Cnicht from Gelli-Lago

Difficulty : ModerateDuration : 4.5 HrsDistance : 9.5 Km

Although only 690M high, the view from the summit of Cnicht should never be under estimated. The 360 view from this summit is definitely one of the best in Snowdonia. Its almost as if someone decided to create a view point for the surrounding area and put this mountain in prime position for this. The final descent to the summit is also very exciting and you will definitely find yourself on all fours at some point. The dramatic drop down the valley of Cwm Croesor across to the huge Moelwyn Mawr is jaw dropping. This trek is a great mix of scenery from silent glacial lakes to scree cliffs and rough scrambling.

Full route description for this walk

From the A498 road between the lakes of Llyn Dinas and Llyn Gwynant take the small road bridge over the river and follow this very tight track round the hill and you'll get to a sharp right angle turn, continue down the road past the buildings of Gerynt and Fedw Bach and eventually on the left side of the road you'll find a small car park. Walk a few hundred yards up the road away from the car park and you'll see the entrance to Gelli-Lago.

Gelli-Lago Track

Cnicht from Gelli-Lago

Follow the path through Gelli-Lago making sure to respect this part of the path as it passes through private land. Once round the back of Gelli-Lago the path starts to climb along side the stream up towards the valley. Follow the path right up through the valley until you can clearly see the walls of Cnicht in front of you. When you get to the end of the valley the path will turn right through Bwlch y Battel. Follow the path past the peat bog lake and you should now see the Porthmadog Bay in the very far distance. At Bwlch y Battel many are tempted to climb towards Cnicht too soon, instead carry on past the small peat bog lake and down slightly then a path will go left round.

Quarry below Cnicht

Ascending Cnicht

Just round the corner you will find a disused quarry and buildings which provide a great rest stop. The quarries in the welsh mountains stand like ghost towns and are a mystical reminder of the industrial past of the welsh mountains. From the quarry now head up east towards the foot of Cnicht and eventually you will meet the south western approaching path from Croeser. When you reach this path turn left onto it and the fun will begin as you tackle the final descent to Cnicht.

Cnicht Ridge

Cnicht Summit

The final descent of Cnicht is very exciting and the drop in the corner of your eye towards Moelwyn Mawr can be very distracting. The path becomes less and less obvious the nearer you get to the summit. On reaching the summit you will understand why so many people rave about the views off this surprisingly quiet yet majestic little mountain, known as the matter horn of Wales.

Moelwyn Mawr

Behind Cnicht

After taking in the views from the summit the somewhat easier ascent of the back ridge of Cnicht is down the very visible path which passes firstly, the Llyn Biswall and secondly Llyn yr Adar. Llyn yr Adar is an amazing lake with an unbelievable view of Snowdon as its backdrop.

Llyn yr Adar

Walk around Llyn yr Adar to its northern shore and then the path snakes between Craig Llyn-llagi and Cyrniau and then round to the right before turning left again and then down to Llyn Llagi. Follow the path from Llyn Llagi down past Carnedd Melyn and following the stream back down towards Llwynyrhwch, respecting once again the path through private land. Once at the small road again simply follow the road back down towards the car park.