Carnedd Llewelyn
Mountain Major mountain peak in Snowdonia, part of Carneddau
High in Snowdonia, Carnedd Llewelyn ranks among Wales’s tallest peaks; walkers follow ridges for long mountain routes and wide views across the Carneddau. It’s a destination for experienced hillwalkers and peak-baggers.
Carnedd Llewelyn is a mountain in north Wales forming part of the Carneddau range inside Snowdonia National Park. Its summit reaches 1,064 metres, making it the second-highest peak in Wales.
The plateau-like summit and long ridges attract hillwalkers and peak-baggers; routes commonly link it with nearby peaks on the Carneddau ridge and can include rocky sections and open peatland. The highest point is marked and offers wide views across Snowdonia on clear days.
The feature is natural rather than man-made; its name derives from Welsh tradition. It has long been used for grazing and hillwalking and appears on Ordnance Survey maps and hill lists used by walkers.
The mountain sits within the Carneddau massif in north Wales, on the uplands of Snowdonia National Park and straddles administrative boundaries in the Conwy/Gwynedd area. The landscape around it is upland moor and crag, with other major Carneddau peaks nearby.
- Elevation and rank: Summit elevation is 1,064 metres, making it the second-highest peak in Wales after Snowdon.
How to Get to Carnedd Llewelyn #
Carnedd Llewelyn is a mountain in the Carneddau, Snowdonia. Common access routes are from the A5 (Ogwen Valley/Llyn Ogwen area) or from roads around Capel Curig; park at established laybys or mountain car parks in the Ogwen/Capel Curig areas and follow marked mountain tracks and ridgelines to the summit-this is a full mountain hike requiring maps and mountain kit.
There is no direct public transport to the summit; local buses serve nearby villages such as Bethesda and Capel Curig from where the approach on foot is several kilometres and will take multiple hours depending on route and conditions.
Tips for Visiting Carnedd Llewelyn #
- Start very early if you want clear summit views-Carnedd Llewelyn and the Carneddau ridge often cloud over in the afternoon, so a dawn start improves visibility.
- Stick to established ridge paths and cairns on the Carneddau; the terrain is exposed and navigation can be difficult in mist, so plan a route in advance and allow extra time.
- Choose a route that matches daylight and your experience-the ridge is remote and, once committed, walking out in poor conditions can be slow, so allow spare time for changing weather.
Best Time to Visit Carnedd Llewelyn #
Visit in summer (June-September) for the safest and most reliable conditions for hiking and summit attempts.
Weather & Climate near Carnedd Llewelyn #
Carnedd Llewelyn's climate is classified as Subpolar Oceanic - Subpolar Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -1°C to 15°C. Heavy rainfall (2488 mm/year), wettest in December.
January
January is cold with highs of 3°C and lows of -1°C. Heavy rain (277 mm), mostly overcast skies, and windy conditions.
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February
February is the coolest month with highs of 3°C and lows of -1°C. Heavy rain (201 mm), mostly overcast skies, and windy conditions.
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March
March is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -1°C. Heavy rain (229 mm), mostly overcast skies, and windy conditions.
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April
April is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (159 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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May
May is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. Significant rainfall (142 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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June
June is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Significant rainfall (144 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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July
July is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 8°C. Significant rainfall (146 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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August
August is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 8°C. Significant rainfall (172 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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September
September is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 6°C. Heavy rain (203 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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October
October is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Heavy rain (254 mm), mostly overcast skies, and windy conditions.
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November
November is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of 1°C. Heavy rain (278 mm), mostly overcast skies, and windy conditions.
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December
December is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -1°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (283 mm), mostly overcast skies, and windy conditions.
