Cambria Sports Culture CIC Cymraeg

All walksEryri: Ffestiniog and the Moelwynion

Eryri: Ffestiniog and the Moelwynion

Cwm Bychan and the Aberglaslyn Pass

Up a hanging valley past the pylons of an abandoned aerial ropeway, returning through the gorge on the Fisherman’s Path.

Distance
4.3 mi / 7 km
Time
2 hr 30
Ascent
300 m
Difficulty
Demanding
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 Cwm Bychan from Nantmor past the copper mine workings to Bwlch y Sygun, then descend and return through the Aberglaslyn Pass.

Worth knowing

  • The rusting pylons carried buckets of copper ore down the valley and are a striking sight.
  • The Fisherman’s Path has chains and handholds on the rock above the river.
  • Take a torch if returning through the railway tunnels.

What you’ll see

The ropeway pylons and mine workings, the Glaslyn gorge, and the pass from above.

Background

The Sygun and Cwm Bychan mines worked copper into the early twentieth century and the ropeway carried ore to the valley floor.