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Yr Elen from Bethesda via the Dragons Teeth Ridge and Cwm Caseg

Yr Elen via Cwm Caseg Circular Route Overview

This 12km route up Yr Elen via Cwm Caseg starts in Bethesda with a lovely walk up the valley heading towards the biggest of the Carneddau mountain range. You’ll spot the central summit of Yr Elen immediately as you start walking from Gerlan.

However, once you have walked the length of the valley, the scramble up the truly dramatic North East Ridge begins. This Dragon’s Tooth ridge is tucked right into Cwm Caseg as the route sweeps around the reverse side of Yr Elen.

A person smiling in front of rocky terrain and a mountain ridge under a cloudy sky.
Ready to take on the Dragon’s Teeth!

How High is Yr Elen?
How Long Does the Yr Elen Walk Take?
Is the North Ridge / Dragon’s Teeth Ridge Hard?
Where to Park in Bethesda for the Yr Elen Route?
GPX Route and OS Maps Route
Yr Elen via Cwm Caseg Circular Detailed Route Description

If you’d like to skip straight to the detailed route description and maps – click here

What does Yr Elen mean in English?

Yr Elen is said to mean ‘The Leech’ possibly because of it being attached to Carnedd Llewellyn, alternatively it maybe named after Eleanor de Montfort, who was the wife of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd which also makes sense given it’s location.

A close-up view of the spiky rock formations known as Dragon's Teeth Ridge on Yr Elen, against a blue sky with scattered clouds.
The dramatic spiky rock formations of the North East Ridge of Yr Elen, evocative of dragon’s teeth, under a bright blue sky. The path is a little grassy ‘staircase’ immediately to the right of this huge spiky rock.
A dramatic view of the North East Ridge of Yr Elen, showcasing spiky rock formations and grassy slopes under a cloudy sky.
The final section of the route up to Yr Elen Summit on the North East Ridge aka the Dragon’s Teeth

The Dragons Teeth Ridge (aka The North East Ridge of Yr Elen)

I’m not 100% sure where the epithet ‘Dragon’s Teeth Ridge’ first originated but it’s the perfect name for the North East Ridge of Yr Elen with it’s spiky rock formations.

A rocky and rugged mountain ridge with sharp rock formations, partially covered in grass, displayed under a cloudy sky. A black and white dog is visible in the foreground, gazing up towards the ridge.
Ziggy admiring the dramatic rock formations of the North East Ridge, known as Dragon’s Teeth, on Yr Elen.

The first mention of the name I have seen is in one of my favourite books on Eryri, the 1951 book ‘Hill Walking in Snowdonia’ the author, E.G. Rowland says he ‘bags’ Yr Elen from Carnedd Llewellyn (along the ridge shown in the photo below), and goes on to say…

“Near the edge the sharp edge (R) juts out from the grassy slopes (L) like dragon’s teeth. The tiny tarn at the bottom of the cliffs adds to their grimness.”

View of the rugged landscape leading to Yr Elen, showcasing steep rock formations and a small body of water in the foreground, surrounded by grassy slopes.
Cwm Caseg and Ffynnon Caseg – Yr Elen’s flanks are to the right and you can see the ridge which connects
A dramatic rocky ridge on Yr Elen, showing jagged rock formations and grassy slopes under a cloudy sky.
The dramatic spiky rocks as you reach the summit of Yr Elen from the North East Ridge

Is Ffynnon Caseg the Breeding Place of Carneddau Ponies?

It’s so good to understand the meaning of Welsh place names, they usually add more depth to your days spent walking in Eryri. I was delighted when I discovered that Caseg means mare and this valley is full of wild Carneddau ponies, so Afon Caseg is Mare’s River, Cwm Caseg is Mare’s Valley. I did see lots of ponies, but most were at a good distance away.

In his book, Rowland also mentions that the breeding place of the ‘small wild ponies’ is near the tiny tarn under Yr Elen. Ffynnon Caseg means Mare’s Well in welsh. I thought this was particularly special.

