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Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

By Dave Roberts   

on September 21, 2014    5/5 (2)

Posted as a walk in – Europe, Snowdonia National Park, The Nantlle Ridge and Moel Hebog Ranges, Wales

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

Route Essentials

Route Summary

Quiet route up Mynydd Mawr from Y Fron, the best route up in our opinion.

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

Distance

9.41 km

Ascent

499 m

Time

3 hours

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

Start Location

Y Fron

Difficulty

Hazards

Keep clear from the edges on Craig y Bera!

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. 

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

Even when you know an area really well, and a mountain even better, it’s satisfying to know that you’ve not quite wrung them completely dry of any novelty. The route up Mynydd Mawr from Y Fron, diverting to take in the pinnacles of Craig y Bera,feels contrived on paper, but works on the ground as you aim for the crags of Craig y Bera and follow their tops for a painfully short time before reality sets in once again. You can also ascend Mynydd Mawr from Y Fron by taking the descent route described below for a more straightforward walk.

1 The route starts off in the centre of Y Fron near Penygroes. Start from the ‘village green’ in the centre, from where you can clearly see Mynydd Mawr, or Mynydd Grug as it’s known in these parts. That’s Heathery Mountain to you – and if you try to tackle it direct from this end, you’ll know why. Keep on the road towards the mountain – or if the mist’s particularly bad – roughly east.

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

2 After 300m or so, you’ll find a junction to your left, which takes you up onto the moor, eventually, through some slate tips that are rather puny compared to the usual slate tips hereabouts.

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

3 Follow this track for just over a kilometre, as it deteriorates, all the tarmac disappears and you’re on a proper hill track. You’ll come to an information plinth, with a ruined building to your left and the small tarn of Llyn Ffynhonau down to your right with a clear path down to it.

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

4 Follow the path to the lake, and in front of the overgrown dam at one end. You’re heading for the enclosure noted as Bryn-castell on the map, and a straightforward bearing should find you there. The ground hereabouts is stunted heather, and while not exactly easy going, isn’t too difficult.

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

5 You may well need to keep that compass out, as you’ll need to try and get across towards the high ground to your right, rather than gaining any ground. I managed to contour along the 330m contour, and there was a path of sorts once you got across and into the valley on the other side. If you overshoot, you’ll hit a great big stone wall, so the navigation’s relatively straightforward. This is rarely visited ground, and I had the company of 5 circling Buzzards, who obviously nest on the nearby Craig y Bera. I was gutted I’d left the telephoto lenses at home!

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

6. Follow this stone wall, all the way to the top of Craig y Bera. There’s an electric fence parallel for the entire distance. The wall’s well kept, so we can assume that this is an anti trespass feature. It’s a shame as the ridge leading up would make an excellent walk from Dyffryn Nantlle.

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

7 The ridge, once reached, is a bit of a shock from the steep heather as you start getting a view and find yourself teetering on some sheer cliffs. I popped over to each little pinnacle on this section – well worth doing. It’s the first one, however, that’s the most exposed!

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

8 Make the most of this pinnacled section as the route hardly gets any better than this! It gets steep and you’re soon on the path from Rhyd Ddu. A steady pull brings you to the summit.

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

9 Chill a while here. It’s a fine spot, with extensive views in all directions.

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

10  The path off is indistinct, roughly North Westerly, but easy to follow once you’re on it.

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

 

11 This brings you down to the moorland where you follow the track left, and within 1km you’ll be back on the track you started on. Do we really need to tell you to retrace your steps to get back to the start?

Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

Quiet route up Mynydd Mawr from Y Fron, the best route up in our opinion.

This walk includes the Washi of Mynydd Mawr

This walk includes the Hewitt of Mynydd Mawr

This walk includes the Nuttall of Mynydd Mawr

Route Start Location: Y Fron

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
9.41 km 499 m 3 hours

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

Activivity Type: 

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

There’s a new cafe and shop in Canolfan y Fron – check opening times.

Hazards

Keep clear from the edges on Craig y Bera!

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 :

Some parking in the village ‘green’ as well as a few spots on the minor road at around – SH514 550 – but can be rough.

Public Transport:

Limited service between Y Fron and Caernarfon.

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

4 thoughts on “Mynydd Mawr From y Fron via Craig y Bera”

  3. Taz

    Having kids with us we decided on starting from Rhyd Ddu and walk up through the forest then up to the summit. We were very lucky with the weather and took quite a few photos. An excellent walk up a great ‘little’ mountain. Very impressed with Craig y Bera and the views of the Nantlle Ridge.

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