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Cadair Idris from Minffordd

Start/Finish

Car park at end of minor road which leaves BB 4405 just after junction with A 487 at Minffordd. This turning can easily be missed.

Distance/Time

9 km      Approx 6 hours

Peaks

Cadair Idris, 893 m, SH 711 130.

Mynydd Moel, 863 m, SH 727 136.     OL 23 Cadair Idris & Llyn Tegid

Introduction

This is an easy route to follow to the summit but, unless returning the same way, careful navigation is needed off the summit. There are excellent coastal views from the summit.

Route

(1) There is a signposted path behind the toilet block. The good path leads up through the woods, steeply in places, to emerge by a stream. Note the footbridge across the stream as it will be used in descent. Continue on the path until it begins to level out and soon Llyn Cau is reached. There is a choice of routes here. The Minffordd path goes up the ridge, on the left, around the S side of the lake before turning N over Craig Cau then descending to a col. Alternatively, walk around the N side of the lake and climb a grassy/rocky gully at its NW corner. There are two separate paths up this gully plus the occasional opportunity for scrambling but it is quite steep and a harder route than Craig Cau. At the top of the gully is the col from Craig Cau. From the col head NE up rocky slopes to the large cairn and trig point of Penygadair, the highest top on Cadair Idris, 893 m. There is a large hut close to the summit on its N side.

(2) Descend NE, following an obvious path, which then continues above the precipitous N face to Mynydd Moel, 863 m. Just before the summit, a wall is crossed.

(3) From the summit, retrace to this wall and follow it down SSE. There is a path but it is quite eroded in places. About 300 m after another wall comes in from the left (NE), the path goes WSW to eventually join the outward route at the footbridge over the Nant Cadair stream referred to earlier.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 14^th October, 2009.