Distance:- 6miles
Ascent:- 2521ft or 768m
Some Wiki info about this mounain:-
Moel Siabod is a mountain in Snowdonia, North Wales, which sits isolated above the villages of Betws-y-Coed and Capel Curig. It is the highest peak in the Moelwynion mountain range. The UK National Mountain Centre, Plas-y-Brenin, is located at the foot of Moel Siabod. From the top of the mountain, it is reputedly possible to see 13 of the 14 highest peaks in Wales on a clear day without turning one's head. It is also known as Snowdonia's forgotten mountain, 139 ft below the 3000 mark but every inch a mountain.
There are many routes up this mountain but today I'll be tackling it from Pont Cyfyng ascending via the north eastern ridge and coming back down the Daear Ddu Ridge or the East ridge. (note: as it was my first ascent, I'd found out if by doing it the other way round by scrambling up Daear Ddu ridge, it would have been a lot more fun!!)
No doubt, this is my favourite "half day" mountain. This route could be tackled in under 4hrs with lots of breaks in between.
This is the route, drawn in red.
Parked on a very narrow lane near the Cyfyng Falls just off the A5 east from Capel Curig. It is quite difficult to find a spot for parking on this stretch of tarmac. Further down is a single track only wide enough for 1 car to pass!
Just off the lane there is a footpath shown here with a cattle grid which signals the start of the walk.
Clearly marked! The first and only marker to say where you're going.
Looking back, the first part of the walk is a pleasant short stroll with a bit of gradient through the trees.
Looking back through the valley. This was the route taken to by-pass Rhos farm, there were many markings on the ground indicating that the farm was private property and that you should follow the public footpaths.
First sight of Moel Siabod with it's triangular point.
A view to Pen Llithrig Y Wrach (799m) centre.
Open farm moorland, a straight and distinct path. Moel Siabod with it's whale back like ridge sloping to the right. That will be my path up.
Just taking my time on a fine Monday morning up this quiet path.
The ground at the base of the climb is soft and grassy. After a gentle ramble the gradient steepens from now on.
Looking back towards Pont Cyfyng and Rhos farm.
Summit point ahead? As I had found out it was not the true summit!
The unmistakeable Tryfan's shark fin poking through in the distance, plus Bristly ridge and the Glyders on the left.
The are two ways to climb this, continue along the path to the left or attack it stright on.
Looking back.
A long plod up!
Photo moment! With some great views even at half way up.
As soon as the grassy bit ends it is all about scrambling on rocks from now on.
A bit more to go!
Looking down and to my left there is a nameless lake.
The A4086
Looking across to Carnedd Moel Siabod to the true summit point.
A clear view of Llyn Y Foel.
A smooth and flat slab, one of the many obstacles to scrambling on Moel Siabod. When it is dry like today my boots coped really well when smearing on this slab with its Vibram sole.
Summit trig point ahead.
I'm at the top! The summit trig point was bigger than I thought, me as a comparison! Well I'm short any way!
Cloud moving in, looks like I've just made it on time with the clear views.
Looking across to Yr Arddu.
Looking across from the summit point.
Snowdon Horseshoe just below the cloud line.
A classic view of the Snowdon horseshoe from Carnedd Moel Siabod, in near perfect weather.
Another view of the Glyders.
A Boulder field on the way down.
Looking across to my left on the descent.
The Daear Ddu ridge leading onto Llyn y Foel.
The drop offs are quite severe on the edge of the ridge.
Bouldering. Some great rock faces on the way down if you fancy a bit of bouldering!
The beautiful Llyn Y Foel.
Looking back up.
Llyn Y Foel.
Looking back up, you can see the gully that I was at earlier on shooting my camera down towards the lake.
Another lake shot.
Some interesting rock features.
Bouldering problem.
The path back was clearly laid out.
Rhos Quarry Lake. Such a tranquil place.
The nameless lake.
And back to the starting point.
Clearly marked! The first and only marker to say where you're going.
Looking back, the first part of the walk is a pleasant short stroll with a bit of gradient through the trees.
Looking back through the valley. This was the route taken to by-pass Rhos farm, there were many markings on the ground indicating that the farm was private property and that you should follow the public footpaths.
First sight of Moel Siabod with it's triangular point.
A view to Pen Llithrig Y Wrach (799m) centre.
Open farm moorland, a straight and distinct path. Moel Siabod with it's whale back like ridge sloping to the right. That will be my path up.
Just taking my time on a fine Monday morning up this quiet path.
The ground at the base of the climb is soft and grassy. After a gentle ramble the gradient steepens from now on.
Looking back towards Pont Cyfyng and Rhos farm.
Summit point ahead? As I had found out it was not the true summit!
The unmistakeable Tryfan's shark fin poking through in the distance, plus Bristly ridge and the Glyders on the left.
The are two ways to climb this, continue along the path to the left or attack it stright on.
Looking back.
A long plod up!
Photo moment! With some great views even at half way up.
As soon as the grassy bit ends it is all about scrambling on rocks from now on.
A bit more to go!
Looking down and to my left there is a nameless lake.
The A4086
Looking across to Carnedd Moel Siabod to the true summit point.
A clear view of Llyn Y Foel.
A smooth and flat slab, one of the many obstacles to scrambling on Moel Siabod. When it is dry like today my boots coped really well when smearing on this slab with its Vibram sole.
Summit trig point ahead.
I'm at the top! The summit trig point was bigger than I thought, me as a comparison! Well I'm short any way!
Cloud moving in, looks like I've just made it on time with the clear views.
Looking across to Yr Arddu.
Looking across from the summit point.
Snowdon Horseshoe just below the cloud line.
A classic view of the Snowdon horseshoe from Carnedd Moel Siabod, in near perfect weather.
Another view of the Glyders.
A Boulder field on the way down.
Looking across to my left on the descent.
The Daear Ddu ridge leading onto Llyn y Foel.
The drop offs are quite severe on the edge of the ridge.
Bouldering. Some great rock faces on the way down if you fancy a bit of bouldering!
The beautiful Llyn Y Foel.
Looking back up.
Llyn Y Foel.
Looking back up, you can see the gully that I was at earlier on shooting my camera down towards the lake.
Another lake shot.
Some interesting rock features.
Bouldering problem.
The path back was clearly laid out.
Rhos Quarry Lake. Such a tranquil place.
The nameless lake.
And back to the starting point.
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