The Carneddau Circular Pen yr Ole Wen (978m) Carnedd Dafydd (1044m) Carnedd Llewelyn (1064m) Pen yr Helgi Du (833m) Remote, Rugged, Beautiful

• Distance: 10 miles (16km)
• 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: ⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️

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 below). 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 Ogden Valley before following the slate trail back to your waiting cars. 

• All our guides are qualified mountain leaders and members of the Mountain Training Association.
• All our guides are Outdoor First Aid Incident Management trained and qualified.
• All our guides are DBS checked.
• Seven Hills Outdoors and its freelance guides carry professional liability insurance.
• Seven Hills Outdoors undertakes route risk assessments, route planning and plans for relevant contingencies.
• Seven Hills Outdoors undertakes a dynamic Hill & Mountain Risk assessment prior to and during the booking.
• Prior to your guided day you will receive detailed joining instructions with a kit list.
• Leaders will carry appropriate first aid and emergency equipment including: first aid kit, shelters. emergency means of communication..

This is a high level route that traverses some rugged and beautiful country.  Whilst your experienced mountain leader will motivate you every step of the way, to gain the most out of this route you should be a fit and proficient hill walker who has experience of walking for 8 hours plus in hill or mountain terrain. The nature of this route means that once we have left Pen yr Ole Wen there are limited ways to escape back to Ogwen Valley. 

There are also a number of scrambles, the hardest of which would be an easy grade 1 which we will be descending between Carnedd Llewelyn and Pen yr Helgi Du. Whilst this is an easy graded scramble if you suffer from a fear of heights or vertigo we would suggest you contact us first to discuss the route before booking. 

Cost per person is £50

Maximum group size of 10.

We will accept bookings from individuals or groups but require a minimum of 4 bookings for this event to run. 

Start times can vary but we aim to be walking between 0730 - 0830am at the latest.

Detailed joining instructions provided before the event.