A wild Carneddau pony grazing near rocky terrain with steep mountain slopes in the background under a cloudy sky.
A lone Carneddau pony grazes in the dramatic landscape beneath Carreg y Gath

How Hard is the North East Ridge of Yr Elen Scramble?

A big chunk of the height of Yr Elen is gained up this spiky section which looks like a scramble, but it’s actually just picking your way up a few steep rock steps and grassy paths.

Rocky path leading up the North East Ridge of Yr Elen, with grass and moss-covered terrain under a blue sky.
The kind of terrain to expect on the Dragon’s Teeth ‘Scramble’

As long as you have a reasonable head for heights and you’re fairly fit then this route poses no real problems. I would avoid it in high winds and low visability. Whilst there’s nothing technical about the ridge and no exposure it is fairly narrow and parts of it are exceptionally steep.

A rocky ridge line leading up a sloped mountain terrain, partially shrouded in mist, showcasing rugged cliffs and grassy patches.

When I’m planning a walk I do as much homework as I can on the route, I need to be sure it will be safe for both me and Ziggy (my hiking buddy, a Collie-Retriever cross). My goal in writing these guides is simple: to consolidate all the essential information I’d personally want to know, giving you the clarity and confidence to make your own decision about taking the route.

I hope my video guide gives you a close-to-first-person experience of the route up Yr Elen and that summit scramble.

How high is Yr Elen?

Yr Elen is the 9th highest mountain in Wales at 962 metres high (3152 ft). From the start of this route you’re already at 757 ft

Elevation profile showing total ascent of 2573 ft with a maximum height of 3152 ft.

How long does it take to walk up Yr Elen from Bethesda?

The route is 12km, the OS Maps calculation says 4 and a half hours, it took me just under 7hrs. However, I had a detour from my planned route as I wanted to see if I could return by crossing Afon Caseg, there’s a green path on the map that crosses it. Annoyingly I missed the path and ended up tracking back to my original route as I couldn’t find a crossing and didn’t want to walk to far back up the river as it was a bog fest.

Ignoring my detour it would be more like 6hrs which I think is the minimum you should allow unless you’re a fell runner or it’s really dry. The going in winter was very boggy and that both zaps energy and slows you down.

Where do you park in Bethesda for the route up Yr Elen?

A gravel path leading towards a grassy hill, with a stone wall and a sign indicating 'Upper Hill Street' in the village of Gerlan, near Bethesda.
The start of the walk on Upper Hill Street – follow the track up and bear immediately right up a grassy lane.

Park in the small village/community of Gerlan on the outskirts of Bethesda. The closest road to the start of this walk up Yr Elen is Upper Hill St – LL57 3TE. I managed to get a parking spot on this road right next to the start of the footpath. You may need to hunt around, but lots of the streets nearby have free roadside parking. Alternatively use the Pay and Display car park on Bethesda High Street.

Yr Elen OS Map Link

Detailed topographic map of the area surrounding Bethesda, highlighting hiking routes towards Yr Elen and the Carneddau mountains.
Yr Elen from Bethesda Circular Route & GPX on OS Maps
Open Yr Elen Route in OS Maps

Yr Elen via Cwm Caseg Circular Detailed Route Description

A panoramic view of a rural landscape near Bethesda, Wales, featuring brown bracken in the foreground, grazing cows, stone walls, and distant mountains under a cloudy sky.
Looking back at Tan Y Garth Farm

Starting the Walk: Bethesda to Cwm Caseg Valley

The start of the route takes you up an obvious path which splits and skirts either to the right or the left of the farm called Tan y Garth. I chose the path I have shown in red below which took me through a cow field and up to a stile on a fence line, the height wasn’t really necessary as I had to lose it all going back down to the track. So if I did it again i would choose the green line. (If you were heading on the higher Carneddau Horseshoe route then the red path makes more sense)

Map of the Cwm Caseg route in Bethesda, indicating paths and landmarks related to Yr Elen.

