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Walk to Cwm Bleiddiaid and Nant Gwynant from Craflwyn Hall

By Dave Roberts   

on March 22, 2018    5/5 (2)

Posted as a walk in – Europe, Low Level and Easier Walks in Snowdonia, Snowdonia National Park, Wales, Wyddfa - Snowdon

Walk to Cwm Bleiddiaid and Nant Gwynant from Craflwyn Hall

Route Essentials

Route Summary

A mid level walk that can be started from Craflwyn, Llyn Dinas or Nant Gwynant, through a real hidden gem.

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

Distance

10.32 km

Ascent

417 m

Time

3 hours

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

Start Location

Craflwyn Hall near Beddelert

Difficulty

Easy Moderate Walk

Hazards

Some of the higher sections are wet.

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 to Cwm Bleiddiaid and Nant Gwynant from Craflwyn Hall Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Walk to Cwm Bleiddiaid and Nant Gwynant from Craflwyn Hall

A  walk from near Beddgelert that takes you through a hidden valley on the flanks of Yr Wyddfa. You can start this walk from the National Trust car park at Craflwyn that’s free, but suggests a modest £2 donation to help pay for footpath repairs. We strongly suggest you do put some money in the pot as the footpaths on this walk have been improved immensely over the last few years. While some may think the new paths are rather stark, they are beginning to weather into the landscape and ultimately minimise the erosion as walkers widen the paths to avoid a bit of mud.

The name Cwm Bleiddiaid is Welsh for Valley of Wolves,  suggesting that this cwm was once known for it’s wolves, though you certainly won’t see any there now with friendly Labradors being more likely.

Route Details

1 Starting from Craflwyn car park, you can walk towards Craflwyn Hall and follow the drive to the main road. Cross the road with care and pass through the gate to a good path along the Afon Glaslyn. This path brings you out at Sygyn copper mine, where you turn right and cross the river over the wooden road bridge. Take the first left, and follow an excellent new path from Sygun to Llyn Dinas.

2 At Llyn Dinas, continue along the shore, on the good path. This initial section can be busy, as it’s only 100m from the road and popular with tourists and walkers alike. Continue on the path, which you can follow without incident to the road after Llyndy Isaf. Views towards the summit of Snowdon and back towards Moel Hebog can be enjoyed.

Walk to Cwm Bleiddiaid and Nant Gwynant from Craflwyn Hall3 The track joins a minor road, turn left on this and then cross the main road to follow the layby to the left. You’ll pass Caffi Gwynant here, with the Watkin Path soon after. There are public toilets across the road here.

Walk to Cwm Bleiddiaid and Nant Gwynant from Craflwyn Hall4 Take the Watkin Path, which initially ascends through ancient woodland on a good path, before the start of the mountain path proper. This contours around lower Cwm Llan, with it’s spectacular waterfalls, and is a steady walk.

5 Just before the waterfalls, turn left on the path waymarked Craflwyn and with a black arrow fingerpost. It can be easy to miss as the scenery hereabouts is quite distracting. The path is not as good as the Watkin Path you’ve just left, but is a clear track as it ascends gently up the hillside. It soon reaches the hidden cwm of Bylchau Terfyn, which appears to be the name for some crags on the OS Maps, but historically a name used for this area.

6 The track is wet in places, but keeps high above the valley bottom, which would be even wetter! The path is currently being improved, and while some sections are wet, it’s not so boggy as to pose much of a problem. It continues towards the end of Bylchau Terfyn, and continues to climb as the path takes a higher route across to Cwm Bleiddiaid rather than the lower bwlch. Keep an eye out here for the black arrow waymarks, as the path doesn’t always keep going in the obvious direction!

7 You’ll arrive at a huge stile in a wall that marks the high point of the walk, with a rough path then descending down to the ruins of the Cwm Bleiddiaid copper mine. Keep to the left here, heading for the obvious good track that winds its way down the valley. There are fewer way-marks now, but the track is easy enough to follow as it winds down the hill side. At SH 6072 4987 there’s a footbridge, with the black arrow route continuing by crossing the bridge. This walk continues on the good track, which brings you down towards the farm of Hafod y Porth. The permissive path on the map seems to continue over crags, and in numerous walks along this path, is we’ve yet to find it.

8 At the bottom of the track, the path splits right towards Craflwyn Hall – signposted – and continues winding its way in the longest possible return back to Craflwyn Hall, waymarked with a red waymark now.  After a few 100m, the path turns right and you’ll get the pleasant surprise of the Afon-y-cwm Waterfall.

9 Keep on the waymarked path, as it winds itself uphill again, and back down through the woodland on good paths – now waymarked with the black arrows again as well as a green and yellow one! It’s straightforward enough now, as the path descends back to the car park at the start through pleasant woodland, with another minor waterfall to spot on the way.

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

A mid level walk that can be started from Craflwyn, Llyn Dinas or Nant Gwynant, through a real hidden gem.

Route Start Location: Craflwyn Hall near Beddelert

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
10.32 km 417 m 3 hours

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

Activivity Type: Easy Moderate Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

We recommend the Caffi Gwynant for a coffee and cake half way around.

Hazards

Some of the higher sections are wet.

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 : LL55 4NE

NT Car park at Craflwyn Hall – £2

Public Transport:

Snowdon Sherpa buses can be used, but need planning as they are infrequent along Nant Gwynant.

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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