Mountain (Hewitt) & Nuttall Icon

Pen yr Ole Wen
978m (3210ft)

The Carneddau, Snowdonia, Conwy, Wales

Pen yr Ole Wen means 'Light White Top' in Welsh and is pronounced 'pen-ur-olli-oo-en'.

The summit of Pen yr Ole Wen is marked by a cairn.


Record Pen yr Ole Wen as Bagged, Climbed & Conquered


Welsh Mountain Icon

Welsh Mountain
7th highest in Wales,
7th in England & Wales

Welsh Nuttall Icon

Welsh Nuttall
7th highest in Wales,
7th in England & Wales

Walk Pen yr Ole Wen walking UK Mountains in The Carneddau Snowdonia National Park ConwyGwynedd, Wales

The view from the summit of Pen yr Ole Wen

Photo: Robert Jones

You can find Pen yr Ole Wen & 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 Pen yr Ole Wen and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:

See Pen yr Ole Wen and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Map:


Not familiar with Pen yr Ole Wen?

See the location of Pen yr Ole Wen and all 3 walks that climb it on an interactive Google Map


You can walk to the top of Pen yr Ole Wen by using any of these 3 easy‑to‑follow route maps:
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Walk cw202 Pen yr Ole Wen via the South Western Ridge from Ogwen Cottage, Llyn Ogwen

Very steep climb - not for the inexperienced

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 4.5ml (7km)
Ascent:2,329ft (710m)
Time:4 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 5 Icon (Moderate)
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Walk cw113 Pen Yr Ole Wen, Carnedd Dafydd, Carnedd Llewelyn and Pen Yr Helgi Du from Glan Dena, Llyn Ogwen

A fine high walk with dramatic views

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 9.75ml (15.5km)
Ascent:3,523ft (1,074m)
Time:7 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk cw129 The Welsh 3000's (Carneddau) from Glan Dena, Llyn Ogwen

Peak baggers paradise

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 11.5ml (18.5km)
Ascent:4,599ft (1,402m)
Time:8.75hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)

Other walkers who hiked, climbed, bagged and summited Pen yr Ole Wen Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Pen yr Ole Wen

Hazel Gilbert walked up Pen yr Ole Wen on May 12th, 2007 [with] Lawrence [weather] Sunny

Donovan Suddell climbed Pen yr Ole Wen on March 26th, 2024 [from/via/route] Aber Falls [with] Solo [weather] misty on summits

Melfyn Parry bagged Pen yr Ole Wen on August 18th, 2019 [from/via/route] Start point A5 near Glan Dena, ascent to ridge between Creigiau Malwod and Craig Llugwy, turned right along Bwlch Cyfryw Drum then turned right to follow path to summit of Yr Elen, retraced steps to join path to summit of Carnedd Llewellyn before descending back to ridge to follow path to summit of Carnedd Dafydd. Lunch stop here before descending along path to continue up to summit of Pen yr Oleu Wen. Descent from here back to start. [with] PRC [weather] Strong winds but dry. Cool at times.

Neall Garrad hiked Pen yr Ole Wen on June 22nd, 2007 [from/via/route] 15 peaks route from Nant Peris to Llanfairfechan [with] Andy, Chris, John and Warren [weather] Mixed

Adrian Haywood summited Pen yr Ole Wen on October 17th, 2021 [from/via/route] From Ogwen cottage [with] Rob and Steve [weather] Wet

Andy Buxton conquered Pen yr Ole Wen on June 22nd, 1968 [from/via/route] 14 Peaks (but done before & since) [with] BVGS

Angela Moroney scaled Pen yr Ole Wen during 2017 - 2017 3PEAKS

Wynne Roberts walked up Pen yr Ole Wen on June 22nd, 2019 [from/via/route] From Aber Falls to Llyn Ogwen over the Carneddau [with] Gareth [weather] Sunny, warm, no wind & very clear - Took us 8 hours to do 8 peaks over 2000ft

Alan Pritchard climbed Pen yr Ole Wen on October 5th, 2014 [with] A group [weather] Good - Walked the 15 peaks in 24 hours challenge - enjoyed... πŸ˜ŽπŸšΆβ€β™‚οΈ

Christina Lander bagged Pen yr Ole Wen on September 28th, 2018 [from/via/route] Llyn Ogwen - Cwm Lloer - Pen yr Ole Wen - Carnedd Dafydd - Carnedd Llewelyn - Pen yr Helgi Du - Y Braich - Llyn Ogwen [with] Dick & Meg [weather] A fine, dry day with mostly great visibility. A bit in the clouds at times, but mostly lovely weather. Not much wind at all on the summits. - Meg enjoyed her scrambling experience, she was great!

To add (or remove) your name and experiences on this page - Log On and edit your Personal Mountain Bagging Record

. . . [see more walk reports]



Not familiar with Pen yr Ole Wen?

