Mountain (Hewitt) & Nuttall Icon

Cnicht
689m (2260ft)

The Moelwyns, Snowdonia, Gwynedd, Wales

Cnicht is often referred to as the Welsh Matterhorn. When viewed from the village of Croesor and the south-west, Cnicht appears to be a perfect pyramid shaped mountain that resembles the Matterhorn on the border between Italy and Switzerland.

The summit of Cnicht is marked by a rocky outcrop.

Cnicht is often referred to as the 'Welsh Matterhorn' due to its shape, particularly when viewed from Croesor. Cnicht means 'Knight' and is pronounced 'k-neecht'.


Record Cnicht as Bagged, Climbed & Conquered


Welsh Mountain Icon

Welsh Mountain
74th highest in Wales,
185th in England & Wales

Welsh Nuttall Icon

Welsh Nuttall
96th highest in Wales,
241st in England & Wales

You can find Cnicht & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)

Snowdonia National Park


1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):

OL17 Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa and Conwy Valley/Dyffryn Conwy


1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):

115 Snowdon & Caernarfon


See Cnicht and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:

See Cnicht and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Map:


You can walk to the top of Cnicht by using any of these 4 easy‑to‑follow route maps:
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Walk gw163 Cnicht from Nantgwynant

A steep rocky scramble up the Welsh Matterhorn

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 6.75ml (11km)
Ascent:2,369ft (722m)
Time:5 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 6 Icon (Hard)
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Walk gw131 Cnicht from Croesor

Cnicht offers almost a 360 degree panorama.

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 7.25ml (11.5km)
Ascent:2,273ft (693m)
Time:5 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 6 Icon (Moderate)
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Walk gw224 Cnicht, Hafod-yr-Hydd and Moelwyn Mawr from Croesor

Superb views of sea and valley.

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 9ml (14.5km)
Ascent:3,355ft (1,023m)
Time:6.75hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk gw173 Cnicht, Moel-yr-hydd, Moelwyn Mawr and Moelwyn Bach from Croesor

Superb views of sea and valley

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 10ml (16km)
Ascent:3,923ft (1,196m)
Time:7½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)

Other walkers who hiked, climbed, bagged and summited Cnicht Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Cnicht

Bronwen Chinien walked up Cnicht on February 5th, 2023 [from/via/route] From Croesor [with] Bronwen, Viken and Gethin [weather] Summer, sunny - Gethin's first mountain (age 4) - he loved scrambling up the rocks to peak. Had to carry him across boggy bits further round. German trio helped us with route finding.

Melfyn Parry climbed Cnicht on April 11th, 2019 [from/via/route] Start & finish at Croesor car park at SH631446. Steep tarmac road to start of the walking path. Ascent to summit of Cnicht was via well defined path. Stunning views in all directions. Descent from summit toward Llyn Adar before turning right to pass by Llynnau Dwyffos. Path a little boggy along here up to brow of hill. Descent to Rhosydd quarry & then up the old incline to stop for lunch. Ascent to ridge line & then followed fence to summit of Moelwyn Mawr. Descent back to car park via grassy slope, not too steep & then tarmac lane. [with] DS [weather] Mainly sunny & warm, occasional cold breeze.

Mark Smith bagged Cnicht on March 13th, 2010 [weather] cold but sunny

Sion Britton hiked Cnicht on May 30th, 2021 [from/via/route] O Croesor. [with] Rhiannon [weather] Braf

Donovan Suddell summited Cnicht on April 10th, 2021 [from/via/route] Croesor using gw173 [with] My wife [weather] Sunny & clear, odd sprinkle of snow - gw173 is a mighty fine walk, & Cnicht is a special mountain

Andy Buxton conquered Cnicht during August, 1963 [from/via/route] From Blaen Namor & down to Croesor [with] Dad

Iain Jones scaled Cnicht on November 29th, 2019 [from/via/route] Croesor [with] Nicola Jones

Wynne Roberts walked up Cnicht on June 16th, 2019 [from/via/route] Nantgwynant [with] Gareth [weather] Sunny spells. Breezy - Paths obscured in places, difficult to determine route, very boggy.

Anthony Scott climbed Cnicht on July 30th, 2018 [with] Dave Cross (HF)

Bleddyn Rhys bagged Cnicht on May 5th, 2018 [from/via/route] Cychwyn o'r Crimea. Allt-fawr, rownt top Cwmorthin ac drost Cnicht cyn disgyn lawr i Ring Llanfrothan am rescue pickup! [with] Ar ben fy hyn! [weather] Braf iawn - sgortchar! - 15 Km - 4 awr a hanner Rhedeg yr holl ffordd lawr or Cnicht i pub am fy mod yn hwyr, ond dal i gyraedd cyn y rescue team! Golygfeudd gwych or'r Moelwynions - gyda cwmwl yn rhowlio trostynt tra on ni'n yr haul!

