Moel Hebog, Moel yr Ogof & Moel Lefn - Saturday 6 April 2019
Route
Beddgelert - Cwm Cloch Isaf - Moel Hebog - Bwlch Meillionen - Moel yr Ogof - Moel Lefn - Bwlch Cwm-trwsgl - Llyn Llywelyn - Beddgelert Forest - Hafod Ruffydd Isaf - Meillionen - Cwm Cloch Isaf - Beddgelert
Parking
Various Public Car Parks in Beddgelert (Charges apply) although there is free off street parking also.
Mileage
10 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths generally with some loose scree and easy scrambling approaching the summit plateau of Moel Hebog. Additionally, the descent from Moel Hebog to Bwlch Meillionen is very steep and on grass at the start therefore after rain care needs to be taken. The descent from Moel Lefn to the forest track is also steep and care needs to be taken. On a general note, Beddgelert Forest is undergoing major forestry work (2019) and therefore paths that are detailed on OS Maps may not be in use. The best course of action is to follow well established forest tracks back to Beddgelert as detailed below.
Weather
Excellent visibility on a gloriously sunny day.
Time Taken
7hrs 20mins
Total Ascent
3234ft (986m)
Map
OL17 - Snowdon & Conwy Valley
Beddgelert - Cwm Cloch Isaf - Moel Hebog - Bwlch Meillionen - Moel yr Ogof - Moel Lefn - Bwlch Cwm-trwsgl - Llyn Llywelyn - Beddgelert Forest - Hafod Ruffydd Isaf - Meillionen - Cwm Cloch Isaf - Beddgelert
Parking
Various Public Car Parks in Beddgelert (Charges apply) although there is free off street parking also.
Mileage
10 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths generally with some loose scree and easy scrambling approaching the summit plateau of Moel Hebog. Additionally, the descent from Moel Hebog to Bwlch Meillionen is very steep and on grass at the start therefore after rain care needs to be taken. The descent from Moel Lefn to the forest track is also steep and care needs to be taken. On a general note, Beddgelert Forest is undergoing major forestry work (2019) and therefore paths that are detailed on OS Maps may not be in use. The best course of action is to follow well established forest tracks back to Beddgelert as detailed below.
Weather
Excellent visibility on a gloriously sunny day.
Time Taken
7hrs 20mins
Total Ascent
3234ft (986m)
Map
OL17 - Snowdon & Conwy Valley
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Walk Description
Looming above Beddgelert, Moel Hebog has a commanding presence and dominates the view looking west from this popular walking village. We have climbed the mountain a few times now and it never disappoints offering varied walking - scrambling, rocky sections and scree slopes therefore something for everyone. The mountain is more often than not climbed direct from Beddgelert and here there is plenty of parking but on busy days it is best to arrive early as the village is very popular for those visiting Snowdonia.
Today’s walk started from the Car Park just up from the Saracens Head pub and today the intention was once we had climbed Hebog to carry on to Moel yr Ogof & Moel Lefn and return to Beddgelert via the forest tracks once we had descended to the disused Princess Quarry. Once Hebog is reached the descent to Bwlch Meillionen is extremely steep and therefore in the snow and after rain care would need to be taken. Once the Bwlch is reached the walking becomes easier and the transit over both Moel yr Ogof and Moel Lefn provides no difficulty. The descent to Princess Quarry is steep and when Bwlch Cwm-trwsgl is reached it is best to continue north east to follow the forest tracks rather than pick your way through the mess of the forestry commission work. There used to be a well-trodden path here but that is no more.
Doubling back on the forest track, the route then skirts around the very pretty Llyn Llywelyn to then head south east back to Beddgelert via Meillonen and basically handrails the track of the Welsh Highland Railway to join up with the outward route at a ford. All that is left to do is to head back in to Beddgelert and decide which one of the great pubs in the village to have your post walk pint in. This is a classic circular walk in a beautiful part of Snowdonia and gives fantastic views, particularly over to Snowdon and the Nantlle Ridge.
