North Wales, Day 2 - Craig Las and Craig Y Llyn, Cadair Idris, Dolgellau (2 x Nuttalls, Snowdonia).

Updated: Oct 3, 2020

24.4.19 - Craig Las 661m and Craig Y Llyn 622m

I absolutely adore the Cadair Idris area and though I’d hiked this route before it is always a pleasure to revisit.

Starting at the NT car park at Ty Nant (£3 4hrs £6 all day) you simply head (SW) straight up the Pony Path to Rhiw Gwredydd and turn right (W). About 1.5ks later (4ks total 500m of ascent) your on top of Craig Las with stunning vistas all round of Cadair, Cregennen Lakes, Pared Y Cefn Hir, the Mawddach Estuary...the lot!

You start to head SW, downhill and then back uphill, 2.5ks later you’ve also done Craig Y Llyn. Two Nuttalls done within 2 hrs and a height gain of 650m. Note: Oddly there is nothing on either summits.

You keep on the same path but now come round in a big loop to Craig Cwm Llwyd cliffs. You edge the forest following a fence for a km and a half until you hit a forestry track coming out of the forest. Simply follow this downhill and NE for about 3kms until you hit an UC road. Turn right here and shortly after turn left to Cregennen lakes.

Now this area is stunning and I went walkabout on the small hills around the lake (trout fishing area). Alas I was out of luck as it began to rain which is a pity as this area is so so picturesque. A true hidden gem! More so as just on the other side of the lakes is Pared Y Cefn Hir, a rocky 2km spine of rocks. Nowhere is it more than 400m high but it is simply outstandingly scenic and a half decent scramble too. It rears its head like a little Matterhorn!

Coming off PYCH brings you to the idyllically located farmstead at Tyn Llidiart. After this it’s plain sailing to cross a field to a rough vehicle track that joins a UC road that heads South. A km and a half later your back on the ‘home run’ road where you hang a left and fifteen minutes later your finished.

Route Summary: High escarpment hike down to a valley with beautiful fishing lakes and then along a spine of small humps with some decent scrambling (if you want). A stunning all round hike with a bit of everything.

Route Statistics: A 20.5km hike with a 1,000 meters of height gain done in 6hrs.

GPX files:For gpx files go to the Peakbagger website by following this link and go to the bottom right hand of the page and click ‘Download this GPS track as a GPX file.’

Ascent Entry: Craig Las and Craig Y Llyn