The area known as the Moelwyns is a complete range.
The main group of Moelwyn summits is looked at as one of Snowdonia's secret area's that not many people seem to explore or climb.
The range of the Moelwyns consist of the following main summits.
The Moelwyn Summits.
The main summits themselves pictured below on a lovely cold clear day consist of Moelwyn Bach (bach meaning small in Welsh) at 711metres to the left of the picture. Moelwyn Bach has a beautiful shape to it when seen from virtually all angles and is alot more shapely than its big brother Moelwyn Mawr seen to the right of the picture.
Moelwyn Mawr (mawr meaning large in Welsh) is 770metres and from the south takes the shape of a rounded pyramid. From most other angles it is a very round and bland looking summit. The picture of the Moelwyns at sunset on this page again show Bach to the left and Mawr to the right. In this picture Bach again is the shapely one.
Between the two summits there is an outcrop of crag's that links the Bwlch between them and these crags are called Craigysgafn and give a nice easy scramble when heading from Moelwyn Bach across the ridge to Moelwyn Mawr.

This range also covers a vast area of upland and unspoilt wilderness which has other major summits within it. The highest of them all at over 800metres in the north east corner and dominating the village of Capel Curig is called Moel Siabod.
MOEL SIABOD
Moel Siabod's SP-Page via this link
This although in the Moelwyns area is primarily looked at as a seperate summit due to its size and isolation.

Moel Siabod and its east cliffs from Dolwyddelan

CNICHT
This is another much smaller but just as shapely summit within the Moelwyns and is more commonly referred to as The Welsh Matterhon. Cnicht SP-Page via this link. This is much closer to the Moelwyn's and can if need be combined with them for a great days walking and scrambling.

Cnicht's shapely Matterhorn summit

The area in general has many other smaller isolated summits and ridges deep within the vast area of upland that this region covers.
The vast wilderness in split between the following Welsh towns.
Betws y Coed, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Porthmadog, Beddgelert and Capel Curig.
The pictures below are from a cold day i spent climbing the Moelwyn main Ridge covering Bach and Mawr.

Getting There

Wales main backbone road known as the A470 can be accessed as follows.
Useing the M6 Manchester area take the M56 for Chester then the A55 for Conway.
When at Conway take this A470 road in a south direction signposted for the quaint town of Betws y Coed. This small town has many Bed and Breakfasts and along with pubs and restaurant's is a good place to be based from.
Anyway follow the A470 from here signposted Ffestiniog.
Just before accessing Ffestiniog the A470 goes off left.
Dont go this way but take the A496 Right signposted Porthmadog. About a mile and half there is a large visitor centre for the Hydro-Electric scheme at Ffestiniog power station.
This is your parking area and charges apply in the summer months.
This car park also has a good little cafe...!
From this car park there are many routes up. Refer to OS-Map Explorer OL18
The A470 and the small town of Betws y Coed can also be accessed from the Midlands region via the M6 at Birmingham then the M54 and A5 from Telford, Shrewsbury through to Oswestry, Llangollen, Corwen then on all the way to Betws y Coed then follow the route as above.

From the South Wales region the best way is to head for the A470 main road and just head North Bound on it to Dolgellau and Ffestiniog.
The A470 being the main backbone road can be accessed easy from all points and towns throughout the whole of Wales making it an easy route.
BUT Beware... The police enjoy putting there speed camera vans about (Dont get Cought)

The Map Below gives details of the main area to park and i have dotted out in red a route which i did and found very interesting.

Red Tape

None really.
Except when following the route that goes along next the Ffestiniog Steam railway dont walk along the track...Lol
Also dont climb over or damage fences etc.
Respect the mountains as everyone should.
When up on the open summits it becomes permissive paths like it is on the Berwyns and Arans which means just respect the area because these can be withdrawn at any time.

External Links

For Welsh weather information look up BBC 5-Day weather forecast then do a search for Wales followed by Porthmadog...!
I have to be really honest about this but Snowdonia has way to many website's to list. The best thing to do is look up a search on Google (Moelwyns routes up) this should find you everything.
If not try variations of these words.

Camping

Brilliant towns for Bed and Breakfast bases are Betws y Coed to the North back up the A470 or nearby Porthmadog.
Both these towns are strooned with Accomodation from hotels and B&B along with pubs and restaurant's.
There is camping sites available all round Snowdonia in fact to many to mention so its best just look up on the internet and find which one suits you best to stay at.

Images



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