Moel Siabod - Wednesday 12 September 2018
Route
Capel Curig - Pont Cyfyng - Llyn y Foel - Daear Ddu Ridge - Moel Siabod - Coed Bryn-engan - Capel Curig
Parking
Siabod Cafe (free but please ask permission from the staff first) - Grid Ref SH727578
Mileage
7.5 miles
Terrain
Good mountain & woodland paths. There is a sustained scramble up the Daear Ddu ridge to the summit.
Weather
Mild & sunny with gentle breezes. The visibility today was excellent.
Time Taken
5hrs 35mins
Total Ascent
3143ft (958m)
Maps
OL17 - Snowdon & Conwy Valley
OL18 - Harlech, Porthmadog & Bala
Capel Curig - Pont Cyfyng - Llyn y Foel - Daear Ddu Ridge - Moel Siabod - Coed Bryn-engan - Capel Curig
Parking
Siabod Cafe (free but please ask permission from the staff first) - Grid Ref SH727578
Mileage
7.5 miles
Terrain
Good mountain & woodland paths. There is a sustained scramble up the Daear Ddu ridge to the summit.
Weather
Mild & sunny with gentle breezes. The visibility today was excellent.
Time Taken
5hrs 35mins
Total Ascent
3143ft (958m)
Maps
OL17 - Snowdon & Conwy Valley
OL18 - Harlech, Porthmadog & Bala
GPX File
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Walk Description
It is always great to be back in Wales - whilst our home is now in Cumbria we really did enjoy our time living here and visited Snowdonia often. You cannot compare the two areas of Snowdonia & the Lake District although many people try and pick out a favourite between them - in my eyes it is impossible. Both have superb climbing & walking in abundance and whilst to some Snowdonia may appear less busy than its Cumbrian counterpart, there are hotspots in both areas and on the other hand quiet areas where you can see nobody all day.
Today we were walking a route we have done several times and one that we never tire of. Moel Siabod is in an exposed outlying position affording it excellent views of the surrounding mountains, particularly the Snowdon Range, the Glyderau & the Carneddau. Easily accessible from Capel Curig, it is rugged, has an exhilarating ridge climb to the summit and an industrial past in the Rhos Slate Quarry - it is a great mountain!!
There are plenty of parking options in Capel Curig however we always use the Siabod Cafe and after a hearty breakfast there we asked permission (as we always do) to leave our car there for the duration of our walk - the Siabod is a real walkers cafe and is dog friendly serving superb fare all day. From the cafe the route headed into Coed Bryn-engan to follow a good track and over farmland to reach the bridge over the Afon Llugwy - take a moment to look at the falls here. Just after the bridge the path heads off right and starts to climb immediately, shortly reaching Rhos Farm before continuing to climb to the Rhos Slate Quarry ruins.
Leaving the ruins there is now a gentle incline around to the idyllic and isolated Llyn y Foel. Leaving the Llyn there is a choice of two routes - either make a beeline for the ridge or head slightly right and scramble up the scree slope, cutting off a small portion of the ascent but not much. Today we were off up the Daear Ddu ridge - an exhilarating scramble up exposed rock for the most part but never feels dangerous. Reaching the summit the vistas over the Snowdon, Glyderau & Carneddau ranges open up far and wide - it is a fantastic viewpoint.
From the summit we walked northeast to the edge of the ridge to then descend over rocky terrain that then meets a path coming in from the left. This path is then followed to reach a track leading to Coed Bryn-engan - it is now a simple case of following the track to finally turn left for the Siabod Cafe for a well earned piece of cake and a nice cool drink. Another superb walk in beautiful Snowdonia.
Today we were walking a route we have done several times and one that we never tire of. Moel Siabod is in an exposed outlying position affording it excellent views of the surrounding mountains, particularly the Snowdon Range, the Glyderau & the Carneddau. Easily accessible from Capel Curig, it is rugged, has an exhilarating ridge climb to the summit and an industrial past in the Rhos Slate Quarry - it is a great mountain!!
