Penygadair Route Information

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Quick Facts

This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.

Total Ascent

1100 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time

4.5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

13.14 km

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required

124

Dolgellau & Porthmadog

Only £6.29 (£13.49 Laminated) from

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

Moderate scenic and scramble-free ascent route revealing the best of the topography of this craggy mountain. The detour to 811m top (Cyfrwy) reveals a fine prospect of the N face crags and gives a more interesting ridge approach to the summit.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

Travel Information

Head to: Dolgellau

From Dolgellau follow A470 E for 5km then turn right onto A487. After 6.5km park in car park at Minffordd.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,100 metres. Allow 4.5 hours to complete this 13.14 km route.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

Route Information

Waypoint Detail

	Park in large car park at Minffordd
		SH73251154	Distance	Altitude 107 m

1	Head SW on road to start of Right of Way path
		SH72981135	Distance 0.34 km	Altitude 920 m

2	Follow path NW through wood and into Cwm Cau (corrie)
		SH72741230	Distance 1.02 km	Altitude 323 m

3	Continue W into Cwm Cau
		SH72011233	Distance 0.68 km	Altitude 475 m

4	Ascend path S onto Craig Lwyd ridge
		SH71971209	Distance 0.25 km	Altitude 566 m

5	Follow Minffordd path WSW on ridge
		SH71371182	Distance 0.67 km	Altitude 677 m

6	Continue NW to summit of Craig Cwm Amarch
		SH71041213	Distance 0.50 km	Altitude 791 m

7	Descend N to col then ascend 40m on path
		SH70851269	Distance 0.60 km	Altitude 750 m

8	Traverse NW across slope to join path on W ridge of Penygadair
		SH70471308	Distance 0.55 km	Altitude 776 m

9	Continue NNW to Cyfrwy (811m top unnamed on map)
		SH70381333	Distance 0.27 km	Altitude 811 m

10	Descend SE on W ridge of Penygadair
		SH70471308	Distance 0.27 km	Altitude 776 m

11	Continue ESE on W ridge of Penygadair
		SH70831291	Distance 0.41 km	Altitude 816 m

12	Ascend ENE to summit of Cadair Idris (Penygadair) (2500ft+)
		SH71111304	Distance 0.31 km	Altitude 893 m

13	Descend ENE and follow path along E ridge
		SH71741327	Distance 0.68 km	Altitude 820 m

14	Head NE following path along ridge
		SH71911342	Distance 0.22 km	Altitude 800 m

15	Continue E onto W ridge of Mynydd Moel
		SH72311345	Distance 0.41 km	Altitude 805 m

16	Ascend NE to to summit of Mynydd Moel (863m)
		SH72721367	Distance 0.47 km	Altitude 863 m

17	Descend Mynydd Moel E ridge ESE on easy slopes to 800m contour
		SH73011347	Distance 0.35 km	Altitude 800 m

18	Descend E on steeper slopes onto broad ridge
		SH73481352	Distance 0.47 km	Altitude 673 m

19	Follow ridge ENE to Gau Graig (683m)
		SH74421408	Distance 1.07 km	Altitude 683 m

20	Descend SE to join A487 road SW of summit of pass
		SH75071335	Distance 1.01 km	Altitude 250 m

21	Follow bridleway W of road to Cwmrhwyddfor then road back to start
		SH73251154	Distance 2.59 km	Altitude 107 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

Snowdonia
by MWIS (PDF format)

Snowdonia
by Met Office

Cader Idris
by Metcheck

Images of Penygadair

looking NW toward Pwllheli and Bardsay Island

© T.j. Lennon

Image by T.j. Lennon

The Cader Idris range seen from the NE after an overnight April snowfall.

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

Accommodation

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Where to Stay

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Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.

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