Today’s walk started from the Car Park just up from the Saracens Head pub and today the intention was once we had climbed Hebog to carry on to Moel yr Ogof & Moel Lefn and return to Beddgelert via the forest tracks once we had descended to the disused Princess Quarry. Once Hebog is reached the descent to Bwlch Meillionen is extremely steep and therefore in the snow and after rain care would need to be taken. Once the Bwlch is reached the walking becomes easier and the transit over both Moel yr Ogof and Moel Lefn provides no difficulty. The descent to Princess Quarry is steep and when Bwlch Cwm-trwsgl is reached it is best to continue north east to follow the forest tracks rather than pick your way through the mess of the forestry commission work. There used to be a well-trodden path here but that is no more.
Doubling back on the forest track, the route then skirts around the very pretty Llyn Llywelyn to then head south east back to Beddgelert via Meillonen and basically handrails the track of the Welsh Highland Railway to join up with the outward route at a ford. All that is left to do is to head back in to Beddgelert and decide which one of the great pubs in the village to have your post walk pint in. This is a classic circular walk in a beautiful part of Snowdonia and gives fantastic views, particularly over to Snowdon and the Nantlle Ridge.
The start of today's walk - the Public Car Park in Beddgelert on the A4085
The route heads out of the village to the North turning left along a private road
Crossing Pont Alyn
Our first real view of Moel Hebog from near Cwm Cloch Isaf
As the ascent is made up the lower slopes the views really open out - Craig Wen with a snow covered Snowdon to the rear
Clearly Fudge's limbo action was coming on a treat
Continuing the ascent of Moel Hebog - the lower slopes are gentle enough but it was soon to get a bit more rocky
As usual the cheeky boy was taking it all in his stride
With the grassy slopes over with the terrain gives way to rock and the gradient increases. Beddgelert sits below to the right.
Moel Hebog's north ridge in all its glory
Great to be out on a fantastic day like this - Snowdon providing the perfect backdrop
As height is gained the beautiful Nantlle ridge comes into view over to the north
The rocky path now gave way to a zig zag scree ascent
Looking back down the zig zag scree section
With Fudge on the ascent of Moel Hebog
Having negotiated the scree path a short scramble is next on the agenda
Looking to Moel yr Ogof, Moel Lefn and the Nantlle Ridge
Once the scramble is done a short transit on a stony path leads to the summit
The summit plateau of Moel Hebog
The summit of Moel Hebog
Moel Hebog's summit looking to the Nantlle Ridge
A Moel Hebog panorama
The summit plateau on Moel Hebog
The descent of Moel Hebog to Bwlch Meillionen is extremely steep
The steepness continues as we near Bwlch Meillionen.
Our access to Moel yr Ogof is by keeping to the right of the wall and through the rocky cleft - the path can just about be seen from here.
Our access to Moel yr Ogof is by keeping to the right of the wall and through the rocky cleft - the path can just about be seen from here.
Looking back to our route of descent from Bwlch Meillionen
The rocky cleft giving access to the path to Moel yr Ogof
The view back to Bwlch Meillionen from the top of the rocky cleft
Moel yr Ogof ahead
The summit of Moel yr Ogof
Moel yr Ogof's summit looking to Moel Lefn
Moel yr Ogof & Moel Hebog from the path to Moel Lefn
The summit of Moel Lefn
Another lovely view of the Nantlle Ridge
The steep descent to Beddgelert Forest - originally the path headed right once Bwlch Cwm-trwsgl is reached however this path is no longer in use due to forestry work. We took the track to the left to head around the northern tip of Llyn Llywelyn.
Continuing the descent down to Bwlch Cwm-trwsgl - Y Gyrn is the hill directly above the bwlch
Bwlch Cwm-trwsgl - we headed to the left along the forest track.
As can be seen there has been an inordinate amount of forestry walk carried out here.
As can be seen there has been an inordinate amount of forestry walk carried out here.
Heading north along the forest track
The tranquil Llyn Llywelyn
Another lovely place to sit and look over to Snowdon
The railway halt at Meillionen on the Welsh Highland Railway. The railway runs for 25 miles between Caernarfon & Porthmadog.
Heading back to Beddgelert - the path runs parallel for the most part with the railway track
Debrief time at The Saracens Head in Beddgelert