Moel Hebog from Beddgelert
Snowdonia/Eryri Walk
Nat Park - Snowdonia - Moel Hebog Nantlle Ridge
County/Area - Gwynedd
Author - Lou Johnson
Length - 5.5 miles / 8.9 km Ascent - 2500 feet / 758 metres
Time - 5 hours 20 minutes Grade - moderate
Maps
Ordnance Survey Explorer OL17 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
Anquet OS Explorer OL17 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
Ordnance Survey Landranger 115 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
Anquet OS Landranger 115 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
Walk Route Description
Click image to see photo description.
Moel Hebog (782 m.) dominates the view west from the village of Beddgelert and provides the basis for a fairly challenging walk into the mountains that offers great views. The route is easy to follow and includes a couple of sections where the occasional use of hands might be necessary. Like all mountain walks do go well-equipped and make sure you check the weather forecast before departure.
The start is the large car park (grid ref. SH587481) in the centre of Beddgelert. From here make you way to road junction in the centre of the village (grid ref. SH585483). From here follow the A4085 Beddgelert to Caernarfon road for about 500 metres from the village centre and take the bridge over the river on your left (grid ref SH585483). Cross the bridge and follow the track past a couple of farmhouses and through woods to reach a barn (Grid ref. SH581479). Immediately after the barn there is a gate. Go through this and follow the path, which is reasonably well defined and has route markers at low level.
After a short distance from the barn the climbing starts and it is a steep pull all the way to the summit of Moel Hebog. The path continues on an ill-defined ridge and continues to the left of the spectacular crags, Y Diffws, after which there is some light scrambling that will need to use of hands on a couple sections. Looking back you get a superb view of Snowdon together with terrific views to Beddgelert and the Dinas Valley.
The path becomes rocky and is marked by piles of stones. This section leads to a grassy shoulder which in turn leads to another short rocky section and the summit plateau. Like many mountain summits the best view is not obtained from the highest point. Instead the views are all at their finest from the edge of the summit plateau. The views are wide ranging. Snowdon is well known but some lesser known peaks to the north are also worthy of your attention, including namely Mynydd Drws-y-coed and Mynydd Graig Goch at the western end of the Nantlle ridge.
From the summit of Moel Hebog the next leg of the walk heads north following the wall down towards the impressive rock formation at the foot of Moel yr Ogof. Turn right here and follow the path into the forest and down towards the campsite (grid ref. SH577491). Care is needed as navigation is difficult and also some of the tracks lead to dead ends. Continue through the campsite to the road and walk the short distance back to the starting point. From the road you get stunning views of Moel Hebog on your right.
Other walks nearby
Walk 1427 | Craflwyn circular from near Beddgelert | easy/mod | 2.5 miles |
Walk 3058 | Llyn yr Adar & Llyn Edno from near Bethania | moderate | 9.0 miles |
Walk 1192 | Yr Aran | mod/hard | 6.5 miles |
Walk 1103 | Snowdon & Cwm Llan horseshoe | very hard | 13.0 miles |
Walk 2290 | Snowdon via the Watkin Path & South Ridge from Bethania | mod/hard | 8.0 miles |
Walk 1136 | Yr Aran (Route 2) | moderate | 5.5 miles |
Walk 1515 | Tops and Tarns of the Moelwyns | mod/hard | 11.0 miles |
Walk 2590 | Nantlle Ridge Walk from Rhyd Ddu (Route A) | moderate | 6.0 miles |
Walk 2797 | Yr Aran and Snowdon from Rhyd-Ddu | mod/hard | 8.5 miles |
Walk 3509 | Nantlle Ridge from Rhyd Ddu (Route B) | mod/hard | 8.3 miles |
Recommended Books & eBooks
Great Mountain Days in Snowdonia
Inspirational guidebook to 40 great mountain day walks and scrambles in Snowdonia. Inspirational routes for all abilities across the National Park with routes up Snowdon and Moel Eilio, the Glyderau, the Carneddau, Eifionydd, Siabod and the Moelwynion, Rhinogydd (the Harlech Dome), Migneint and the Arans and Cadair Idris and the Tarrens.
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Mountain Walking in Snowdonia
Guidebook to 40 of Snowdonia's best day walks, with routes up Snowdon and Tryfan, including the Snowdon Horseshoe, Cadair Idris, Y Garn and The Rhinogs. The routes range from Grade 1 scrambles like Crib Goch or Bristly Ridge, to riverside and forest walks. Includes details of a 2-day traverse of all 15 of Snowdonia's 3000ft peaks.
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Mountain Weather
Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.