Walking the length of the valley

For the next hour or so, you get to enjoy some truly lovely, straightforward walking. It’s a clear wide path used by the farmers on their quad bikes. There are a few gates to go through along the fence line before you go through a lovely big iron gate and cross into completely open access land.

Yr Elen looking across the valley

You’ll be staring at Yr Elen trying to work out what the ridge will be like, but remember until you get right around the far side of it you won’t see the North East Ridge.

Yr Elen from the track

Nevermind the Dragon’s… Beware of the Bog

I highly recommend this route but I caveat this recommendation – if you are bog phobic then leave this route until a dry summer day. The valley gets very squelchy and because this isn’t a well trodden route even the paths shown on the map tend to take you through very boggy terrain.

Map showing the route to Afon Caseg, highlighting fords and sheepfolds in the surrounding terrain.
Head to the sheepfolds, if it’s really boggy you may find keeping up high away from the river helps.

The Approach to Cwm Caseg

When you’ve nearly reached the end of this valley, you need to start heading right to the river. Your target should be the sheepfolds beneath Foel Grach. I crossed over the Afon Wen at this point, it wasn’t too wide and I made it across without getting my feet wet.

A rocky landscape with a winding stream and stone walls in a valley surrounded by hills under a cloudy sky.
I crossed Afon Wen just a little further up from these sheepfolds – take care! There’s no official crossing, you just need to find some stones to step across.

TOP TIP: Walking poles are a great help for steadying yourself on slippy stones when crossing streams.

There is a visible path that hugs the side of Carreg y Gath. The valley narrows and Yr Elen is now directly on your right.

A scenic view of the Cwm Caseg valley, featuring grassy slopes and rocky mountains in the background. The landscape appears lush and natural, with hints of rugged terrain.
Your first proper look at the North Ridge comes into view as you pick up the path beneath Carrg y Gath and follow it into the valley

Keep walking following this path that’s just visible on the ground, mainly thanks to farmers quad bikes coming in to round up the livestock.

A scenic view of a valley with rocky terrain, grass, and a small stream flowing through it, framed by mountainous slopes in the background.
I crossed the stream at this point and headed off to the right – straight ahead is Gwaun y Garnedd (936m) and Foel Grach on the left (976) and the start of Carnedd Llewellyn (1064) to the right – I was tempred to keep going so I could have a closer look at that waterfall coming down from Cwm Bychan

You don’t have to cross the stream at this pont but I did as I wasn’t too sure what lay ahead and I found a good crossing point taking me over to the right side of the lake for summiting Yr Elen.

A wide valley view of the Carneddau mountain range, featuring grassy slopes and rocky outcrops under a cloudy sky.
looking down having crossed the stream, I went high to avoid boggy ground
A scenic view of the rolling hills and valleys near Yr Elen, featuring grassy slopes and rocky outcrops, under a cloudy sky.
Looking back down the valley I’ve just walked up
A small waterfall cascading down a moss-covered rock face, surrounded by lush greenery and tall grasses.
Keep an eye out for this fascinating bright green waterfall over on the left of the stream coming down from Ffynnon Caseg

The ascent up the North Ridge of Yr Elen begins!

A scenic view of the rugged North East Ridge of Yr Elen, with steep rock formations and a small tarn at the base, surrounded by grassy slopes and dramatic cliffs.
Cwm Caseg and Ffynnon Caseg – you can see on the right the start of the ascent up to the ridge – keep zig zagging and avoid walking on the scree sections
A black and white dog swimming in a lake surrounded by grassy hills and rocky cliffs.
After a quick swim and a snack we started up the North Ridge of Yr Elen

I was quite high above the lake and was ready to start up to the Dragon’s Teeth Ridge but Ziggy was desperate for a swim. Unless you’re deperate for a swim yourself (it’s weirdly shallow) I’d maintain the height you have gained and start your ascent up onto the North East Ridge, up to those Dragon’s Teeth.

