Glyderau traverse, Snowdonia
Test your mettle and try to make it to the Vaynol with an east-west traverse of the Glyderau mountain range.
You know those long summer days in the mountains that you never want to end? This is one of those days. A challenging tour du Glyder, starting in Capel Curig and ending with a refresher at the Vaynol in Nant Peris, taking in Gallt yr Ogof, Y Foel Goch, Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr, Y Garn, Foel Goch, Mynydd Perfedd, Carnedd y Ffiliast, and last but by no means least Elidir Fawr! Phew. It’s hard work even saying them in one go.
The route starts off on a reasonably gentle footing by travelling a broad ridge, and soon starts to get interesting. You can look but not touch Tryfan, unless you’re hardcore. Otherwise, highlights of the day include the famous Cantilever stone, which balances on the slab-strewn summit of Glyder Fach and mooching across the alien moonscape of Glyder Fawr and one of my own favourite activities for summer days in the mountains – lounging by Llyn y Cwn and enjoying the flowers. You could cut the day there and descend Cwm Padrig to Nant, but the head (and leg) strong will soldier on for the second half to descend via Elidir Fawr.
1
SH720581 Follow the road to the left of Joe Brown’s shop for 250m, leaving it after the gate near the house , and climb up to Cefn y Capel. It’s a straightforward walk across the broad ridge. At the next rise, cross the wall, and after another one, take the right fork in the path to summit Gallt yr Ogof. Continue south-west to Y Foel Goch, then Llyn Caseg Fraith.
2
SH669582 From the lake, continue west to Glyder Fach. Keep right as you approach the boulder field on an obvious path that is littered with cairns for the easiest route through the blocks. Aim for the area at the top of Bristly Ridge. On the levelling out, continue for about 25m then bear left up another small rise and south-west onto the summit area. Get some pics on the Cantilever stone.
3
SH657583 From the Cantilever, the easiest descent is west initially, passing to the right of the summit mound of Glyder Fach, then south-west, keeping left of Castell y Gwynt. This is the trickiest area of route-finding for the day. There are lots of options off the summit but this is easiest. Expect some awkward scrambling over blocks if you stray from the most worn path. Definitely pass Castell y Gwynt on its left, then continue westward below it to Bwlch y Ddwy Glyder. Keep left to avoid straying to Y Gribyn. Follow the track uphill and then onto Glyder Fawr. The route here is again lined with cairns. The plateaux areas of the two Glyder mountains can be tricky to navigate in poor weather.
4
SH642579 From Glyder Fawr, descend the worn track south-west for 50m then north-west, descending to Llyn y Cwn through a steep and badly eroded scree run. Stay within the runnels and try not to widen or add to them. This section will get worse as more tracks are made. From the lake, follow the obvious path north-west, which climbs to Y Garn.
The section of path after the fence line is easy to follow but is also being eroded. Impact reduction is important.
5
SH630595 The summit of Y Garn has a lovely shelter. Descend north, keeping left at the split to avoid the north-east ridge. It’s north-west/north to Bwlch y Cwywion and on to Foel Goch via a nice track on grassy terrain. Mynydd Perfedd is next by crossing on the left of a narrowing ridge via a solid but steep path. Take the right-hand split in the path and rise to the summit. From here, it’s north for a quick out-and-back to Carnedd y Filiast – about 15 minutes each way. Or, from Mynydd Perfedd, descend southwest and cross Bwlch y Marchlyn for the final climb to Elidir Fawr, taking a fairly well defined path through rocky ground.
SH611613 From the 6 summit of Elidir Fawr, there is a descent path on the left-hand side. Pick your way through the boulders, then onto an easier track, and descend a steep, grassy slope south-west down to the Afon Dudodyn. The footbridge over the river was washed away in 2018. Recommend you cross a little further downstream at SH608595. Still, make your own judgement on where is safe. Follow the track that curves around to the south, crossing a series of walls before joining the road. Turn left and follow it back down to the Vaynol!