West Coast Special
There are many glorious mountains in North Wales. Some are pointy, some are broad backed, some have hard edges and some climb gently.
The mountains in North Wales vary wildly in terms of the amount of people that visit them.
Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) sees 600,000 people walk up it’s flanks each year.
In contrast, you can explore the West Coast mountains on a sunny Saturday and not see another soul.
Our favourite mountains might not be your favourite mountains, that’s what so wonderful about humans – we all think a bit differently.
This list is in no particular order, they’re all brilliant mountains.
Moelwyn Mawr
Great White Hill
Moelwyn Mawr is a glorious ‘humpback whale of a mountain’ that rears up above the West coast of North Wales, it’s part of the Moelwynion.
We love Moelwyn Mawr because, for us, it’s close to home, there’s loads of great routes up to the summit and there’s plenty to explore whichever way you go.
There’s lots of history within this landscape, the remains of quarry works are stark and everywhere.
The skylarks are resentful and noisy if you come up from the West.
You can even swim inside the mountain if you know how – probably best to contact us about that though.
You can start a walk up Moelwyn Mawr from Croesor or Tanygrisiau – both are excellent.
Mynydd Graig Goch
Mountain of the Red Rock
The circular route to the top of Mynydd Graig Goch might just be our ‘most walked walk’ in North Wales.
Mynydd Graig Goch marks the Western end of Nantlle Ridge, it’s slopes look down over the Llyn Peninsula, Ynys Mon and the Irish Sea.
If you take it slow the circular walk takes two and a half hours, we’ve done it in an hour and twenty minutes at a fast walk – the gradient is excellent (both up and down) and the terrain is mixed.
There’s a broad grassy plateau with amazing views on both sides and a craggy summit that’s marked by tors and boulder fields that cuts the plateau from its Western slope.
We call this hill ‘Flagpole’, one of the tors is surmounted by a length of scaffold pole that normally holds a ragged Welsh flag.
Moel Hebog
Bare Hill of the Hawk
Moel Hebog looms over Beddgelert like the lonely mountain over Lake Town.
It’s a great lump of a hill that climbs 750 meters from the valley below.
Don’t walk up the West side of Moel Hebog, it’s a long grassy slog of a slope that can feel endless when your on it.
Start in Beddgelert and head up the steeper North East Ridge, it has much more of a mix of terrain and topography. The ground gets steeper at about 400 meters and the walk gets interesting, you’ll have to use your hands every now and again and think about the route ahead.
For a longer day, head up Moel yr Ogof and Moel lefn as well.
Cnicht
The ‘Welsh Matterhorn’ Another mountain with lots of quick routes to the summit.
If you start from Croesor you can be up and down Cnicht in 2 hours without trying too hard.
The last 80 meters of height gain are steep and craggy, it’s not quite a scramble but you’ll need to use your hands as you climb.
From the West Cnicht is really pointy (hence – ‘The Welsh Matterhorn’), The long, broad, Eastern ridge gives access to Moelwyn Mawr and Moel Druman.
Cnicht is surrounded by the legacy of the quarries, it’s a beautiful mountain that gets popular at the weekend – probably best to save it for a midweek day.
Craig Cwm Silyn
A wild, steep, craggy glacial valley that head up onto the highest part of the Nantlle Ridge.
There’s lots of routes onto the wide plateau of Craig Cwm Silyn but our favourite is a circular walk that starts West of Nebo and takes about 3 hours.
The first 3km are great for getting warmed up and the crag looms above you broken by gully and shadow.
There are some routes up those gullys, but you’ll need to be really confident and careful.
A less consequential route clambers to the Bwlch and then climbs a steep ridge section to reach the summit cairns.
Head off towards the West and loop back to the car.
GREAT views of the Yr Wyddfa massif.
Wild Wales in North Wales
Wild Wales helps people have brilliant adventures in North Wales.
We specialise in Mountain Walking and Wild Swimming.
Here’s a link to our Swim Retreats: https://shorturl.at/klt1W
Here’s a link to our single day adventures, Mountain Walking and Swimming: https://shorturl.at/LxA2S
