WALES
20 GWYNEDD/CONWY GLYDER FAWR & FACH
■Distance: 8¼ miles/13.2km ■Time: 6-7 hours ■Grade: Challenging
SEE FEATURE ON PAGE 44
Sandwiched between the Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa massif and Carneddau mountains, the Glyder range is at the heart of Snowdonia’s most mountainous region.
Both Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach have amazing summit plateaus.
Yet it’s the comparatively diminutive Y Foel Goch that provides the most far-reaching views, with pretty much all the great ranges of North Wales within sight.
Add to this two historic mountain pubs –Pen y Gwryd Hotel at the start and Tyn-yCoed Hotel at the end – and you have one of the great Snowdonia experiences.
1Start
From bus stop cross road, turn L following roadside footpath.
After kissing gate, take footbridge R following clear trail to road/car park.
2 1 mile/1.7km
Continue along road, taking ladder stile R after YHA. Head through kissing gate and follow path uphill.
After passing small red-brick reservoir, take L fork along vague path heading towards Glyder Fawr.
Ascend small hill, passing large free-standing boulder near top and continue down, crossing boggy area, forking L uphill.
Continue WNW towards grassy gap between rocks on hill ahead. After passing particularly large, heather-topped rock on L, fork R heading steeply uphill, aiming for grassy strip between rocks.
PLAN YOUR WALK
ROUTE
Start/parking Free car park in Capel Curig, off A4086, grid ref SH720582, LL24 0EN.
Bus to start at Pen y Gwryd Hotel, grid ref SH660557.
Bus also stops at Pen y Pass (Pt 2)
Is it for me? 3000ft of ascent/descent, some very steep.
Paths mostly visible, but good nav required. Boggy areas, and some very light scrambling Stiles 3
PLANNING
Nearest town Llanberis
Refreshments Pen y Gwryd Hotel (01286 870211);
Caffi Gorphwysfa, Pen y Pass (01286 872245); Tyn-y-Coed Hotel, Capel Curig (01690 720331)
Public toilets Capel Curig, Pen y Pass car park
Public transport Bus S1 stops at Capel Curig and Pen y Gwryd Hotel
Maps OS Explorer OL17; Landranger 115
3 1¾ miles/3km
When almost at ridgetop, take vague grassy path R (rock marked red ahead). Several red markers guide to L side of ridge before path crosses ridgetop then continues up R side of ridge. Hop over bogs. At very steep section,
