The Southern Carneddau Circuit

Open dates 2026: Sunday 9th August 2026 Sunday 11th October 2026 These events are now guaranteed to run! The Southern Carneddau Cicruit is THE way to experience the three highest summits of the Carneddau mountain range. Scrambling on Pen yr Ole Wen, peering over Carnedd Dafydd's 'Black Ladders', standing atop Carnedd Llewelyn the third highest mountain in Wales and traversing the wild-feeling ridge to Pen yr Helgi Du - it is a packed day! The walk starts from the long lay-by to the east of Llyn Ogwen on the A5 where we roughly follow the Afon Lloer river to the east ridge of Pen yr Ole Wen. The ridge has some scrambling around the lower end of grade-1 but in a small group it can be overcome safely, a good introduction to scrambling in the mountains. After the summit of Pen yr Ole Wen, there is a good path along the ridge to Carnedd Dafydd, another longer ridge path continues on to Carnedd Llewelyn simply enough. Next is a descent east and some more scrambling in places across the narrow ridge towards Pen yr Helgi Du. The long & broad grassy ridge of Y Braich leads back into the Ogwen valley and a well earned rest, this is a pretty long day at 16km with 1100 metres of ascent in total. The Carneddau has the largest area of ground above 3000ft in Wales with beautiful views in all directions. If you are looking to work towards other classic scrambling routes in the area then this day is an ideal first step. What's Included: A full day of guided walking from a qualified, experienced & insured mountain leader in a small and personal group. Opportunities to improve your personal mountain skillset. An emphasis on education around the landscape, local knowledge, wildlife & more. Advice regarding local travel & accommodation. Required Experience: This is a physically demanding day, even for seasoned mountain walkers. You should be comfortable on pathless & rocky terrain plus experience of walking 15km in a day. Please get in contact if you'd like to discuss the suitability of this route. Individual bookings: Spaces are £75 per person and the full balance is payable at the time of booking. Private bookings: Head to 'Bespoke Private Guiding' to check availability & book, prices start from £225, or feel free to get in contact for a custom itinerary.