Don't turn your nose up at Moel Siabod because it falls short of the 3000-foot mark - it's a proper mountain with great views, and ridgey scrambling options.
Walking Route: Moel Siabod, Snowdonia
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Capel Curig > Daiar Ddu >
Moel Siabod > Capel Curig
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Distance: 6 miles (9.5
km)
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Height Gain: 2521 ft (
768m)
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Overview: Snowdonia's 'forgotten
mountain' is 139 feet short of the 3000 mark but every inch a
proper peak.
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Maps: OS Landranger 115,
OL17
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 2
Technicality: 1
Photo Grade: 2
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Start Point: SH
734 572
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When the nights close in and the clocks go back, it's time to take a
look at some of the shorter circuits and our latest route is a long
time favourite.
Moel Siabod is the forgotten mountain of Snowdonia, usually just a
blur as you speed off to Snowdon, the Glyders and the Carneddau. But
at only 139ft short of the 3000ft mark, Moel Siabod is every bit as much a
mountain as its better known neighbours.
From the north, Siabod displays long grassy slopes, but
approaching from the south east you get the classic glaciated
Snowdonia view with a long ridge and the traditional cirque enclosed
lake.
A proper mountain - Moel Siabod from Llyn Elsi
taken from Peter Gancarcik's OM gallery album
Section 1 - Capel Curig to Moel Siabod
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Distance: 2.75 miles (4.4km)
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Height Gain: 2412ft (735 m)
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From the A5 cross the bridge heading south at Pont Cyfyng and
after a few yards take the second turning on the right, down what
starts as a road.
The road degenerates into a track as it climbs past the cottages
and continues upwards to Rhos Quarry. A fence guides you round
the edge of the quarry pool then signposts take over directing you to
the col ahead.
Llyn y Foel seen from the East Ridge on the way up
-
from Justin Murphy's OM gallery album
Pass to the right of Llyn y Foel and aim for the start of the east
ridge, Daiar Ddu. The ridge provides a choice of walking or low
grade scrambling, with a good path leading all the way to the summit
trig point on top of Moel Siabod.
From this vantage point you get excellent views of the main
Snowdonia ranges to the west and north, and a contrast with the green
lowlands to the east.
View from the top - that's snowy Snowdon from
Simon McKone's
'Walkies
Pics' gallery album
Section 2 - Moel Siabod to Capel Curig
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Distance: 3.2 miles (5.1Km)
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Height Gain: 109 ft (33 m)
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From
Moel Siabod's summit knoll head north east, past the wind
shelter, towards the north east ridge. You can either take the ridge
crest, with grade 1 scrambling moves in places, or stay left of the
crest on short grass.
As you reach the remains of a wall where the slope steepens, take
the left hand faint path to the north. The path down starts steep and
faint, but gradually widens, with cairns along the way leading to a
stile. The stile leads into the trees and down to a forest road.
Turn right here and follow this road for a little over half a mile
to a fork, where the right hand branch leads down to the river.
Follow the riverside path past a footbridge by the hotel, and through
the fields to the stepping stones and Pont Cyfyng, your start point.
