Walk up Mynydd Mawr!
This Mynydd Mawr walk is absolutely stunning as this mountain in Eryri Snowdonia sits right in between Yr Wyddfa and The Nantlle ridge, so the views are absolutely spectacular!
Height – 2290 feet / 698 metres
Mountain Range – Northern outlier of the Moel Hebog Group
English Meaning – Big Mountain
Where to park for Mynydd Mawr
There are a few options, but don’t stress too much as this mountain is not anywhere near as popular as some in Snowdonia so you will find a space, you may just need a little extra walk to the start.
- Park in the official car park and walk up to the start of the Mynydd Mawr Walk
- Head up this track into the forest just a little way and find a few parking spaces on the left – tuck your car well in.
- On the corner here you’ll find a bit of a lay by with space for quite a few cars, people park here to start the Nantlle Ridge.
How High is Mynydd Mawr
Mynydd Mawr stands at approximately 698 meters (2,290 feet) above sea level.
How long does it take to walk up Mynydd Mawr?
The walk that I did, which was a loop took around 4.5 hrs. However, I did take a fairly awkward route down and you could definitely get up and down a little quicker if you ascend and descend by the same route.
What does Mynydd Mawr mean in English?
Mynydd mawr translates into English as Big Mountain, which is interesting given it’s smaller than many surrounding it. I assume the name has come from those people dwelling below.
How to Pronounce Mynydd Mawr
It’s pronounced Mun-ith M-ow-r (the ow is as in cow)
Mynydd Mawr Circular Route
I walked a circular route, however I would like to stress that the walk from the summit back to pick up the original path was very steep and mostly walking down a stream rather than an actual path. It involved lots of stomping through heather, so please don’t expect a perfect path. Also, my original intention had been to drop down to the lake where there is a path that goes along the shoreline but I was advised by a group of ‘lads’ coming up the hill that there was a steep bit of climbing. It’s something I’ll investigate from the other side to see if there’s an easier and more obvious route.
If I were to do this again I would probably not make it circular but just head home the same way.
Starting the Walk Up Mynydd Mawr
The route starts on a forestry track, you walk along for around 10-15 minutes before heading up a path on the left. The path makes it’s way through woodland until coming to a ‘crossroads’. Turn left, heading uphill to a newly created kissing gate. There will then be an obvious path on the ground, so turn right and head up the hill.
There are a couple of ladder stiles to negotiate – my dog loves them but just bear this in mind if you have a dog that needs carrying over as there are no dog gates.
The path progresses steeply up until you reach a flatter ridge section.
Foel Rudd
Once you reach the summit of Foel Rudd (573m), the path naturally veers to the left and flattens out on to a wide ridge path which is much more gently rising. It’s an absolutely beautiful section of path with extraordinary views of the surrounding mountains of Eryri.
Craig y Bera
Craig y Bera is a striking rock formation nestled between the summits of Foel Rudd and Mynydd Mawr. Known for its rugged beauty and dramatic cliffs, Craig y Bera stands out as a prominent feature in the landscape, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
The name “Craig y Bera” translates from Welsh to “Crag of the Falcon” The rock formation is composed of ancient volcanic rock, which has been shaped over millennia by natural forces, resulting in its unique and impressive appearance.
To find out more about how Snowdonia was formed you can read this post – How was Snowdonia Formed?
The Summit of Mynydd Mawr
After you finish gawping at the beauty of the rocks of Craig y Bera to your left, it’s a shortish walk to the summit of Mynydd Mawr. The summit has a couple of circular stone shelters. I’ve made good use of these on a previous walk in high winds!
On a clear day the views are spectacular as you can see by my amateur video above. (I hope it doesn’t make you too dizzy!)
The Descent from Mynydd Mawr
Now your choice next is to return on the path you have just come up or like I did try and make it a more circular walk.
As I said above a group of walkers/scramblers passed me on the way down and advised me that I might struggle with the scrambly descent (you can see them in the video above).
I’ve yet to check out this ‘scramble’ from the bottom to see how difficult it actually is but I’ve had a look on google maps and it does look like they might have been right. I adjusted my route to cut across a stream and head back towards the woods and back to the start of the climb up Mynydd Mawr – it was through thick heather – so be warned!
Here’s the small stream you need to cross on the route I have shown, it’s very easy – this was in April and after a fair amount of rain.
It’s a shame as it would be so much nice to walk along the shoreline of the lake. Although I did get to walk past this stunning outcrop!
I’ll update this blog post once I’ve checked it out properly but please add a comment if you know the route better.
You will cross a stream and then head through some heather and then through some attractive rocky landscape until you drop down to the fence to the woods.
Head right and it will take you directly to the path you started on just as the climb up Mynydd Mawr becomes much steeper.
Let me know in the comments if you enjoy this route!
Hilary x
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