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Walk up Crimpiau from Capel Curig

By Dave Roberts   

on January 27, 2023    3.67/5 (3)

Posted as a walk in – Europe, Snowdonia National Park, The Carneddau, Wales

Walk up Crimpiau from Capel Curig

Route Essentials

Route Summary

Though she be little, she be fierce.

A short walk up the summit of Crimpiau that’s a little more challenging than it appears on paper!

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

7km

Ascent

280 m

Time

2 - 3 houirs

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Capel Curig -Junction of the A5 and A4086

Difficulty

Hard Walk

Hazards

The route is often either pathless or some navigation is required where the going isn’t always apparent.

Some sections are steep and can be slippery and loose.

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Snowdonia Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Walk up Crimpiau from Capel Curig Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Walk up Crimpiau from Capel Curig

For the height, the lowly summit of Crimpiau is one of the best viewpoints in Eryri. The summit offers uninterrupted views down towards Tryfan and Ogwen in one direction, whilst Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon Horseshoe fills the other. You just don’t know where to look!

It’s an ideal short walk from Capel Curig if you’ve got a spare half day or for those lazy afternoons, where you can just take your time on the summit. For more challenge you can couple it with an ascent of Creigiau Gleision and return via Llyn Cowlyd.

Even if it’s only about 470m high and the route only just shy of 7km, this is some seriously hilly ground. Passing the boggy Llyn Y Coryn, it’s difficult to believe how close you still are to Capel Curig yet you feel like you’re in real wilderness.

Be aware that this may be a short walk, but it does cross terrain that’s rather tricky and a path that can be difficult to follow in many places. We recommend good navigational skills on this walk as well as a pair of very waterproof boots! We also recommend this walk for anyone looking to practice their navigation, I trained for my Mountain Leader qualification around Llyn y Coryn which say’s it all.

Walk up Crimpiau from Capel Curig Full Route

1 – Starting at the car park behind Joe Brown (or at the junction if using public transport) – cross the main road and take the gate to the left of the old St Curig Church (now luxury self catering – St Curig’s )

2 – Head uphill along an initially faint path, which soon develops into a proper stony footpath. Continue along this section for around 600m, keeping your eye out for the path junction on your left. It’s easily missed, as the views are stupendous.

3 – After ignoring a few fake paths, you’ll hopefully find yourself at the start of the uphill slog. It can be spotted as the sparse woodland clears at this point. It’s short enough, but an utterly relentless climb, nevertheless.

4 – It’s worth taking a minute to take in the view and a few breaths after that steep slog, thankfully the rest of the walk is a bit kinder on the legs. Follow the path, which after climbing slightly takes you along a flatter boggy section. The views right into the boggy Cwm Geuallt are surprisingly steep, though you are barely 80m higher than the valley bottom.

5 – The route continues across another stile, and another boggy section where you need to keep the fence to your left. At SH731 589 the path veers left and uphill. After around 200m, you’ll find yourself at the tiny Llyn y Coryn.

Llyn y Coryn is boggy but located in a quite spectacular spot. Coryn is the Welsh word for spider, and we didn’t spot any arachnids in the area today. Even the authority on this – Enwau Eryri (Iwan Arfon Jones)  – makes no mention of Llyn y Coryn. Our money is that it’s another Victorian era mistranslation and that it should be Coron (crown) – though that’s pure speculation.

6 – The path continues right past Llyn y Coryn, and winds its way along yet another boggy section before beginning to gain some height. The path is clear enough in most places, but does need some care in some placed to ensure that you don’t lose it.

Just below the summit, the path appears to continue downhill. You’ll follow this down later. Just before it does, there’s a sharp junction left that takes you straight to the summit.

The views from the summit of Crimpiau are extensive. You’ve Llyn Crafnant to one side and towards Tryfan, Glyderau and Moel Siabod in various other directions.

7 From the summit, retrace your steps to the path you left earlier, and continue downhill. The path is clear enough to follow with a few short and step sections requiring care. Just before the bwlch, the path takes a pleasant detour left and the views now open up towards the crags below Craig Wen, Clogwyn yr Eryr and Llyn Crafnant. The col is soon reached after another steep, but short descent.

8 From the bwlch, the path is now exceptionally easy. There’s a new path built here that is level and makes the going easy. Continue downhill on this for 2km. There are excellent views down the valley towards Moel Siabod and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).

9 You’ll join another footpath, turn right and across the footbridge. Continue along the same line until you arrive at another junction, taking the gate right into the woodlands. The path undulates through the woodland and in around 300m you’ll arrive back at leg 3 above.

10 You’re now on familiar ground and you can follow the path back to the start of the walk.

 

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

Though she be little, she be fierce.

A short walk up the summit of Crimpiau that’s a little more challenging than it appears on paper!

Route Start Location: Capel Curig -Junction of the A5 and A4086

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
7km 280 m 2 - 3 houirs

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Hard Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

There are a number of pubs strung out along the A5 and there’s also the Siabod Cafe.

Paid for toilets can be found at the start of the walk only.

Hazards

The route is often either pathless or some navigation is required where the going isn’t always apparent.

Some sections are steep and can be slippery and loose.

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking :

Free car parking is available behind the Joe Brown shop.

Public Transport:

Sherpa buses are reasonably frequent from Pen-y-Pass/Llanberis and Betws-y-coed but appear to no longer run via Ogwen from Bangor/Bethesda (as of January 2023)

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Snowdonia Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

More Posts by Dave Roberts

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