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Pen yr Helgi Du from Ogwen Valley

Snowdonia/Eryri Walk

Nat Park - Snowdonia - Western Carneddau

County/Area - Conwy

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 5.5 miles / 8.9 km    Ascent - 1920 feet / 582 metres

Time - 4 hours 40 minutes    Grade - moderate

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Pen yr Helgi Du from Ogwen Valley
Click image to visit gallery of 5 images.

This is an ideal route for a half day excursion into the hills. The Carneddau are wild and desolate lying to the north of the A5 between Bethesda and Capel Curig. Limited parking is available at the entrance to the reservoir access road (Grid ref. SH687602) or if this is full then across the road Gwern Gof Isaf farm where a small charge is payable.

Walk up the reservoir access road climbing steadily for about 1.5 miles gaining nearly a thousand feet in the process. The road levels and drops down to Ffynnon Llugwy Reservoir, the shores of which make an ideal place to rest. Retrace you steps a short way to pick up the path that heads north along the eastern side of the reservoir. This path starts to climb up to the obvious col ahead. Zigzags at an easy gradient lead to the Col with the crags of Craig yr Isfa plunging into Cwm Eigiau far below.

At the Col turn right along a clear path. This climbs steeply through crags (with some scrambling) to lead you to the summit of Pen yr Helgi Du. The views are excellent in all directions with Carnedd Llewelyn, the highest point in the Carneddau, to the west.

Descend almost due south off the summit to follow a clear path that descends gently over a broad grassy ridge to reach a drainage channel (Grid ref. 700 607). Turn right along this channel to reach the outward route. Turn left and descend back to the start.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1232 Carnedd Llewelyn, Llyn Eigiau & Llyn Cowlydhard16.0 miles
Walk 2855 Gallt yr Ogof & Braich y Ddeugwmmoderate4.0 miles
Walk 1150 The High Carneddau from Ogwen Valleyhard10.0 miles
Walk 1215 Tryfan & Llyn Ogwen from Ogwen Valleymod/hard5.5 miles
Walk 3001 Tryfan North Ridge from Ogwen Valleyhard3.5 miles
Walk 3026 Tryfan & the Eastern Tops from Ogwen Valleyhard5.8 miles
Walk 2820 Carneddau traverse from Llyn Ogwenmod/hard14.0 miles
Walk 2650 Tryfan, the Glyders & Y Garnvery hard8.0 miles
Walk 3402 Moel Siabod circular from Pont Cyfyngmoderate6.5 miles
Walk 1088 Glyder Ridge traversehard5.5 miles

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