There are plenty of parking options in Capel Curig however we always use the Siabod Cafe and after a hearty breakfast there we asked permission (as we always do) to leave our car there for the duration of our walk - the Siabod is a real walkers cafe and is dog friendly serving superb fare all day. From the cafe the route headed into Coed Bryn-engan to follow a good track and over farmland to reach the bridge over the Afon Llugwy - take a moment to look at the falls here. Just after the bridge the path heads off right and starts to climb immediately, shortly reaching Rhos Farm before continuing to climb to the Rhos Slate Quarry ruins.
Leaving the ruins there is now a gentle incline around to the idyllic and isolated Llyn y Foel. Leaving the Llyn there is a choice of two routes - either make a beeline for the ridge or head slightly right and scramble up the scree slope, cutting off a small portion of the ascent but not much. Today we were off up the Daear Ddu ridge - an exhilarating scramble up exposed rock for the most part but never feels dangerous. Reaching the summit the vistas over the Snowdon, Glyderau & Carneddau ranges open up far and wide - it is a fantastic viewpoint.
From the summit we walked northeast to the edge of the ridge to then descend over rocky terrain that then meets a path coming in from the left. This path is then followed to reach a track leading to Coed Bryn-engan - it is now a simple case of following the track to finally turn left for the Siabod Cafe for a well earned piece of cake and a nice cool drink. Another superb walk in beautiful Snowdonia.
Siabod Cafe on the A5 at Capel Curig - the start point for todays walk. We had an excellent breakfast here before the start and asked permission to leave our car here.
Fudge going through his pre-walk paw waxing regime - it's like herding cats he wriggles so much
The path heads through the woods into Coed Bryn-engan
At the eastern end of Coed Bryn-engan the path meets the Afon Llugwy
Heading alongside the Afon Llugwy towards Pont-Cyfyng
Nearing Pont-Cyfyng Moel Siabod comes into view
Be nice when they get the roof on
The Afon Llugwy from Pont-Cyfyng
As we headed South West we came under attack from "bandits at 3 o'clock"
The path opens out on to a disused incline
Continuing up the disused incline with Moel Siabod ahead
Fudge heading along in a good mood as we pass an unnamed body of water
Passing the former Rhos Slate Quarry buildings.
It is difficult to comprehend that a hundred or so years ago this area would have been bustling with activity
It is difficult to comprehend that a hundred or so years ago this area would have been bustling with activity
At the slate quarry the Daear Ddu ridge on Moel Siabod comes into view
Looking down on the ruined slate quarry buildings
Moel Siabod's eastern ridge
Llyn y Foel - just beyond the Llyn is the start of the climb up the Daear Ddu ridge
Another superb view of Moel Siabod's eastern ridge
The Daear Ddu ridge from Llyn y Foel. There are two ways up - either climb the ridge from the left or take the faint path through the middle near the loose stone. Either way is an exhilarating scramble.
Llyn y Foel from the start of the Daear Ddu ridge
The eastern ridge from Daear Ddu
Having done this ridge a few times now, it still exhilarates us
As usual the little chap took it all in his stride with his 4 paw drive
Fudge and I on the first section of the scramble up Daear Ddu
Angie makes it look easy as I try to capture her scramble whilst gawping down at Llyn y Foel
Hurry up you two
The upper part of the Daear Ddu ridge - you can make this section as easy or as challenging as you like
The Daear Ddu & eastern ridges of Moel Siabod
Not a bad view eh?
Nearing the summit of Moel Siabod looking back down the Daear Ddu ridge
The eastern ridge & Llyn y Foel
On the summit of Moel Siabod.
On a day like today there is no finer view in Snowdonia than looking over to Snowdon from here
On a day like today there is no finer view in Snowdonia than looking over to Snowdon from here
Looking over to the Glyderau with Tryfan in the centre of shot
Angie approaching the summit of Moel Siabod
Fudge ready for take off on Moel Siabod's summit trig point
What a great day to be out with my 2 best friends
Looking to Snowdon from the summit of Moel Siabod
Zooming in on the unmistakable outline of Tryfan
The summit shelter on Moel Siabod
Descending Moel Siabod back to Capel Curig with Llynau Mymbyr below. Ahead of us are a group we got talking to on the summit - all prospective Mountain Leaders in the military who were out on assessment.
After an initial rocky transit the terrain and gradient eases as Capel Curig is approached.
Back on the valley floor it was now a simple transit back through Coed Bryn-engan to the cafe