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Around the Llugwy Valley at Capel Curig

Recommended by

Our view

"An Alpine journey above the Llugwy"

Walk directions

The path begins at a ladder stile by the war memorial on the A5 and climbs towards Y Pincin, a large, craggy outcrop cloaked in wood and bracken. Follow a clear, partly flagged path, keeping left of the outcrop. Those who want to go to the top should do so from the northeast, where the gradients are easier. It’s fun, but take care. You’ll need to retrace your steps to the main route.

Continue east through woods and across marshy ground. Cross a ladder stile, and on reaching a trio of stiles, ignore the footpath, right, back down to the road, but maintain your direction across the hillside.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Generally clear and surfaced but can be wet in places, several stiles

Landscape - Woodland, wetland and high pasture

Dog friendliness - Dogs should be on a lead

Parking - Behind Joe Brown's shop at Capel Curig (free)

Toilets en route - By Joe Brown's shop (small fee)

Walks in Conwy

About the walk

'I descended a great steep into Glan Llugwy, a bottom watered by the Llugwy, fertile in grass and varied by small groves of young oaks... The small church of Capel Curig, and a few scattered houses give life to this dreary tract. Yr Wyddfa and all his sons, Crib Goch, Crib y Ddysgl, Lliwedd, Yr... Aran and many others here burst at once into full view and make this the finest approach to our boasted Alps...' Thomas Pennant, A Tour in Wales, 1778 The description holds true today, for few villages are so strung out – Capel Curig’s sparse cottages and inns stretch 6 miles (9.7km) between Pont-Cyfyng, beneath Moel Siabod, to the Pen y Gwryd, beneath Glyder Fawr. And the link still lies in those alps. The well-spaced inns were there, at first to serve the quarrymen from the barracks of Siabod and the miners from the copper mines of Snowdon, then, when the mines and quarries shut down, that new breed of visitor, the walker and the climber. These inns were a convenient meeting place. Geoffrey Winthrop Young was one of the first climbers, but many followed, pioneering new routes on the crags. Quickly Capel Curig became the Zermatt of Wales, and Snowdon, the Matterhorn. In the 1950s, the Pen y Gwryd Inn, run by enthusiast Chris Biggs, became a centre for planning Alpine and Himalayan expeditions. Here Lord Hunt and his team, who in 1953 were the first to climb Everest, met to make the final preparations before departing for Nepal. The Climbers’ Bar has a wood ceiling that has been autographed by many world famous climbers, including the summit pair, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. This walk will lead you around the valley, taking in views of the wide sweep of mountains that surround Capel Curig and the Llugwy Valley. There’s an optional scramble to Capel’s very own pinnacle, Y Pincin, where you can see the five distinctive peaks of Snowdon reflected beautifully below in the twin lakes of Mymbyr. You continue through those oak woods seen by Pennant, now wonderfully matured, before descending back down to the boisterous river. In front of the Tyn-y-Coed Hotel and Bar they have one of the old London-to-Holyhead stagecoaches on display. After crossing the river at Pont-Cyfyng you follow its delightful banks for a short while, then go over crag, across pasture and through the woods. You come out by a footbridge on the shores of Llynnau Mymbyr, and again you see Snowdon, maybe still perfectly reflected in glass-like waters. On the other side of the bridge at the Plas y Brenin National Mountain Centre, they’re training the next generation of mountaineers.

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About the area

The majority of the population of Conwy lives along its picturesque coastline, while a third of the county falls within jaw-dropping landscape of the Snowdonia National Park. The town of Conwy, which takes its name from the county (which in turn was named after the river that runs through it), is undoubtedly one of the great treasures of Wales.

Route details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

4 miles (6.4kms)

Ascent:

295ft (90m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

Find more walks in Conwy

Around the Llugwy Valley at Capel Curig

Recommended by

Our view

"An Alpine journey above the Llugwy"

Walk details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

4 miles (6.4kms)

Ascent:

295ft (90m)

Walk directions

1 of 8

2 of 8

Cross a footbridge over Nant y Geuallt and follow an improved path, with marker posts, across marshy ground. This path veers southeast to cross another stream before coming to a prominent track.

3 of 8

Turn right and head downhill along the track, go over a ladder stile, then turn left to another ladder stile. Follow the path descending through woods. Take the right-hand fork descending to the road beside Capel Curig Community Centre.

4 of 8

Turn left down the road, then take the first lane on the right, over Pont-Cyfyng. Go right again beyond the bridge to follow a footpath that traces the Llugwy to a footbridge opposite Cobdens Hotel. Don’t cross this, but go left up steps and continue through the woods of Coed Bryn-engan, where the path soon becomes a wide track.

5 of 8

Keep straight ahead as another track joins from the right, then keep right at a fork. The track passes through a gate, crosses a stile and reaches a bridge at the head of Llynnau Mymbyr. Cross the bridge and continue up to the road, then go left along it for a short way.

6 of 8

Cross the road to the next ladder stile and take a track straight ahead, ignoring an intersection, soon swinging right to hug the foot of the southern Glyder slopes.

7 of 8

When you get beyond Gelli farm, turn right to follow the cart track back to the car park.

8 of 8

Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Generally clear and surfaced but can be wet in places, several stiles

Landscape - Woodland, wetland and high pasture

Dog friendliness - Dogs should be on a lead

Parking - Behind Joe Brown's shop at Capel Curig (free)

Toilets en route - By Joe Brown's shop (small fee)

Walks in Conwy

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Conwy

Around the Llugwy Valley at Capel Curig

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

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Around the Llugwy Valley at Capel Curig

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