A scenic view of a grassy valley with steep mountainsides and a small tarn in the foreground, characteristic of the Cwm Caseg area near Yr Elen.
There’s no obvious path but pick your way up this grassy slope heading for the very obvious ridge line.

If starting from Ffynnon Caseg, don’t go towards the scree up to the left, instead walk up to the right via grassy slopes, purely because it’s much easier walking. I zigged and zagged as it is a steep climb up from Ffynnon Caseg but it’s not long before you reach the ridge line and the wonderful Dragon’s Teeth are on show ahead of you.

A dramatic view of the North East Ridge, also known as Dragon's Teeth Ridge, of Yr Elen, showcasing sharp rock formations and rugged terrain under a cloudy sky.
Looking up at the Dragon’s Teeth and the summit of Yr Elen

No nerves are needed as really it’s just a walk, but it’s a fun walk full of spiky rocks and it’s incredibly steep. You may need or want to hold onto a few of the rocks as you go, but there isn’t any exposure – just marvellous views.

A panoramic view of rugged mountains and a valley with a winding river, captured from a higher elevation, showcasing the landscape of the Carneddau mountain range in Wales.
Looking down at Afon Caseg from the North East Ridge of Yr Elen. The ridge you can see directly in front is Clogwyn yr Heliwr, with the path from the sheepfolds under Carreg y Gath visible. This ridge leads up to Foel Grach
View from the rocky ridge overlooking a misty valley, with grassy slopes leading down to a river.
Looking down to the valley
A panoramic view of Yr Elen and the North East Ridge, showcasing rocky outcrops and grassy slopes under a cloudy sky.
looking back at the path to the summit
A rocky ridge overlooks a verdant valley with a small tarn below, shrouded in mist.
This image gives you a sense of just how high you are – the ridge is fairly wide and the sides are steep slopes not vertical drops.
View of the Dragon's Teeth Ridge, a rocky and spiky terrain on the ascent to Yr Elen, with grass-covered slopes and a blue sky.
This is a good picture showing what the path up feels like – super steep but no actual climbing needed.

It isn’t long before you are on the top – if you have good weather the views are amazing and you can also decide if you want to head over to Carnedd llewellyn, the second highest mountain in the Carneddau.

A hiker stands on rocky terrain with a dog, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and cloudy skies, capturing the beauty of the mountain landscape.
I did it! A selfie on the top – I didn’t stay long to take more as the wind was viciously cold – there’s a nice panoramic shot in the video guide if you want to see a full 360 of the views!

Starting the descent

The path down is a much broader shoulder which you will have been looking at most of the way into the valley. There is a fairly obvious zig zagging path through scree that heads towards Foel Ganol. It’s then a case of just heading back towards Bethesda.

A rocky trail leading downwards with a black dog in the foreground, surrounded by fog and misty mountain scenery.
This is the zig zag path down from the summit of Yr Elen heading towards Foel Ganol
A view of Yr Elen mountain, showcasing its prominent peak and grassy slopes under a cloudy sky.
This is the rather boring view of the summit as you look back, I’m pleased I went up it via the Dragon’s Teeth Ridge – far more interesting – although the views left and right from here are stunning.
Scenic view of the North East Ridge of Yr Elen, featuring rocky outcrops and grassy slopes under a cloudy sky.
The descent isn’t boring though and the views of Ogwen Valley and the Carneddau to your left are particularly stunning.
A panoramic view from the peak of Yr Elen, showcasing a sprawling valley beneath, with patches of green fields and small streams winding through the terrain, surrounded by misty mountains.
Looking down at Foel Ganol and the broad shoulder ridge that takes you back to Bethesda.
A panoramic view from Yr Elen's summit, showcasing rolling hills and valleys of the Carneddau mountain range with patches of grass and rocky terrain.
It’s very exposed and windy on and it’s a fairly long descent, the valley is beautiful though so as long as you have visibility it’s a great walk back to Bethesda.

