All walks › Eryri: Ogwen and the Carneddau
Eryri: Ogwen and the CarneddauPen yr Ole Wen
The steepest sustained climb in Eryri from the roadside, straight up the south ridge from Ogwen onto the southern end of the Carneddau.
- Distance
- 3.7 mi / 6 km
- Time
- 4 hr
- Ascent
- 700 m
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
- Shape
- There and back
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
The direct south ridge from Llyn Ogwen gains seven hundred metres in about a mile and a half. The gentler alternative starts from Glan Dena and comes up via Cwm Lloer.
Worth knowing
- The direct ridge is relentless and involves hands-on scrambling. The Cwm Lloer route is longer and far more pleasant.
- Loose rock on the direct line; do not climb it with people below you.
- From the summit the Carneddau plateau opens out and you can walk for hours without dropping much height.
What you’ll see
Llyn Ogwen shrinking below, Tryfan opposite, and the whole Carneddau plateau from the top.
Background
The name means the head of the white light, from the way the summit catches early sun above the Ogwen valley.