Cadair Idris The
Minffordd Path
Summits
Craig Cwm Amarch 2595ft (791m) 124-711121 SH
Cyfrwy 2661ft (811m) Optional 124-704134 SH
Pen y Gadair (Cadair
Idris) 2929ft (893m) 124-711130 SH
Mynydd Moel 2831ft (863m) 124-728137 SH
Gau Graig 2241ft (683m) Optional 124-744141 SH
Minffordd Car Park
Junction of A487 B4405 Just past the Minffordd Hotel, Small Charge
Maps Ordnance Survey
Landranger sheet 124
Explorer series 23 (Outdoor Leisure) – Cadair Idris &
Bala Lake
Although the summit of Cadair Idris is actually called Pen y
Gadair most people simply refer to this amazing mountain by its general name
Cadair Idris, translated it actually means Chair of Idris, a Welsh giant from
Celtic mythology.
The main bulk of the Mountain range rises from the Cambrian
coastal plain up to 2929 feet, just short of the munro classification of
3000ft.
Consisting of alternate strata of Felspathic trap and shale,
this high mountain ridge extends from Cross Foxes in the East to Arthog in the
West. On its North flak is the little Welsh town of Dolgellau sitting at the
far end of the beautiful Mawddach Estuary. On the Southern side is the
mysterious Tal-y-llyn lake.
The Mountain now forms part of the Cadair Idris National
Nature Reserve.
The actual chair of Idris is the north facing cwm containing
Llyn y Gadair, however the west facing cwm containing Llyn Cau with Craig Cwm
Amarch and Pen y Gadir on two of its flanks is by far the most beautiful
location on the mountain.
Just below the summit of Pen y Gadair stands a mountain
refuge shelter built in the eighteen hundreds. The hut was used by the Ordnance
survey team who spent a number of months in the summer of 1871 surveying the
mountain.
The hut is a solid stone structure with a corrugated metal
roof. Inside the hut that stands just below the huge cairn holding the trig
point, are wood benches sitting on a stone slab floor. Ok not a luxury pent
house, but this hut has been the savour of many intrepid mountaineer and
explorer looking for some shelter and relief, from the wind and storms that
batter this huge lump of rock just off the Cambrian coast.
As with all mountains, certain precautions need to be taken
before you proceed. Please refer to the Mountain Safety page on this site that
will give you guidance on what measure you should take to protect yourself on
the mountains.
There are several routes up Cadair Idis, however the two
main routes both start on the North and South flanks of the Mountain.
The most popular route the Pony Path starts at a place
called T y-nant just after Llyn Gwernan. This route is used by the vast
majority of tourists holidaying around the Barmouth. The route winds its way up
a steady gradient to the very top of the mountain. The route can feel somewhat
crowded in the summer and the only bit of the route that is challenging is the
actual final push to the summit.
The slightly less popular route and by far one of the most
interesting and beautiful routes 
onto the mountain starts at a small car park
at Minffordd. The car park is just off the junction of the A487 and the B4405
at the Eastern end of Tal-y-llyn lake, or to use its Welsh name Llyn Mwyngil.
The facilities at the car park are extremely good. Around
the car park there are wooden benches and walks for those with disability
requirements. There are also toilet facilities and an information board.
Route Description
The Minffordd path starts at the gate just past the toilet
block. The path heads through the woods towards the Nant Gadair waterfalls tumbling
down the gully. After you pass the warden building another gate enters the
woods and so starts the actual ascent up the mountain. The pathway rises
steeply up the left hand side of the Nant Cadair falls through very pretty
woods. The path consists of rough steps build by the National Nature reserve
wardens to help cut down soil erosion caused by the many visitors.
At the top of the falls you pass through another gate and in
to the open countryside. Continue along the path until you come to a slate
bridge crossing the Nant Cadair stream. Although either path will eventually
take you to the summit, the more interesting route is the left hand path
leading to Llyn Cau.
Continue up along the path slowing circling to the left.
