Y Carneddau · Northern Snowdonia
The Carneddau form the single biggest area of high ground in Wales — a vast, rolling massif of grass and boulder summits north of the Ogwen Valley. Unlike the jagged drama of the Glyderau or Snowdon, the Carneddau are broad-backed and remote, with long ridge walks linking eight summits over 750m. Feral ponies roam the high plateau, and the sense of scale and isolation here is unmatched anywhere else in Wales.
Difficulty
Moderate – Hard
Terrain
Broad grassy plateau, boulder fields, exposed ridgelines
Best for
Long ridge days · Solitude · Wild camping · Ponies & wildlife
The steep southern gateway to the range, rising directly above Llyn Ogwen.
Hard – steep, unrelenting ascent
A broad summit with dramatic views down the cliffs of Ysgolion Duon (the Black Ladders).
Moderate from the ridge, hard direct
The highest summit in the range and third-highest in Wales, a vast stony dome at the heart of the massif.
Moderate, but remote and exposed to weather
A shapely, narrow-ridged outlier reached by a short spur from Carnedd Llewelyn.
Moderate, narrow ridge sections
A flat, boggy summit housing a small mountain refuge hut.
Easy walking, navigation tricky in mist
The northernmost major summit, marking the edge of the high plateau before it drops to the coast.
Easy, gentle grassy slopes
A pyramidal peak above Llyn Cowlyd, isolated from the main ridge.
Moderate, steep grass slopes
A narrow ridge peak connected to the main massif by the dramatic Bwlch Eryl Farchog.
Hard – exposed ridge scrambling
Pen yr Ole Wen → Carnedd Dafydd → Carnedd Llewelyn, the classic high traverse.
A long northern loop taking in Foel Grach and Foel-fras via the old drovers’ paths.
A shorter outing focused on the exposed ridge from Bwlch Eryl Farchog.
Built from real elevation data — drag, orbit and walk the actual terrain.