2 MAGAZINE START/ FINISH
WALK DETAILS
3
START Exit the lay-by to cross the road (The A5) and go left to head west beside Llyn Ogwen. As you reach Ogwen Cottage cross
5 4
The A5 again to pass the café and take the access road for The Youth Hostel. Shortly go right into a carpark (facing the snack bar), walk to the end of it and take a path beyond to descend to a viewpoint for Ogwen Falls taking care because of the steep
cross a stream. Continue beyond to reach a large stream across
drops to the falls.
the path. Cross this if it is dry but if the slabs are wet you will
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need to head up it a bit and cross higher up descending to
Points of interest on this section
re-join the path (if the stream is in flood do not attempt to cross
J Llyn Ogwen is a ribbon lake covering 78 acres and lies at an
at all). Once over continue on the high level path. Climb steps
altitude of 1,017 ft/310 metres. It is a shallow lake having a
and continue more levelly towards massive boulders ahead.
maximum depth of 10 ft/3.0 metres. Legend has it that after
As you reach them cut left and up to reach a path fork below
King Arthur’s last battle (the Battle of Camlann), Sir Bedivere
The Devils Kitchen gully. Go right at this point following the
cast the sword Excalibur into the lake where it was caught
path to make a rough descent down rocky slabs and steps with
by The Lady of the Lake.
some awkward scrambley bits. A small waterfall is passed on
J Ogwen Falls (Rhaeadr Ogwen) is the point where The River
polished rock and care is required here. When you reach the
Ogwen, emerging from Llyn Ogwen, tumbles over rocks
bottom of the stone slab steps continue on the path towards
before heading down The Nant Ffrancon Valley on its
Llyn Idwal. Follow the path over two slab bridges and continue
journey towards the sea.
to a path junction right.
2) Re-trace your steps back through the car park exiting it
Points of interest on this section
to go left past the snack bar. Beyond it go right taking a path
J The Devils Kitchen (Twll Du) is a gash in the rocks below the
to the left of steps. Rise up staying ahead at a junction almost
summit of Y Garn where a waterfall tumbles down a gorge.
immediately (your way is signposted ‘Llyn Idwal Path’. Shortly
It is reputed to have got its name as water from the falls was
pass through a gate, cross a bridge and continue to rise on
blown upwards by high winds and looked like smoke rising
the well made path. Follow this to curve right and continue to
up the gash.
reach the shores of Llyn Idwal. 5) Continue straight on with Llyn Idwal over right. Soon rise Points of interest on this section
again and continue more levelly above the lake. Descend again
J Llyn Idwal nestles in a hollow surrounded by Cwm Idwal.
and cross a few streams to curve right around a bay and pass
It covers 28 acres and the surrounding valley is a classic
through a kissing gate in a wall. Curve around the end of Llyn
ice formed hanging valley which was Wales’s first National
Idwal past the stony beach (the path is vaguer here). Follow the
Nature Reserve and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
improving path to pass through a gate, go right over a bridge and then left picking up your outbound route. Follow this back
3) Take the path up the left side of Llyn Idwal. Follow the
down the mountain track to the snack bar near Ogwen Cottage.
lake shore path to pass through a kissing gate and continue
Go right to The A5 and go Right back beside the A5 to the start
towards The Idwal Slabs ahead. As you near these start to rise
point using the sidewalk by the lake.
more steeply and as the angle eases again continue over odd streams and pass the head of the lake to pass a junction right
Points of interest on this section
and stay ahead to the foot of The Idwal Slabs.
J The mountains closely surrounding Cwm Idwal are Tryfan (3,010 ft/917.5 metres), Glyder Fach (3,261 ft/994 metres),
Points of interest on this section
Glyder Fawr (3,284 ft/1,001 metres) and Y Garn (3,107 ft/947
J The Idwal Slabs are much loved by rock climbers and
metres). n
you can pause here to watch them in action on the rocks. Climbing routes are generally multi-pitch and range from lower grade to extreme grades with the longest covering 525 ft/160 metres. 4) Continue past The Idwal Slabs and start to climb steeply up steps. Follow the rough rising path to curve left and right and
Page 74 NWM 2019
A WORD OF CAUTION Walking in the outdoors can be a strenuous activity and it is up to you to ensure that you are fit and healthy enough to undertake the route described and to approach the venture with caution and care. You should wear appropriate footwear and suitable clothing, take along food and drink plus carry the relevant map and a compass and be able to use it. The details given here are believed to be correct at the time of going to press. However, neither North Wales Magazine nor the author can accept responsibility for inaccuracies encountered.