Snowdonia Walk
Cregennen Lakes & Pared y Cefn-hir

Maps

Ordnance Survey Explorer OL23	Sheet Map	1:25k	BUY
Anquet OS Explorer OL23	Digital Map	1:25k	BUY

Walk Route Description

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This short walk from the Cregennen Lakes below Cadair Idris offers exceptional views of many mountains in Snowdonia. The route starts by the western lake and climbs up a ridge to the summit of Pared y Cefn-hir. There is a short section of easy scrambling which is more than compensated by the view from the summit. The walk continues down an undulating ridge before descending into a valley to return to the start.

The start is the free National Trust car park (grid ref. SH658143) which can be reached via a lane (signed to Llynnau Cregennen) from the A493 near Arthog which runs along the south side of the Mawddach Estuary. After parking turn left along the road with the lake on your right. Continue along the road which starts to rise and take the signed footpath on the right. Follow the grassy path to a wall and stile. Cross the stile and where the path forks bear left and follow the grassy path uphill.

The path rises steeply. Thankfully, it is only a short ascent. About half-way up there is a short scramble which can be avoided by a faint path to the right. The path continues to climb and soon reaches the summit of Pared y Cefn-hir. From the summit you get a bird's eye view across the Cregennen Lakes to the great cliffs of Cadair Idris. North the view includes the Mawddach Estuary with the Rhinog mountains rising beyond.

To continue follow a clear undulating path along the wide ridge to reach the remains of an old hill fort. Leaving the fort, the path continues along the ridge losing some height before climbing for a short distance. The path then descends to a stream (grid ref. SH668154) with the rocky outcrop of Pen Moelyn ahead. Turn right at the stream and follow a narrow path through heather downhill. Continue down to a wall and turn right onto a clearer path keeping the wall on your left. This path leads beside the lake to reach the stile used at the beginning of the walk. Reaching the road, turn left and retrace your steps back to the car park.

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Other walks nearby

Walk 3229	A Mawddach circular from Arthog near Fairbourne	moderate	9.0 miles
Walk 1172	Cadair Idris by the Pony Path	mod/hard	11.0 miles
Walk 2668	Cadair Idris, Craig Cau and Cyfrwy by the Pony Path	mod/hard	5.3 miles
Walk 1644	Cregennen Lakes from Barmouth	moderate	11.0 miles
Walk 1647	Mawddach Bridge and Arthog from Barmouth	easy	5.4 miles

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