Mynydd Mawr trail head.
| Mynydd Mawr from Bryn
Gwyn Mynydd Mawr |
| Estimated net time | 2½-3 hours | ||
| Difficulty | No difficulties, but crossing the fence at the bottom of the valley can be a little cumbersome if you don't find the right place to cross. | ||
| Drinking water | No stable access to running water except for the stream through the valley, but the number of sheep is extensive so water quality might be impacted. | ||
| GSM coverage | Coverage throughout the route except patchy down in the valley. | ||
| Parking | Room for one car at trail head, and two if pushing it. | ||
| Start height | 240 metres | ||
| Vertical metres | 530 metres for the roundtrip. | ||
| Trip distance | 5.4 km | ||
| GPS-file | X | ||
| Map |
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| Route photo |
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From the village Beddgelert in north-west Wales, where roads A498 and A4085 intersect, drive 5.6 km north along road A4085 in the direction of Caernarfon. Turn left onto road B4418 and drive 2.1 km. Park in a left curve after the road has started to go downhill. You will find room for one car on the right hand side of the road, in front of a gate. It's highly unlikely that the gate is in use.
Start your walk by crossing the gate and walk on the left hand side of the two small tops. Find your best route down to the valley, where you need to cross a fence and a stream. If you head directly north from the trail head you will find an OK route and a good place to cross the fence. After having crossed the fence walk up the steep grass slopes and aim slightly above the centre of the forest you can see up on the ridge. A little before the forest you will join the path coming in from right (east), and you can cross the fence on a stile. From here follow the path up the east ridge, and then turn left at the top of the path. From here follow the path in a clock-wise direction all the way to the summit, which is marked with a pile of stones.
Descend by reversing your ascent route.
Hike number two this Saturday, and the fog was lifting quite rapidly. I had identified a potential trail head by looking at maps, not wanting to do the longer trade route, and it worked out well. And with excellent views, bar some minor fog, I was very happy when I got to the summit. And the view across to Snowdon was as good as any mountain view gets in Wales.
I also got a fine of view of my planned third top of the day, Moel Eilio, to which I drove straight after this hike to Mynydd Mawr.