Lake Vyrnwy & the Berwyn

Cadair Berwyn and Moel Sych

The highest ground in Wales outside Eryri and the Bannau. Serious weather, poor paths in places, and one of the finest hidden lakes in the country.

Distance: 7.5 mi / 12 km
Time: 4 hr 30
Ascent: 600 m
Difficulty: Strenuous
Shape: Circular

Where it is

The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.

The route

Climb from the falls onto the ridge, follow it north over Moel Sych and Cadair Berwyn with Llyn Lluncaws below, and descend by a parallel line to complete a circuit.

Worth knowing

Navigation skills needed in cloud. The plateau is broad and featureless.
Llyn Lluncaws in its hollow below the ridge is the highlight and worth the detour to see properly.
Ground-nesting birds from March to July. Dogs on leads without exception.

What you’ll see

Llyn Lluncaws, blanket bog, ravens, and an enormous empty skyline in every direction.

Background

The Berwyn is one of the largest tracts of unbroken blanket bog and heather moor in Wales, protected for its breeding birds including hen harrier and golden plover.