See the location of Pen yr Ole Wen and all 3 walks that climb it on an interactive Google Map


More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Pen yr Ole Wen

Alan and Nikki on Y Garn (Glyderau) in the snow with Pen yr Ole Wen (left) and Tryfan above Llyn Idwal (right) in the background

Alan and Nikki on Y Garn (Glyderau) in the snow with Pen yr Ole Wen (left) and Tryfan above Llyn Idwal (right) in the background

Photo: Alan Rebbeck (1)

Ogwen Cottage, Nant Ffrancon and the shoulder of Pen yr Ole Wen from Llyn Idwal

Ogwen Cottage, Nant Ffrancon and the shoulder of Pen yr Ole Wen from Llyn Idwal

Photo: Chris Player (8)

Nant y Benglog, Llyn Ogwen and Tryfan from Pen yr Ole Wen

Nant y Benglog, Llyn Ogwen and Tryfan from Pen yr Ole Wen

Photo: Will Caesar (6)

Llyn Ogwen and Nant y Benglog from Pen yr Ole Wen

Llyn Ogwen and Nant y Benglog from Pen yr Ole Wen

Photo: Will Caesar (11)

Ffynnon Lloe from Pen yr Ole Wen

Ffynnon Lloe from Pen yr Ole Wen

Photo: Robert Jones (6)

Pen yr Ole Wen from Y Garn (Glyderau)

Pen yr Ole Wen from Y Garn (Glyderau)

Photo: Geoff Smithson (32)

Pen yr Ole Wen from Llyn y Cwm on Cwm Idwal

Pen yr Ole Wen from Llyn y Cwm on Cwm Idwal

Photo: Mike Knipe (118)

Y Garn (Glyderau) (far left), Foel-goch (Glyderau), Carnedd y Filliast, Ogwen Cottage, Nant Ffrancon and the shoulder of Pen yr Ole Wen (right) from Llyn Idwal

Y Garn (Glyderau) (far left), Foel-goch (Glyderau), Carnedd y Filliast, Ogwen Cottage, Nant Ffrancon and the shoulder of Pen yr Ole Wen (right) from Llyn Idwal

Photo: Chris Player (9)

Pen yr Ole Wen, Llyn Clyd, Llyn Ogwen, Llyn Idwal, Tryfan, Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr, Crib Goch and Garnedd Ugain from Y Garn (Glyderau)

Pen yr Ole Wen, Llyn Clyd, Llyn Ogwen, Llyn Idwal, Tryfan, Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr, Crib Goch and Garnedd Ugain from Y Garn (Glyderau)

Photo: Gerard Molloy (3)

Llyn Clyd from Pen yr Ole Wen

Llyn Clyd from Pen yr Ole Wen

Photo: Robert Jones (4)

Pen yr Ole Wen across Nant Ffrancon from Foel-goch

Pen yr Ole Wen across Nant Ffrancon from Foel-goch

Photo: Peter Scholes (9)

Pen yr Ole Wen and Pen yr Helgi Du from Bwlch y Cywion

Pen yr Ole Wen and Pen yr Helgi Du from Bwlch y Cywion

Photo: Peter Scholes (4)

Pen yr Ole Wen and Llyn Idwal from the top of Twll Du or The Devil's Kitchen in the snow

Pen yr Ole Wen and Llyn Idwal from the top of Twll Du or The Devil's Kitchen in the snow

Photo: Don Williams (7)

Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr and Idwal Cottage from Pen yr Ole Wen

Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr and Idwal Cottage from Pen yr Ole Wen

Photo: Chris Clarke (9)

My two nephews, Paul and Nick, on Pen yr Ole Wen in the Carneddau mountains in winter. Prominent in the background is the Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) and Y Garn (Glyderau) - standing proud in Alpine conditions.

My two nephews, Paul and Nick, on Pen yr Ole Wen in the Carneddau mountains in winter. Prominent in the background is the Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) and Y Garn (Glyderau) - standing proud in Alpine conditions.

Photo: Michael Ellis (1)

Pen Yr Ole Wen from near Llyn Idwal

Pen Yr Ole Wen from near Llyn Idwal

Photo: Geoff Smithson (23)

Pen yr Ole Wen and Llyn Ogwen from Y Garn (Glyderau)

Pen yr Ole Wen and Llyn Ogwen from Y Garn (Glyderau)

Photo: Gerard Molloy (10)

Pen Yr Ole Wen and Nant Ffrancon from Y Garn (Glyderau)

Pen Yr Ole Wen and Nant Ffrancon from Y Garn (Glyderau)

Photo: Geoff Smithson (35)

Llyn Idwal and Pen yr Ole Wen from below Glyder Fawr

Llyn Idwal and Pen yr Ole Wen from below Glyder Fawr

Photo: Chris Clarke (8)

Tryfan from Pen yr Ole Wen

Tryfan from Pen yr Ole Wen

Photo: Robert Jones (3)


. . . see all 24 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Pen yr Ole Wen


Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Pen yr Ole Wen

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



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See the location of Pen yr Ole Wen and all 3 walks that climb it on an interactive Google Map





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