1. This walk starts at Idwal Cottage on the A5 by Llyn Ogwen in the Ogwen Valley. There is plenty of roadside parking in the numerous A5 laybys and a pay and display car park by Idwal Cottage Youth Hostel at grid reference SH 649 603.
2. Look for the cafe and toilet block buildings on the south east edge of the main car park. Follow the footpath towards Llyn Idwal that heads off from directly behind these buildings.
3. The path will go through an iron gate before crossing a footbridge over the Llyn Idwal outflow stream. Follow the path as it heads south east. However, at the point where this main path bends to the right changing direction, instead, continue on a smaller path which stays on the south east trajectory.
4. After only twenty metres you will reach one of the footpaths heading south from the A5 laybys. This path heads towards the Nant Bochlwyd. When it reaches Nant Bochlwyd it ascends a steep section over Bochlwyd Buttress.
5. The path then flattens out and reaches Llyn Bochlwyd. Continue along the path through Cwm Bochlwyd passing the eastern shores of Llyn Bochlwyd. After Llyn Bochlwyd ascend the loose path to Bwlch Tryfan.
6. At Bwlch Tryfan there is a stone wall that crosses with a wooden stile over it. Do not cross the stile, unless you want to miss out on the fun of Bristly Ridge. Here if you don't want to do Bristly Ridge, cross the stile then turn right on the normal ascent path to Glyder Fach.
7. From the path look at the huge buttress end of Bristly Ridge. You will see a scree path ascend to the right hand side of the immediate small buttress. The wall that crosses Bwlch Tryfan goes to its left hand side.
8. Ascend that path and you will find yourself on an area above the buttress. You will also find yourself at the foot of a gully. This gully is known as the Main Gully and is the harder of two possible ascents on to the ridge.
9. If you move up to the left by just ten metres you will see the stone wall from Bwlch Tryfan which came up the other side of the small buttress. Here you will find yourself at the foot of the other gully known as Sinister Gully, despite its name, the easier of the two gullies.
10. Choose which gully you wish to ascend. In summer Main Gully is the more exciting challenge. Main Gully is the steepest, the rocks are loose and it turns in to an exposed narrow chimney towards the top. I would avoid Main Gully in winter conditions, the chimney at the top of the gully is then more of a full on winter climb.
11. Take care ascending whichever gully you choose. Descend and choose a different route if you can't handle it and always be patient around others who may be taking their time. Always be aware of kicking rock on those below, and rocks coming down from above.
12. Once on the top of the ridge proper you will have earned a rest. Sit and marvel at your surroundings. Tryfan looks immense from Bristly Ridge. Continue along the crest of the ridge with care, planning your next move over some incredible rock pinnacles.
13. At one point you will come to a point on the ridge known as Great Pinnacle Gap. Here you have to drop down on to flat slabs that can be lethal when wet, and pass by an impressive tall pinnacle of rock.
14. The views to your right over Nant Ffrancon and Cwm Idwal are awesome. Probably the nations best example of a landscape shaped by glaciation. I would recommend sitting for a while on a quiet pinnacle and soaking up this unique and incredible setting.
15. Continue along the crest of the ridge beyond the Great Pinnacle Gap, crossing or passing a few more smaller pinnacles. This really is an amazing place and the satisfaction of completing Bristly Ridge is overwhelming. You will eventually reach the plateau of Glyder Fach and the main path coming up from Bwlch Tryfan.
16. Head in the direction of the higher ground to reach the boulder covered summit of Glyder Fach at nine hundred and ninety four metres above sea level. The summit is a great place, the most obvious land mark being the astonishing Cantilever Stone. This is a huge slab of rock balancing in mid air like a huge natural ironing board.
17. A photo on top of the Cantilever Stone is an essential ritual when on Glyder Fach. The rock looks as though it should topple over when people stand on it. However after thousands of walkers standing on it each year, often in numbers, the Cantilever Stone still sits in the same precarious position it has for centuries.
18. From the summit of Glyder Fach you will see, on the far western side of the mountain plateau, a huge natural display of sharp slate rocks, soaring skyward like something out of a science fiction movie. This is Castell y Gwynt, translated Castle Of The Winds.
19. Castell y Gwynt gets its name from the noise strong winds make as they pass through the tall spiky rocks. Head west along the plateau towards Castell y Gwynt. The closer you get the more you realise just how spectacular it is. There are also great views from here across to Snowdon.
20. Follow one of the paths round Castell y Gwynt and head down a short descent to Bwlch y Ddwy-Glyder. From Bwlch y Ddwy-Glyder follow the obvious path as it slowly ascends the flat but rocky plateau of Glyder Fawr. The path edges the rim of the Nameless Cwm, giving stunning views down through the Nant Ffrancon valley.
21. After a while you'll reach the top of Glyder Fawr, the highest of the Glyderau range, at nine hundred and ninety nine metres above sea level, just missing the thousand metre mark. The summit of Glyder Fawr is not nearly as exciting as that of its smaller sister Glyder fach.
22. From Glyder Fawr descend north west over rocky ground then along the obvious path until you reach a steep decent to Llyn y Cwn. Descend this steep section to reach the shores of the sheltered Llyn y Cwn.
23. When you reach Llyn y Cwn head to its eastern side. From here head north east along a path until it reaches a wide track descending with stunning views ahead to Pen yr Ole Wen across the Ogwen Valley.
24. The wide track eventually reaches a small old stone wall that crosses its path. The steep rocky path continues a tricky descent. Crampons definitely needed here in winter. The path turns left under the crags and heads towards the bottom of the Devil's Kitchen, a huge cold rock gully now on your left.
25. After admiring or looking frightfully at the foreboding gully of the Devil's Kitchen the path continues its tricky descent towards Llyn Idwal before eventually flattening out to a much simpler affair before reaching Llyn Idwal below the famous climbing slopes of The Idwal Slabs.
26. The path now heads north around the eastern shores of Llyn Idwal and reaches a small wooden footbridge over the outflow. Follow the path to the right back to Idwal Cottage to reach the start of the walk.
27. You could finish off the day by visiting Capel Curig a few miles down the road where you can shop, eat and drink at the Pinnacle Cafe & Outdoor Shop, Joe Browns or one of the friendly local hotels. The village of Bethesda north of the Ogwen Valley also has numerous cafes and pubs.

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