Tryfan and the Glyderau
Scramble up Tryfan's rocky ridge, then cross the boulder-strewn Glyderau above Llyn Idwal.
- Distance
- 11.2 km
- Ascent
- 1030 m
- Time
- 4.5–6 h
- Grade
- Hard
- Route
- Circular
- High point
- 1001 m
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Route mapped on from OpenStreetMap paths, with heights from EU-DEM terrain data; not yet checked on the ground by TRXO. Added to TRXO on . For planning only: always navigate with an up-to-date map such as OS Explorer or Harvey. How we make our routes.
About this walk
Tryfan and the Glyderau is a hard 11.2 km circular walk with 1,030 m of ascent, taking 4.5 to 6 hours. It starts at Ogwen (Idwal Cottage) (grid reference SH 648 603). It climbs 3 listed hills, the highest Glyder Fawr at 1,001 m. The start can be reached by public transport.
Tryfan is the only Welsh mountain you can't reach without using your hands, and its North Ridge is one of the classic scrambles in Britain. On the summit stand Adam and Eve, two stone pillars that the bold leap between.
From Tryfan the route climbs to Glyder Fach, with the famous Cantilever Stone and the spiky tor of Castell y Gwynt, then crosses the stony plateau to Glyder Fawr. It descends past Llyn Idwal to Ogwen.
Route
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1
Tryfan
Climb from the A5 onto Tryfan's North Ridge and scramble to the summit.
-
2
Glyder Fach
Descend to Bwlch Tryfan and climb the stony slopes to Glyder Fach and Castell y Gwynt.
-
3
Glyder Fawr and down
Cross the plateau to Glyder Fawr, then descend past Llyn Idwal to Ogwen.
Summits
918 m
994 m
1001 m
On the way
-
Devil's AppendixWaterfall · on the route
Questions about this walk
- How long does Tryfan and the Glyderau take?
- Most walkers take 4.5–6 hours for the 11.2 km route, which has 1,030 m of ascent. That allows for short stops; give yourself longer in winter, in poor weather or with a group.
- Where does the walk start, and where can I park?
- It starts at Ogwen (Idwal Cottage) (grid reference SH 648 603). Pay and display at Ogwen; lay-bys on the A5 fill early.
- Can I get there by public transport?
- Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses link the valleys around Yr Wyddfa, Ogwen and Capel Curig. Check times on Traveline Cymru.
- How hard is it?
- It's graded hard. A sustained grade 1 scramble on Tryfan; bouldery plateau; steep, rocky and loose descent.
- Which hills does it climb?
- Glyder Fawr (1001 m, Hewitt, Welsh 3000); Glyder Fach (994 m, Hewitt, Welsh 3000); Tryfan (918 m, Hewitt, Welsh 3000).
- Can I take my dog?
- It isn't recommended for dogs. Before you go: Llyn Idwal is a National Nature Reserve. Sheep graze the hills: keep dogs on a lead, especially at lambing time (March to May).
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