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. . . [see more walk reports]



More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Cnicht

The Watkin Path, Nantgwynant and Cnicht on the horizon from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

The Watkin Path, Nantgwynant and Cnicht on the horizon from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Victoria Ashley (1)

Cnicht and Rhosydd Quarry from Moel-yr-hydd

Cnicht and Rhosydd Quarry from Moel-yr-hydd

Photo: Steve Unwin (9)

The north-west ridge of Molewyn Mawr (left) with Cnicht, Cnicht (North Top) and Ysgafell Wen (far right) across Cwm Croesor and Clogwyn Brith from the summit of Moelwyn Mawr

The north-west ridge of Molewyn Mawr (left) with Cnicht, Cnicht (North Top) and Ysgafell Wen (far right) across Cwm Croesor and Clogwyn Brith from the summit of Moelwyn Mawr

Photo: Martin Talbot (25)

My friend Carol on Cnicht

My friend Carol on Cnicht

Photo: Judith Blair (1)

Cnicht from Croesor

Cnicht from Croesor

Photo: Steve Unwin (1)

Cnicht - aka The Welsh Matterhorn from Croesor Bach

Cnicht - aka The Welsh Matterhorn from Croesor Bach

Photo: Martin Talbot (6)

View from the summit of Cnicht down into Cwm Croesor

View from the summit of Cnicht down into Cwm Croesor

Photo: Terry Merrington (6)

Moelwyn Mawr from the summit of Cnicht - the Welsh Matterhorn

Moelwyn Mawr from the summit of Cnicht - the Welsh Matterhorn

Photo: Martin Talbot (8)

Cnicht and Cnicht (North Top) with The Snowdon Range beyond from Moelwyn Mawr

Cnicht and Cnicht (North Top) with The Snowdon Range beyond from Moelwyn Mawr

Photo: Gerald Murphy (53)

Cnicht from above Croesor bach

Cnicht from above Croesor bach

Photo: Terry Merrington (2)

Moel-yr-hydd (left) and Moelwyn Mawr (centre) from the summit of Cnicht - the Welsh Matterhorn

Moel-yr-hydd (left) and Moelwyn Mawr (centre) from the summit of Cnicht - the Welsh Matterhorn

Photo: Martin Talbot (9)

Rhosydd Quarry ruins with Cnicht (left) and Cnicht (North Top) beyond

Rhosydd Quarry ruins with Cnicht (left) and Cnicht (North Top) beyond

Photo: Martin Talbot (19)

Cnicht from Moel Yr Ogof

Cnicht from Moel Yr Ogof

Photo: Gerald Murphy (193)

Cnicht and Cnicht (North Top) across Cwm Croesor from the summit of Moelwyn Mawr

Cnicht and Cnicht (North Top) across Cwm Croesor from the summit of Moelwyn Mawr

Photo: Martin Talbot (27)

Cnicht - aka The Welsh Matterhorn - from the lane out of Croesor

Cnicht - aka The Welsh Matterhorn - from the lane out of Croesor

Photo: Martin Talbot (3)

Me and my partner Mark on Cnicht

Me and my partner Mark on Cnicht

Photo: Joanne Hannon (1)

Cnicht from Croesor Quarry

Cnicht from Croesor Quarry

Photo: Steve Unwin (2)

Terry on the summit of Cnicht

Terry on the summit of Cnicht

Photo: Terry Merrington (3)

My dad on the summit of Yr Aran in the snow with Cnicht & Moelwyn Mawr on the horizon (left centre) and Lyn Dinas in the Nantgwynant valley below (right)

My dad on the summit of Yr Aran in the snow with Cnicht & Moelwyn Mawr on the horizon (left centre) and Lyn Dinas in the Nantgwynant valley below (right)

Photo: Kate Smith (1)

Llyn y Biswail with Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in the distance from the summit of Cnicht (North Top)

Llyn y Biswail with Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in the distance from the summit of Cnicht (North Top)

Photo: Martin Talbot (11)


. . . see all 35 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Cnicht


Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Cnicht

If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of Cnicht to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:



and we shall do our best to publish them.

(Guide Resolution = 300dpi. At least = 660pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).)

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