Arenig Fawr and Moel Llyfnant Loop

Route Description for Arenig Fawr and Moel Llyfnant Loop

The walk up Arenig Fawr and Moel Llyfnant begins off a small road near the hamlet of Arenig. There are a handful of parking spaces here, and while it doesn’t always fill up, you can also park at the old quarry or at the junction with the A4212. The trail begins opposite the road, starting steeply and soon levelling out.

After about 2.0 km, you’ll arrive at Llyn Arenig Fawr, where views of the cliffs of Simdde Ddu start to appear. If you need to take a breather, there’s a tiny bothy here. If you had a tent and sleeping bag, you could feasibly camp here for the night if you wanted to. Cross the stile to the right and proceed across the river on the ladder. The trail meanders up a shoulder and then starts to gain elevation quickly.

From here you’ll be following the obvious trail over a few rocky sections. You’ll reach a fence and hug Arenig Fawr as you approach the summit. It can get boggy here, so take care in wet weather.

The final push to the summit is mostly over scree and loose rock. You’ll find a small shelter at the top and a memorial for a plane that crashed in 1943, killing 8. After familiarizing yourself with the memorial, enjoy the views of Snowdonia in every direction. You’re not done yet, though!

The trail from here to Moel Llyfnant isn’t always clear, but you’ll want to head generally south along a fence. You’ll head down to a col, then head right on a path towards a lower boggy col. Make sure you head southeast to avoid a straight descent down the steep face. Aim for the very green grass patch that you should be able to make out from where you are.

From the grassy patch, know that the path across to Moel Llyfnant is boggy and hard to make out for a stretch. Head through the bog and then follow a ruined wall, at which point you should be able to make out a very faint trail. Follow the wall to the skyline and then the ridge the rest of the way up.

To descend, follow the fence north, taking care to continue ahead when the fence veers off. There is a path here that’s hard to make out until you’re right on top of it.

Continue past a ruined farmhouse. From here, follow the forestry track downhill, turning right onto the new path where it intersects with the old railway. Follow the railway to where it joins with a lane heading to the start of the trail.

Insider Hints for Arenig Fawr and Moel Llyfnant Loop

• There are no facilities near this trail, so arrive prepared
• Bringing a compass may help mitigate some route finding challenges
• If you prefer a shorter hike, you can turn around and descend from the summit of Arenig Fawr