Pen yr Helgi Du
833m (2734ft)
The Carneddau, Snowdonia, Conwy, Wales
Pen yr Helgi Du means 'Hill of the Black Dog' in Welsh and is pronounced 'pen-ur-hell-gi-dee'.
The summit of Pen yr Helgi Du is marked by a beehive shaped cairn.
You can find Pen yr Helgi Du & 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 Pen yr Helgi Du and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
See Pen yr Helgi Du and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Map:
   |
|---|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9.5ml (15km) |
|---|---|
| Ascent: | 2,714ft (827m) |
| Time: | 6.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Llyn Eigiau Car Park - Craig Eigiau - Cwm Eigiau - Pen Yr Helgi Du - Bwlch Tri y Marchog - Pen Llithrig y Wrach - Cedryn - Hafod-y-rhrw - Llyn Eigiau Car Park
|
|---|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9.75ml (15.5km) |
|---|---|
| Ascent: | 3,523ft (1,074m) |
| Time: | 7 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Llyn Ogwen - Glan Dena - Llyn Ogwen - Afon Lloer - Clogwyn Mawr - Bryn Mawr - Ffynnon Lloer - Cwm Lloer - Pen yr Ole Wen - Carnedd Dafydd - Cefn Ysgolion Duon - Bwlch Cyfryw-drum - Carnedd Llewelyn - Craig Yr Ysfa - Bwlch Eryl Farchog - Pen Yr Helgi Du - Tal y Brarch - Gwern Gof Uchaf - Glan Dena - Llyn Ogwen
|
|---|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10ml (16km) |
|---|---|
| Ascent: | 2,945ft (898m) |
| Time: | 6½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Capel Curig - Bron Heulog - Llyn Cowlyd - Pen Llithrig y Wrach - Bwlch y Tri Marchog - Pen Yr Helgi Du - Nant y Benglog - Capel Curig
|
|---|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 11ml (17.5km) |
|---|---|
| Ascent: | 3,641ft (1,110m) |
| Time: | 7.75hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Llyn Eigiau Car Park - Craig Eigiau - Gwaun Y Garnedd - Foel Grach - Carnedd Llewelyn - Craig Yr Ysfa - Bwlch Eryl Farchog - Pen yr Helgi Du - Bwlch y Tri Marchog - Pen Llithrig y Wrach - Cedryn - Hafod-y-rhrw - Llyn Eigiau Car Park
|
|---|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 11.5ml (18.5km) |
|---|---|
| Ascent: | 4,599ft (1,402m) |
| Time: | 8.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Llyn Ogwen - Glan Dena - Afon Lloer - Clogwyn Mawr - Bryn Mawr - Ffynnon Lloer - Cwm Lloer - Pen yr Ole Wen - Carnedd Dafydd - Cefn Ysgolion Duon - Bwlch Cyfryw-drum - Carnedd Llewelyn - Yr Elen - Craig Yr Ysfa - Bwlch Eryl Farchog - Pen Yr Helgi Du - Glan Dena - Llyn Ogwen
|
|---|
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 13.5ml (21.5km) |
|---|---|
| Ascent: | 4,477ft (1,364m) |
| Time: | 9½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Llyn Eigiau Car Park - Craig Eigiau - Cwm Eigiau - Pen Yr Helgi Du - Bwlch Tri Marchog - Pen Llithrig y Wrach - Llyn Colwyd Reservoir - Craiglwyn - Creigiau Gleision - Creigiau Gleision (North Top) - Eilio Farm - Llyn Eigiau Car Park
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Pen yr Helgi Du
Donovan Suddell walked up Pen yr Helgi Du on May 13th, 2024 [from/via/route] Llyn Ogwen [with] Solo [weather] Beautiful Sunny Day - Part of Carneddau Horseshoe
Adrian Haywood climbed Pen yr Helgi Du on January 22nd, 2023 [from/via/route] Pen yr Helgi Du & Pen Llithrig-y-Wrach circular [with] Darryl, Mike and Rob [weather] snow & cloudy & windy.
Melfyn Parry bagged Pen yr Helgi Du on January 12th, 2020 [from/via/route] Ascent of tarmac highway to leat. Along leat to ascend Y Braich to Pen yr Helgi Ddu and on to Pen Llithrig y Wrach returning down it's south ridge. Cross footbridge at south of LLyn Cowlyd followed the leat back to tarmac highway & returned to car park. [with] PRC [weather] Windy on Y Braich with hail showers.
Andy Buxton hiked Pen yr Helgi Du during August, 1964 [from/via/route] Dad - Took wrong turn: intended to Pen Llithrig, Pen Helgi & Carrneddau. Ended up doing Craig Eigiau & Pen y Castell as well. Very late back to Llanfairfechan.
