Walk gw224 Cnicht, Hafod-yr-Hydd and Moelwyn Mawr from Croesor

This 9 mile, Grade 7 (Hard), easy-to-follow, hand-crafted walk, complete with GPS Waypoints, starts at Croesor & will take about 6¾ hrs to complete.

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Vital Statistics:

Length:9mls (14.5km)
Ascent:3,355ft (1,023m)
Time:6¾hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7_23_with_text.png Icon

Route outline for walk gw224:

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

Points of Interest/Notes on this walk:

Rhosydd Quarry opened in 1840 and employed some 200 men. Since closing in 1930, the ruined buildings have become dangerous and unstable. Whilst a fascinating place to wander and imagine, best stay out of the buildings and tunnels.

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'.

Peaks, Summits and Tops reached on this walk:

Hewitt Icon
3
Welsh
Mountains
Wainwright Icon
0
Wainwrights
Welsh Nuttall Icon
4
Welsh
Nuttalls
Dewey Icon
0
Welsh
Deweys
Wainwright Outlying Fell Icon
0
Wainwright
Outlying Fells
Marilyn Icon
1
Welsh
Marilyn
Bridget Icon
0
Bridgets

Peak Bagging Statistics for this walk:

The highest point of this walk is Moelwyn Mawr at 770m (2527ft). Moelwyn Mawr is classified as a Welsh Mountain (Hewitt) (43rd highest in Wales, 103rd highest in England & Wales)

Moelwyn Mawr is also known as a Welsh Nuttall (54th highest in Wales, 127th highest in England & Wales) and a Welsh Marilyn (19th highest in Wales, 448th highest in the UK).

Moelwyn Mawr means 'Big White Bare Hill' in Welsh. The summit of Moelwyn Mawr is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point.

Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Cnicht at 689m (2260ft). Cnicht is classified as a Welsh Mountain (Hewitt) (74th highest in Wales, 185th highest in England & Wales)

Cnicht is also known as a Welsh Nuttall (96th highest in Wales, 241st highest in England & Wales). The summit of Cnicht is marked by a rocky outcrop. 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.

You will also reach the summit of Cnicht (North Top) at 688m (2257ft). Cnicht (North Top) is also known as a Welsh Nuttall (98th highest in Wales, 243rd highest in England & Wales).

Along the way you will also bag and tick-off:

  • Moel-yr-hydd at 648m (2127ft). Moel-yr-hydd is classified as a Welsh Mountain (Hewitt) (105th Wales, 252nd Eng & Wal) and a Welsh Nuttall (142nd highest in Wales, 336th highest in England & Wales). Moel-yr-hydd means 'Bare Hill with Stag' in Welsh.

You can find this walk and other nearby walks on these unique Interactive Walk Planning Maps:

(worth a look if you're new to go4awalk.com & have never seen one of these before.)

Snowdonia National Park


1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Maps (orange/yellow covers):

OS Explorer OL17 Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa and Conwy Valley/Dyffryn Conwy

OS Explorer OL18 Harlech, Porthmadog & Bala/Y Bala


1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Maps (pink/magenta covers):

OS Landranger 115 Snowdon & Caernarfon


OS Landranger 124 Dolgellau & Porthmadog



Some Photos and Pictures from Walk gw224 Cnicht, Hafod-yr-Hydd and Moelwyn Mawr from Croesor

In no particular order . . .

Craigysgafn and Moelwyn Bach from the summit of Moelwyn Mawr

Craigysgafn and Moelwyn Bach from the summit of Moelwyn Mawr

Photo: Martin Talbot (31)

Moelwyn Mawr from the track across Croesor Bach

Moelwyn Mawr from the track across Croesor Bach

Photo: Martin Talbot (5)

Tanygrisiau Reservoir (bottom left), Llyn Trawsfynydd and Moel Ysgyfarnogod (distance right) from the summit of Moel-yr-hydd

Tanygrisiau Reservoir (bottom left), Llyn Trawsfynydd and Moel Ysgyfarnogod (distance right) from the summit of Moel-yr-hydd

Photo: Martin Talbot (22)

Ruined buildings and machinery in Rhosydd Quarry

Ruined buildings and machinery in Rhosydd Quarry

Photo: Martin Talbot (17)

Llyn Cwmorthin, Allt y Ceffylau and Allt-fawr from Moel-yr-hydd

Llyn Cwmorthin, Allt y Ceffylau and Allt-fawr from Moel-yr-hydd

Photo: Mike Knipe (200)

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl), Y Lliwedd (foreground) and Crib Gochrom from near Llyn yr Adar

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl), Y Lliwedd (foreground) and Crib Gochrom from near Llyn yr Adar

Photo: Gerald Murphy (33)

Rhosydd Quarry ruins with Cnicht (left) and Cnicht (North Top) beyond

Rhosydd Quarry ruins with Cnicht (left) and Cnicht (North Top) beyond

Photo: Martin Talbot (19)

Me and my best friend Emily on Cnicht

Me and my best friend Emily on Cnicht

Photo: Alice Henderson (1)

Porthmadoc and Tremadoc Bay/Bae Tremadog from the summit of Cnicht - the Welsh Matterhorn

Porthmadoc and Tremadoc Bay/Bae Tremadog from the summit of Cnicht - the Welsh Matterhorn

Photo: Martin Talbot (7)

Ruined buildings in Rhosydd Quarry

Ruined buildings in Rhosydd Quarry

Photo: Martin Talbot (16)


. . . load all 63 walk photos from Walk gw224 Cnicht, Hafod-yr-Hydd and Moelwyn Mawr from Croesor


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