   |
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10mls (16km) |
| Ascent: | 3,923ft (1,196m) |
| Time: | 7½hrs |
| Grade: |  |
Route outline for walk gw173:
Croesor - Croesor Bach - Cnicht - Cnicht (North Top) - Llyn Yr Adar - Afon Cwm-y-foel - Llyn Cwm-corsiog - Clogwyn Birth - Rhosydd Quarry - Moel-yr-hydd - Moelwyn Mawr (North Ridge Top) - Moelwyn Mawr - Craigysgafn - Bwlch Stwlan - Moelwyn Bach - Croesor
Points of Interest/Notes on this walk:
Rhosydd Quarry opened in 1840 and employed some 200 men. Since closing in 1930, the ruined buildings have become dangerous and unstable. Whilst a fascinating place to wander and imagine, best stay out of the buildings and tunnels.
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'.
Peaks, Summits and Tops reached on this walk:
 4 Welsh Mountains |
 0 Wainwrights |
 6 Welsh Nuttalls |
 0 Welsh Deweys |
 0 Wainwright Outlying Fells |
 1 Welsh Marilyn |
 0 Bridgets |
Peak Bagging Statistics for this walk:
The highest point of this walk is Moelwyn Mawr at 770m (2527ft). Moelwyn Mawr is classified as a Welsh Mountain (Hewitt) (43rd highest in Wales, 103rd highest in England & Wales)
Moelwyn Mawr is also known as a Welsh Nuttall (54th highest in Wales, 127th highest in England & Wales) and a Welsh Marilyn (19th highest in Wales, 448th highest in the UK).
Moelwyn Mawr means 'Big White Bare Hill' in Welsh. The summit of Moelwyn Mawr is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point.
Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Moelwyn Bach at 710m (2330ft). Moelwyn Bach is classified as a Welsh Mountain (Hewitt) (64th highest in Wales, 159th highest in England & Wales)
Moelwyn Bach is also known as a Welsh Nuttall (83rd highest in Wales, 201st highest in England & Wales). Moelwyn Bach means 'Small White Bare Hill' in Welsh. The summit of Moelwyn Bach is marked by a cairn.
You will also reach the summit of Craigysgafn at 689m (2263ft). Craigysgafn is also known as a Welsh Nuttall (94th highest in Wales, 238th highest in England & Wales). Craigysgafn means 'Pile of Rocks' in Welsh.
Along the way you will also bag:
- Cnicht at 689m (2260ft). Cnicht is classified as a Welsh Mountain (Hewitt) (74th Wales, 185th Eng & Wal) and a Welsh Nuttall (96th highest in Wales, 241st highest in England & Wales). The summit of Cnicht is marked by a rocky outcrop. 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.
- Cnicht (North Top) at 688m (2257ft). Cnicht (North Top) is known as a Welsh Nuttall (98th highest in Wales, 243rd highest in England & Wales).
- Moel-yr-hydd at 648m (2127ft). Moel-yr-hydd is classified as a Welsh Mountain (Hewitt) (105th Wales, 252nd Eng & Wal) and a Welsh Nuttall (142nd highest in Wales, 336th highest in England & Wales). Moel-yr-hydd means 'Bare Hill with Stag' in Welsh.
- Moelwyn Mawr (North Ridge Top) at 646m (2120ft). Moelwyn Mawr (North Ridge Top) means 'Big White Bare Hill' in Welsh.
You can find more walks near this one on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
Some Photos and Pictures from Walk gw173 Cnicht, Moel-yr-hydd, Moelwyn Mawr and Moelwyn Bach from Croesor
In no particular order . . .
Cnicht (centre) and Cnicht (North Top) (right) from the lower slopes of Moelwyn Bach
Cnicht and Cnicht (North Top) with The Snowdon Range beyond from Moelwyn Mawr
The Snowdon Range - Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) and Y Lliwedd - from Cnicht
Me on Cnicht with Moel-yr-hydd (left) and Moelwyn Mawr (right) in the background
Moelwyn Bach, Bwlch Stwlan, Craigysgafn and Moelwyn Mawr from near Rhosydd Quarry
Llyn y Biswail with Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in the distance from the summit of Cnicht (North Top)
Descent path from Moelwyn Bach to Bwlch Stwlan with Llyn Stwlan below right
Porthmadoc and Tremadoc Bay/Bae Tremadog from the summit of Cnicht - the Welsh Matterhorn
Moelwyn Bach, Bwlch Stwlan, Craigysgafn, Moelwyn Mawr and Moelwyn Mawr (North Ridge Top) (far right) from the col below Moel-yr-hydd
Tanygrisiau Reservoir (bottom left), Llyn Trawsfynydd and Moel Ysgyfarnogod (distance right) from the summit of Moel-yr-hydd
Moel-yr-hydd, Llyn Stwlan, Tanygisiau Dam and Blaenau Ffestiniog from Craigysgafn
Moel-yr-hydd (left) and Moelwyn Mawr (centre) from the summit of Cnicht - the Welsh Matterhorn
Croseor with The Moel Hebog mountains beyond from the summit of Craigysgafn
Moel-yr-hydd, Llyn Stwlan, Tanygisiau Dam and Blaenau Ffestiniog from Craigysgafn
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
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl), Y Lliwedd (foreground) and Crib Gochrom from near Llyn yr Adar
Cnicht and Cnicht (North Top) across Cwm Croesor from the summit of Moelwyn Mawr
Cnicht (North Top) from Cnicht with Carnedd Moel Siabod lit by sunlight in the distance (left)
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