Anthony Scott summited Pen yr Helgi Du on September 16th, 2018 [with] HF [weather] cloudy & drizzle
Hugh Strickland conquered Pen yr Helgi Du on September 1st, 2018 [from/via/route] 20 miles (just under 10 hours, 8500 feet) Capel Curig to Y Garn, down to Ogwen upPen Yr Ole Wen & back along Carneddau including Pen Llithrig y Wrach
Bleddyn Rhys scaled Pen yr Helgi Du on April 9th, 2018 [from/via/route] fynnu o'r A5 dilyn y llwybr amlwg ar y grib i Pen yr Helgi Ddu, lawr ir bwlch ar y dde ac i fynu i Pen Llithrig y Wrach. lawr heibio ceg y llyn ac yn ol ir lon drwy'r gors! [with] Gyda Caradog! [weather] Eithaf braf gyda cymylau ond sych a dim llawer o wynt mond ar y top Da iawn am fis Ebrill cynar. - Ddim yn hir iawn, a hawdd ei gyrraedd or ffordd gyda'r route yma. 3 awr in total Dod adra yn fwy anodd, mynd oddi ar y llwybr a ffeindio'n hynnain mewn cors wlub!
Mark Davidson walked up Pen yr Helgi Du on June 26th, 2003 [with] Alone [weather] Sunny & very hot - long tiring walk in such conditions - Ran out of water towards the end
Christina Lander climbed Pen yr Helgi Du on May 18th, 2016 [from/via/route] Llyn Eigiau - Pen Llithrig y Wrach - Pen Helgi Du - Carnedd Llywelyn - Foel Grach - Llyn Eigiau [with] Dick [weather] Cloudy on the tops
Iain Jones bagged Pen yr Helgi Du on March 29th, 2014 [from/via/route] Glan Dena, Llyn Ogwen [with] Jim Hamilton & Steven Hunt - 14 February 2015 - walked from Llyn Ogwen with Graeme High
John Drysdale has hiked Pen yr Helgi Du [from/via/route] Pen yr Ole Wen, Carnedd Dafyddd & Llewelyn [with] Solo [weather] Good clear, sunny & some breeze
Wyn Griffiths summited Pen yr Helgi Du on August 24th, 2014 [from/via/route] From Carnedd Llewellyn [with] Me [weather] Rained at Carnedd Dafydd - then sunny after Llewellyn - 140824
Gerald Murphy conquered Pen yr Helgi Du on July 9th, 2014 [from/via/route] A5 (parked at Gwern Gof Isaf (£2)). Took tarmacam reservoir track to Ffynnon Llugwy then steep path up to Bwlch Eryl Farchog then onto Carnedd Llywelyn. Had intended to walk on to Yr Elen but low dense cloud that hadn't been forecasted - but had persisted since getting up to Bwlch Eryl Farchog - made it impossible to see anything from the windbreak in any direction. I waited for 30 minutes to see if the fog would lift but was too cold to waity longer. It would have been too dangerous to attempt to find the path to Yr Elen so, after warming myself from my flask of tea I needed my compass to find the path back towards Ffynnon Llugwy. When I got to Bwlch Eryl Farchog I was now below the cloud base & had a clear view up to Pen Helgi Du so that's the way I got back, via Y Braich to the A5 & the car park. to find my way back to [with] alone [weather] Dense, low cloud above about 450m. High & cold wind. - Carnedd Llywelyn is no place to be in fog.
Robert Taylor-Marriott scaled Pen yr Helgi Du on April 27th, 2011 [from/via/route] Route 27: Pen yr Helgi Du & Pen Llithrig y Wrach (PYHD) completed 27.04.11 [with] Vince Wetton & Robert Taylor-Marriott. [weather] Cloudy, sunny, cold wind.
Jeremy Maguire walked up Pen yr Helgi Du on January 1st, 2013 [from/via/route] Capel Curig. [with] On my own. [weather] Cloudy & windy at the top. - New Years Day, stayed in Llandudno, at the St Heorge's Hotel.
David Lane climbed Pen yr Helgi Du on August 26th, 2009 [with] Kelly
Vince Wetton bagged Pen yr Helgi Du on April 28th, 2011 [with] RTM
Stuart Mellor hiked Pen yr Helgi Du on March 27th, 2008 [from/via/route] Glan Dena CW129 [with] Alone [weather] Deep snow that had fallen prior, bright sunshine with low cloud at times & cold breeze.
Louis Smith, Linda Mckeogh, Rachael Tyler, Paul Booth, Trevor Williams, Chris Bede and Pete Howes have all walked, climbed & bagged Pen yr Helgi Du.
To add (or remove) your name and experiences on this page - Log On and edit your Personal Mountain Bagging Record
. . . [see less walk reports]
More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Pen yr Helgi Du
Creigiau Gleision (left), Llyn Cowlyd Reservoir, Pen Llithrig y Wrach (centre) and Pen yr Helgi Du from Moel Eilio (Dolgarrog)
Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Pen yr Helgi Du
If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of Pen yr Helgi Du to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:
and we shall do our best to publish them.
(Guide Resolution = 300dpi. At least = 660pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).)
You can also submit photos via our Facebook Page.
NB. Please indicate where each photo was taken.
