Tryfan, the rock star of the mountains, boasts two mighty 3-metre monoliths known as Siôn and Siân (or Adam and Eve if you prefer the English touch) perched atop its summit. Nestled in the Ogwen Valley and contributing to the grandeur of the Glyderau three peaks range, Tryfan stands tall as Wales’ 15th highest peak, but it has won the hearts of adventurers across the UK, securing its title as the ultimate mountain.
The name Tryfan itself stems from ‘Tri Faen’, a nod to its trio of prominent peaks. Standing beside it we have Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr, straightforwardly named ‘small pile of stones’ and ‘big pile of stones’, which are exactly what you’ll find on these colossal Welsh slopes.
And if you’re looking for a bit of a balancing act, make your way to Glyder Fach, where you’ll discover the Cantilever Stone, an impressive rock formation that looks precarious but is as sturdy as, well, a rock.
These three peaks loop around Llyn Bochlwyd and the beautiful Llyn Idwal, a picturesque lake cradled within the mountains and offering a dramatic backdrop featuring the renowned Devil’s Kitchen.
How hard is climbing Glyderau three peaks?
DIFFICULTY: Medium | DISTANCE: 13.6km | TIME: 6.5 hours | TOTAL ASCENT: 1058m
FITNESS: Endurance needed, plus some good hill legs!
TERRAIN: Mixed rock from large to loose. Some exposure with steep ascents and descents.
NAVIGATION: You need solid navigation skills in poor visibility but the route over the Glyders is marked by worn rocks and tracks for most of the trail.
Where is the start of the walk?
The route starts at Gwern Gof Uchaf in the Ogwen Valley. You can park there for £5 a day, bring coins.
What's the best map for the Glyderau Three Peaks?
-
CLICK HERE to view and download our digital route guide in OS Maps
-
OS Explorer OL17 (1:25k)
-
OS Landranger 115 (1:50k)
-
Harvey British Mountain Map XT40 Snowdonia North (1:40k)
Glyderau three peaks | Step-by-step route guide
-
Follow the drive to Gwern Gof Uchaf. Cross the stile above the farm and continue to a clear path up towards Tryfan Bach. Take the left path up multiple steps. This section is quite steep but eventually plateaus. Continue up the well-trodden track passing another stile and small stream. Continue for 1.5km as you pass more streams, and the path steepens.
-
Continue up to a split junction. You can take either route – right is steep, left is more gradual. Head left up some scree sections that come to a T-junction. The path follows the contour of the hill. Turn right onto the scree track. Some parts of this are more exposed but if you watch your step, it’s a steady walk.
-
Follow over some undulating, rugged terrain and ascend slightly, ensuring you follow north-westerly over the rockier ground. Ahead is the stone wall with wooden steps. Please be aware that it can be windy here. Cross the wall and head north onto the rockier terrain. Watch for small details like wear on the rocks to see the main route. Bypass Far South Peak to your right and continue the steep scramble before you top-out. Keep right of a large, square, split boulder and you’ll continue onto the summit, reached after a short, exposed section.
-
Try Adam and Eve, if you dare, and then retrace your steps as best as possible! I recommend following OS maps as you go. Keep Far South Peak to your left as you drop back down to the wall. Cross over the wall and head back along the scree footpath, keeping an eye to your right as you approach a very steep scree slope. Bear right to begin your tough, sharp ascent up the loose scree.
-
The ridge eventually melds into Glyder Fach’s summit. Keep ahead for the summit or slightly left to find the Cantilever Stone. Continue west on a cairned path and you’ll reach the obvious pinnacles of Castell y Gwynt. Scramble carefully over these, then drop into Bwlch y Ddwy-Glyder, where the path splits. Take the lower path and contour until you ascend gently for 1km.
-
A pile of large stones marks the summit of Glyder Fawr. Descend the cairned footpath north-west to a much steeper section. The scree can be quite challenging especially when wet. Descend the obvious path that plateaus as you reach the lake. The footpath continues round to your right into a scree-lined channel. This is the start of Twll Du (Devil’s Kitchen).
-
Continue to a stile crossing the drystone wall. Now you are commencing your steep descent down the stepped rocks. The path is obvious for much of the way but focus on the left turn about halfway down. Keep behind the large round boulder as you descend a small waterfall section. The path begins to level out to a gentle stepped section. This plateaus to a flatter footpath. Stay west of the lake on the footpath.
-
Pass through the small wall with a gate onto the beach. Continue east across the beach to a stone footpath. After another gate and over a slate bridge, the path bends left. Follow for 400m until it bends left. Descend over a wooden bridge until you reach a set of steps that drop you into the car park.
-
Check out the slate uprights with the viewing holes looking to each mountain summit, including the three you’ve just conquered! From the car park, head east on the A5 along the footpath for approx 2.5km until you arrive back at the start point.
What walking gear do I need for this route?
Here's a selection of the best walking gear selected by LFTO's testing team: Walking boots | Hiking daypack | Waterproof jacket | Walking trousers | Walking poles | Walking mid-layers | Base layers
Where can I eat and drink?
Betws Y Coed is 15 minutes down the road, with plenty of pubs and cafés.
Where's the best place to stay?
Gwern Gof Uchaf has a campsite and bunkhouse, and there is also a YHA at Idwal Cottage. Click here for more info on the best YHA accommodation in Snowdonia.
About the author
Anna Humphries is a is the founder of The Mountain Girl. With a lifelong passion for the outdoors and a dedication to empowering others, she has embarked on numerous challenging treks and assumed leadership roles. She's written route guides and gear reviews for Trail and LFTO for over 5 years.