After a short ascent over a bulk of rock and just before reaching Llyn Cau the
path actually forks to the left up a steep series of stone steps that lead onto
the ridge. However a small detour on to the lake is well worth the effort. This
is a beautiful location to take a well earned break before you start the steep
climb to the summit.
Llyn Cau is a dark mysterious lake with towering cliffs
plummeting into its deep waters. Above dark brooding clouds dance around the
summits like demons try to devour the black rock. On a sunny day the waters
twinkle in the sunlight as a gentle mountain breeze blows across the lake
whipping up the water like sea horse dancing across its surface. In the winter
the blackness of the water is a stark contrast to the bright white slow that
settles all around the lake giving the whole area a ghostly appearance. This is
truly a magnificent location well worth a visit even if you decide not to carry
on up to the top of the mountain.
After leaving the lake retrace your steps to where the path
forked left up a steep set of stone
steps onto the Southern ridge above Llyn
Cau. After climbing the steps to the top of the ridge turn right by the cairn
at the top. The ridge then follows the top of the cliffs above Llyn Cau in a
clockwise direction until reaching the summit of Craig Cwm Amarch. Just prior
to the summit is a wooden ladder which once crossed gives you the first summit
over 2000feet. Craig Cwm Amarch probably boasts one of the most dramatic and
exposed locations of the day. Standing on the top of this summit you have the
Cambrian coast on one side and on the other a precipice of rock that plummets
down to the dark waters of Llyn Cau many feet below. Take care in bad weather
or on windy days as this location is extremely exposed.
Once you have had chance to take in the spectacular views it’s
time to carry on in the clockwise direction of the ridge. Here you take a small
descent down along the edge of the cliffs above Llyn Cau. On reaching the
lowest point where the stone shoot, a scramble path that ascends from Llyn Cau
meets the path, you start the ascent up to the highest point of the mountain.
The path starts quite gently at first with cairns along the
route guiding those who have been foolish enough not to bring a map. As the
path joins the Pony Path just below the summit of Pen y Gadair you have a
choice to make. You can either continue us to the summit of Pen y Gadair or you
can make a short detour back down the Pony Path to complete Cyfrwy another
spectacular 2000 foot summit that gives amazing views of the cliffs below Pen y
Gadair on its North face.
The climb to the summit of Pen y Gadair from where the two
paths meet is a relatively short
climb. On reaching the summit, a trig point
stands on a huge cairn of rock marking the high point of the day. On a nice day
you can utilise one of the many wind breaks dotted around the summit and enjoy
the views off the mountain. If the weather is its usual self at this very
exposed location, use the mountain hut just below the summit to get you away
from the elements for a short breather.
On leaving the summit, head east along the ridge to Mynydd
Moel. The large wind shelter marks the location. The summit again stands on the
exposed Northern cliff of the ridge and it is reached after crossing a style
ladder over a wire fence.
There is a further 2000ft plus peak at the very end of the
ridge about a mile or so towards 
Cross Foxes, but this will require a
substantial walk back to the car park after descending down the ridge on the
right hand side along a fence that leads down to the A487. Although once the
A487 is reached, there is a track that runs alongside the road that can be used
to walk along to avoid the traffic that hurtles along this busy road.
If you wish to avoid this long detour, then after you leave
the summit of Mynydd Moel, 
retrace your steps back toward the summit of Pen y
Gadair until you reach the style ladder you crossed on the way up. Turn left
and follow the fence down the Tal-y-Llyn side of the ridge. The descent starts
gently at first across the ridge then falls steeply all the time following the
fence down. The pathway is currently being repaired and parts of it consist of
stone steps making the descent very easy. The path will take you down to where you
came out of the woods above the Nant Cadair falls at the start of the route.
Cross the slate bridge that you passed on the way up and follow the path don by
the side of the falls retracing your steps back to the car park.
Here it’s time to de-kit and have a well earned break before
either leaving for home or continuing with your holiday.
These route guides are free, but if you feel this has been helpful please donate a little to any of the Mountain Rescue teams, THEY ARE THERE TO HELP YOU IN YOUR TIME OF NEED. David
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