Walking Route - Moel Hebog, North Wales
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Beddgelert > Moel
Hebog > Moel Lefn > Beddgelert
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Distance: 7.4 miles
(11.7km)
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Height Gain: 3212 ft
(979m)
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Moel Hebog is one of the most
underrated hills in Snowdonia. Combined with Moel yr Ogof
and Moel Lefn it makes for a good day far from the maddening
crowds.
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Maps: Landranger 115, Explorer
OL17
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 2
Technicality: 1
Photo Grade: 2
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Start Point: SH
587 480
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Sat on the far eastern side of the Lakes, High Street's long, grassy
rolling ridge doesn't give the most interesting technical walking in
the area, but it makes up for it with spectacular views westward of
the likes of Fairfield and the Helvellyn range. Look the other way
and you can see the Dales. On a clear day there are few better places
to be.
Section 1 - Beddgelert to Moel Hebog
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Distance: 2 miles (3.2Km)
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Height Gain: 2418 ft (737m)
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A path leaves the south west end of the car park and heads
north west to join the road up to
Cwm Cloch.
Once past Cwm Cloch Isaf the road swings right with two footpaths
leaving to the right hand side on the bend. Ignore the first, which
provides your return route, and take the second.
The view over the church at Beddgelert, the start
point of the route.
from Bex Led Good's OM
album
The initial ascent is easy, but where the path splits in two the
angle increases. Take the lefthand fork which starts with a single
zig zag before straightening to attack the main ridge directly.
After 1400ft of steady ascent a brief respite can be found just
before the final push through the rocks to the OS trig point marking
the summit of Moel
Hebog. From here you can look south to the Moelwyns and north
east to Yr Aran and Snowdon.
Section 2 - Moel Hebog to Cwm Trwsgl
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Distance: 2.1 miles (3.4km)
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Height Gain: 644 ft (196m)
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Turn right (North) to follow a wall as it starts the descent to Bwlch
Meillionen between Moel Hebog and Moel Yr Ogof.
After 800 ft of descent the climb back up the other side winds its
way up through an obvious gap in the outcrops ahead. The reascent is
only half the height gain of the drop from Moel Hebog so the summit
arrives quickly, with an easier descent on the other side.
Snowdon in the distance from Moel Hebog
Marcus Crompton's OM
album
The next bwlch is wider and more easily angled with a short 200ft
reascent to the rocky summit of Moel
Lefn. From here you can see the whole Nantlle Ridge spread
out before you.
The descent starts steeply from Moel Lefn then eases again before
another steep section down to a major meeting point of the paths at
Cwm Trwsgl.
Section 3 - Cwm Trwsgl to Beddgelert
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Distance: 3.2 miles (5.1km)
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Height Gain: 150 ft (46m)
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Turn sharp right, almost back on yourself, at the junction and
continue descending. A stile gives access into the forest, but the
path soon emerges again to run parallel to the east ridge of Moel
Lefn.
The Nantlle Ridge, one of the area's best quieter
scrambles
Richard Sun's OM
album
Re-enter the forest and after a quarter of a mile you reach the
main track leading into the camp site. The path crosses the camp site
to its southern corner and drops down to Cwm Cloch and the short
stroll back to your starting point.
