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Moel Lyci (Moel y Ci) Trail Run or Easy Walk

By Dave Roberts   

on September 16, 2014    5/5 (1)

Posted as a walk in – Europe, Low Level and Easier Walks in Snowdonia, Snowdonia National Park, The Glyderau, Wales

Moel Lyci (Moel y Ci) Trail Run or Easy Walk

Route Essentials

Route Summary

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

Distance

6.41 km

Ascent

312 m

Time

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

Start Location

Difficulty

Hazards

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. 

Moel Lyci (Moel y Ci) Trail Run or Easy Walk Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Moel Lyci (Moel y Ci) Trail Run or Easy Walk

Moel y Ci, or Moel Lyci, Moelyci or even Moel Lleuci  is the northernmost point of the Glyderau range. Noted as Moel y Ci on the OS maps, this is locally regarded as a typo and it’s known as Moel Lyci / Moelyci, spell it as you will! Either way, the circuit of this hill makes a fine trail run or easy after lunch ramble, with the summit an added treat. We started the route from Sling near Tregarth, but you could easily start from Tregarth as there’s a but service there from Bangor and you can cycle there on the Lon Las Ogwen from Bangor or Bethesda. There’s very limited parking in the village at Sling.

It makes an excellent trail run, as it has a steady climb along good paths without being overly steep. The steepest section is the last pull to the summit, but that’s a very short section that could be walked without breaking rhythm. You do need to keep an eye out for the route finding on the final section however.

1 Start the route at the sign for Sling as you enter the village from Tregarth. There’s a track to your right that’s marked as a dead end and unsuitable for motor vehicles which you’ll need to take.

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2 Keep going on the track as it climbs steadily uphill, until you reach the junction below. You need to turn left, as indicated by the little green waymarkers for the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way you can just about see on the post below. Keep an eye out for these until you’re out of the forest.

moelyci_0043 In a couple of 100 metres, there’s a path to your left that’s easily missed, though I’m certain you can also continue past the farm at the end of the lane. The path up into the forest is a bit more interesting, and along what’s clearly an ancient track, complete with moss covered dry stone walls and old gateposts.

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moelyci_0144 Follow this path slightly uphill, until the path reaches a stone wall and a junction, where you turn right. There’s a waymarker on the tree – as you can see above. Follow the path and the stone wall until you reach a kissing gate. This is where you’d end up if you’d missed the path at stage 3.

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5 Keep left here, and the path climbs steadily up through the forest. It’s reasonably dry and the going is exceptionally good considering your usual coniferous forest paths that soon deteriorate into muddy morasses.

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6 The path climbs along a stone wall, and you’ll reach a junction with another footpath at SH588 665, where you pass through a kissing gate in the wall and continue onto open ground.

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7 There are extensive views across the countryside here, and the good path descends the open hillside to join another old track that leads towards Deiniolen. You could set off up Moel Lyci directly from here, but the route along this old track is pleasant and adds to the route.

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8 The green lane continues to climb, past the cottage at Ty’n Llidiart and uphill to skirt Moel Lyci and towards Bwlch y Mawn.

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9 Just before you reach Bwlch y Mawn, keep on the path left rather than the track to the bwlch, which leads to an old gate and a kissing gate you need to pass through. The path up to the hill is directly behind this and is a short pull of only around 50m by this point.

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10 The path brings you up right on the summit plateau, with a good path leading to the first few ring contours and then on to an outcrop of rocks that are clearly the highest point, but aren’t marked on the map. There’s a trig point further down the path, which will if followed take you down to point 7 above. Views are extensive, and on a fine day it’s worth spending some time here. Though as there’s no shelter, it wouldn’t be pleasant in foul weather.

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11 Descend the way you came, and from point 9 turn left along the footpath, which is a wide grassy track in places. It joins the road, but don’t be tempted to set off along the hillside as there’s no obvious way back on the track at the other end without climbing over fences and gates. Keep on the road, past Mynydd Llandygai  until you come to the first turning on your left up Lon y Grug.

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12 Continue on this minor road, until you reach the footpath sign to your right. It’s a bit further on than expected, but there’s a patchy footpath all the way down to the village.

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13 The path descends left, or you’ll end up back on the road you just left, and through a gate in a wall. Keep right here, along the wall initially, and then the path veers left towards the village. There’s another path that descends earlier, so if you do take this by mistake, you’ll just end up in the village a few minutes away from your starting point. The path is well hidden by bracken as you can see below, but should pose no problems if you head for the corner of the field towards the back of the terrace of houses below.

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Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

Route Start Location:

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
6.41 km 312 m

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

Activivity Type: 

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Check out the businesses nearby for more places to stay and drink.

Hazards

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 :

Public Transport:

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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