Cnicht
689m (2260ft)
The Moelwyns, Snowdonia, Gwynedd, Wales
Cnicht is often referred to as the Welsh Matterhorn. When viewed from the village of Croesor and the south-west, Cnicht appears to be a perfect pyramid shaped mountain that resembles the Matterhorn on the border between Italy and Switzerland.
The summit of Cnicht is marked by a rocky outcrop.
Cnicht is often referred to as the 'Welsh Matterhorn' due to its shape, particularly when viewed from Croesor. Cnicht means 'Knight' and is pronounced 'k-neecht'.
You can find Cnicht & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
See Cnicht and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
See Cnicht and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Map:
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 6.75ml (11km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,369ft (722m) |
| Time: | 5 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Blaen Nanmor - Gelli-lago Nantmor Mountain Centre - Bwlch y Battel - Croesor Bach - Cnicht - Cnicht (North Top) - Llyn Yr Adar - Y Cyrniau - Llyn Llagi - Clogwyn Gottal - Carned Melyn - Llwynyrhwch - Cefn Gerynt - Gerynt - Blaen Nanmor
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 7.25ml (11.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,273ft (693m) |
| Time: | 5 hrs |
| Grade: | (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Croesor - Croesor Bach - Cnicht - The Welsh Matterhorn - Cnicht (North Top) - Llyn Yr Adar - Afon Cwm-y-foel - Llyn Cwm-corsiog - Clogwyn Birth - Rhosydd Quarry - Bwlch y Rhosydd - Croesor Quarry - Cwm Croesor - Croesor
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9ml (14.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,355ft (1,023m) |
| Time: | 6.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Croesor - Croesor Bach - Cnicht - Cnicht (North Top) - Llyn Yr Adar - Afon Cwm-y-foel - Llyn Cwm-corsiog - Clogwyn Birth - Rhosydd Quarry - Moel-yr-hydd - Moelwyn Mawr (North Ridge Top) - Moelwyn Mawr - Croesor
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10ml (16km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,923ft (1,196m) |
| Time: | 7½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Croesor - Croesor Bach - Cnicht - Cnicht (North Top) - Llyn Yr Adar - Afon Cwm-y-foel - Llyn Cwm-corsiog - Clogwyn Birth - Rhosydd Quarry - Moel-yr-hydd - Moelwyn Mawr (North Ridge Top) - Moelwyn Mawr - Craigysgafn - Bwlch Stwlan - Moelwyn Bach - Croesor
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Cnicht
Bronwen Chinien walked up Cnicht on February 5th, 2023 [from/via/route] From Croesor [with] Bronwen, Viken and Gethin [weather] Summer, sunny - Gethin's first mountain (age 4) - he loved scrambling up the rocks to peak. Had to carry him across boggy bits further round. German trio helped us with route finding.
Melfyn Parry climbed Cnicht on April 11th, 2019 [from/via/route] Start & finish at Croesor car park at SH631446. Steep tarmac road to start of the walking path. Ascent to summit of Cnicht was via well defined path. Stunning views in all directions. Descent from summit toward Llyn Adar before turning right to pass by Llynnau Dwyffos. Path a little boggy along here up to brow of hill. Descent to Rhosydd quarry & then up the old incline to stop for lunch. Ascent to ridge line & then followed fence to summit of Moelwyn Mawr. Descent back to car park via grassy slope, not too steep & then tarmac lane. [with] DS [weather] Mainly sunny & warm, occasional cold breeze.
Mark Smith bagged Cnicht on March 13th, 2010 [weather] cold but sunny
Sion Britton hiked Cnicht on May 30th, 2021 [from/via/route] O Croesor. [with] Rhiannon [weather] Braf
Donovan Suddell summited Cnicht on April 10th, 2021 [from/via/route] Croesor using gw173 [with] My wife [weather] Sunny & clear, odd sprinkle of snow - gw173 is a mighty fine walk, & Cnicht is a special mountain
Andy Buxton conquered Cnicht during August, 1963 [from/via/route] From Blaen Namor & down to Croesor [with] Dad
Iain Jones scaled Cnicht on November 29th, 2019 [from/via/route] Croesor [with] Nicola Jones
Wynne Roberts walked up Cnicht on June 16th, 2019 [from/via/route] Nantgwynant [with] Gareth [weather] Sunny spells. Breezy - Paths obscured in places, difficult to determine route, very boggy.
Anthony Scott climbed Cnicht on July 30th, 2018 [with] Dave Cross (HF)
Bleddyn Rhys bagged Cnicht on May 5th, 2018 [from/via/route] Cychwyn o'r Crimea. Allt-fawr, rownt top Cwmorthin ac drost Cnicht cyn disgyn lawr i Ring Llanfrothan am rescue pickup! [with] Ar ben fy hyn! [weather] Braf iawn - sgortchar! - 15 Km - 4 awr a hanner Rhedeg yr holl ffordd lawr or Cnicht i pub am fy mod yn hwyr, ond dal i gyraedd cyn y rescue team! Golygfeudd gwych or'r Moelwynions - gyda cwmwl yn rhowlio trostynt tra on ni'n yr haul!
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Cnicht
Cnicht (centre) and Cnicht (North Top) (right) from the lower slopes of Moelwyn Bach
Cnicht and Cnicht (North Top) with The Snowdon Range beyond from Moelwyn Mawr
The Watkin Path, Nantgwynant and Cnicht on the horizon from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Porthmadoc and Tremadoc Bay/Bae Tremadog from the summit of Cnicht - the Welsh Matterhorn
Llyn y Biswail with Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in the distance from the summit of Cnicht (North Top)
Cnicht (left) and Y Lliwedd poking through a Temerature Inversion seen from Crib Goch
. . . see all 35 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Cnicht
Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Cnicht
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