The Nantlle Ridge: Full Linear Skyline Traverse
- Jacob @ Mountain Craft
- Mar 24
- 2 min read
If you want the thrill of a rocky skyline without the bottleneck queues of Crib Goch, the Nantlle Ridge is one of the finest mountain journeys in Wales. Located on the western edge of Eryri, it offers a perfect balance of accessible hill walking mixed with hands-on scrambling that is satisfying without being overly technical.
We run this as a full end-to-end linear traverse for our guided days. While many walkers do a shorter out-and-back to avoid the transport logistics, completing the entire line from Rhyd Ddu to Nebo is a much more rewarding experience. You cross seven distinct summits, with Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon framing the view behind you and the Irish Sea stretching out ahead.
The Route Stats
Mountain:Ā The Nantlle Ridge (Highest point: Craig Cwm Silyn at 734m)
Distance:Ā 13km to 15km (Depending on the exact finish point in Nebo)
Ascent:Ā 968m
Estimated Time:Ā 6 to 7 hours
Terrain:Ā Rocky mountain paths, grassy ridges, and simple scrambling with some exposure.
Logistics:Ā This is a point-to-point linear route, so you will need to arrange transport back to the start.
The Route Overview
Starting from Rhyd Ddu, the route quickly gains height and commits you to the ridge. The highlight for many is the short but thrilling scramble up Mynydd Drws-y-Coed, which requires a steady head for heights. As you progress westward, the rocky terrain transitions into broader grassy ridges. Be warned, the final descent off Mynydd Graig Goch towards Llyn Cwm Dulyn and Nebo is notoriously tricky to navigate in thick fog. Trust your compass or the GPX line here.
Get the GPX & Map
Because of the tricky descent off the final summit, accurate navigation is essential. I have mapped the exact linear route we use over on HiiKER.
View and download the route here:Ā Nantlle Ridge Full Traverse
Need offline maps?Ā Upgrade your phone's navigation with my Mountain Craft partner link to get a massive discount on HiiKER Pro+. It is normally Ā£41.99 for the year, but my link drops it to a special offer of just Ā£14.95Ā (that is just Ā£1.24 a month) for full offline OS mapping. Claim the Mountain Craft discount here.
Want to do this with Mountain Craft?
Managing the transport logistics and navigating the scrambling sections isn't for everyone. If you want to experience this classic skyline without the stress, you can join us.
Join a Group Journey:Ā We have open small-group dates running on Saturday 30th MayĀ and Saturday 12th September 2026Ā for Ā£75pp. We coordinate the transport logistics back to the start for the group.
No dates available?Ā Book me for a Private Guiding DayĀ (from Ā£275) and we can tackle it at your own pace.
See you on the hills,
Jacob @ Mountain Craft