The final section through the farm

Head directly towards Gwaun y Gwiail – look for a gate – here’s a map showing where it is. It looks like there should be a gate further up too but there isn’t! That green path that cuts through this map is the route I thought I’d follow to see if I could cross Afon Caseg – as mentioned earlier i couldn’t find a crossing place so I ended up tracking back along that fence – trying desperately not to be swallowed up into the bog, it was more ‘pond’ in places – I might suggest OS have another symbol for ‘really, REALLY boggy’. Lesson learned, just stick to the route you planned.

A detailed topographic map showing the Afon Llaifar river, sheepfolds, and the route to Braich y Brysgyl, with a marked path indicated by a pink line and an arrow.

After you get out of the access land (yellow on map) you need to make sure you are following the path. You’ll find a stile in the left hand corner of the next field and then hug the fence. One of the stiles has collapsed, one of the markers should have an associated prize for spotting it and there’s just a bit of general confusion that always seem to come when you’re on quiet paths through farmland. Stay strong and you’ll make it through!

A dog standing near a wooden gate in a grassy field, with a mountainous landscape in the background.
A dog resting near a wooden fence marker in a grassy area, with overgrown vegetation and a stone wall in the background.
A close-up view of tall grass with a yellow trail marker peeking through, set against a background of rolling hills and distant farmland.

The final part of the walk takes you through a 5 bar gate into a farm yard, then immediately to the left of the farm house and down towards the river.

There was a friendly young chap working in the farm who reassured me I was on the right path as I entered the farm yard with mild trepidation – even though I was 100% positive I was on the green right of way, I still feel nervous walking through farms – and that’s why there aren’t pictures. You’ll then find yourself on a lovely little road back to Gerlan. There’s a bridge crossing the Afon Caseg and some lovely waterfalls to finish the walk off beautifully.

Say Hello and Leave a Comment!

Hilary Pullen with outstretched arms stands on a rocky mountain ridge alongside her dog Ziggy, with a cloudy mountainous landscape in the background.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy the route guide and the video, please leave me a comment if you have questions or if you have done this route, let me know how you got on. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram if you’d like to keep up with more of my walks, I also send a newsletter occasionally with my new walks, so do sign up for that too.

Hilary

7 responses to “Yr Elen from Bethesda via the Dragons Teeth Ridge and Cwm Caseg”

  1. Steph Thompson Avatar
    Steph Thompson

    What a beautiful video! Thank you for all that work … so much detail. I live on the opposite side of the country from you in the Fens and I’m so jealous. lol. We plan to come back to Wales next year for a holiday and hopefully get to do this lovely walk.

    Reply
    1. Hilary Avatar
      Hilary

      Oh thank you so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed the video – I love making them, it’s like reliving the walk 🙂

      Reply
  2. Paul Martin Avatar
    Paul Martin

    Well done Hilary, great video and brilliant walk. Never heard of the Dragon’s teeth before. What was the book you referred to in the commentary…?

    Reply
    1. Hilary Avatar
      Hilary

      It’s called Hillwalking in Snowdonia by EG Rowland – lots of scribbles in it from GMB x

      Reply
  3. Martin Hill Avatar
    Martin Hill

    Thanks for a really well written guide to this walk. I’ll try it when it’s dry again….if ever!
    I see that you have a link to OS maps for the complete route. Since OS upped their prices to £35 pa I’ve moved to HiiKER, which has all the OS maps and Harvey maps too for less than half the price. Maybe you could create a link to that app too??.

    Reply
    1. Hilary Avatar
      Hilary

      I work for the Ordnance Survey so I couldn’t really start promoting other apps – that said I genuinely find the OS Maps App great value for money with all the features, I have so many routes on there that I still pay for the app despite having a free work version too 🙂 What aspect of Hiiker do you like, I haven’t heard great things about it?

      Reply
  4. The Best Apps for Mountain Weather

    […] the top of Yr Elen from Bethesda… I timed this walk to avoid the incoming afternoon cloud you can see massing in the […]

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