r Arddu
Clogwyn D'ur Arddu & Llyn Ffynnon-y-gwas
A hazy Elidir Fawr
An even hazier Tryfan and Glyder Fawr
The understated summit of Moel Cynghorion
Heading up Foel Goch & looking back over to Moel Cynghorion
Foel Gron and Moel Eilio - this looks a fairly gentle ascent from here - it isn't!
Llanberis with Llyn Dwythwch centre
Smoky Snowdon and the route over from Moel Cynghorion
The impressive shelter on the summit of Moel Eilio
Caernarfon
It may look a bit dark & glum but it was great to be up here
Nearing the end of the Snowdon Ranger Path at Llyn Cwellyn