Description
Remote, rugged and beautiful the Carneddau mountain range represents the largest expanse of ground over 3000 ft (914m) in Wales and the home of wild ponies.
This route is a real belter taking in three 3000 ft mountains and Pen yr Helgi Du (meaning head or hill of the black hound) at 833m.
This circular route starts in the Ogwen Valley and ascends Pen yr Ole Wen before following a broad high level ridge over both Carnedd Dafydd and Carnedd Llewelyn before descending to a beautiful ridge line with fabulous views of Ffynnon Llugwy Reservoir and Cwm Eigiau before the final ascent up Pen yr Helgi Du.
Along the route you will experience some easy grade scrambling. The first scramble is up the East ridge of Pen Yr Ole Wen (see video here www.sevenhillsoutdoors.co.uk/sevenhill_service/the-carneddau-circular/ ). After summiting Carnedd Llewelyn the highest of the four summits on the route we’ll scramble down to Bwlch Eryl Farchog before crossing the ridge and heading up Pen yr Helgi Du via another fabulous and easy going scramble.
The last few miles of the route follow wide grassy slopes back into Ogwen Valley before following the slate trail back to your waiting cars.
The Stats:
- Elevation: 3500ft (1067m)
- Scrambles: 3 (Grade 1 and below)
- Time estimate: 8 – 10 hours
- Leader ratio: 1 mountain leader to 10 people
- 4 Summits: Pen yr Ole Wen, Carnedd Dafydd, Carnedd Llewelyn, Pen yr Helgi Du
- Difficulty:
- Weather: We can’t guarantee that.