Carnedd Llewelyn

A user has stated this scramble may no longer be safe, or contain difficulties over the traditional grade:

“Not recommended…
I have completed this route 4-5 times with last being in 2014..
Went yesterday.. 27 Sept 2020..
The gully bed is very loose and if with a spaced out group, head protection should be considered.
It is quite hard to protect some of the short wall sections and I would say it is no longer Grade 2.
The last section, with the step in the left wall was very greasy, steep and unprotectable. We backed out and abseiled off…”

The main scrambling walk up Carnedd Llewelyn is the Craig Yr Ysfa Amphitheatre.

Craig Yr Ysfa Amphitheatre

This route follows a gully line on a remote crag on the south east ridge of Carnedd Llewelyn.

The scramble is short and can be completed in about 30 minutes but the walk in takes a couple of hours.

An approach to the crag can be made from the Ogwen Valley but the more natural point to start is in Cwm Eigiau, reached by a road that rises from the Conwy Valley. Park at the end of the road and follow the track to the broken dam in Llyn Eigiau.

The track runs round the left of the lake and crosses a bridge at the end before it reaches ruined buildings. Craig Yr Ysfa can clearly be seen from here; walk across and ascend into the Amphitheatre using a path and scree slopes. Once inside, head to the back right corner with intimidating cliffs crowding round.

The scramble starts here. At the back right is a gully with an unpleasant-looking first pitch. Climb slabs to the left of this on small holds before traversing right into the gully above its first pitch. The slabs are quite lichenous so would probably be difficult in the wet. Once in the gully ascend a small steep step into a recess.
Here the main gully turns slightly left; don’t follow this. Instead climb a steep 8m wall to the right on good holds (easier than it looks). Next climb a small slab to the left. This involves some delicate swapping of feet, not helped by a large drop behind. Once this has been overcome you emerge on a large sloping slab.
Here you can rest; the difficulties are over. From the slab ascend the hillside using rock steps to avoid the vegetation. Although the consequences of a slip here would be severe the scrambling is easy.
Soon the gradient relents and you emerge onto the ridge. A path leads up to the summit. There are several options from here. The best is to take the path north to the top of Foel Grach then head across pathless ground south-east to Cefn Tal-llyn-Eigiau. There are a few small rock outcrops here that offer some fun on steep little walls.

From here a path leads east through the heather and down the hill. At the bottom a track leads the last few hundred metres to the car park. Due to the long walk in and out, and the pathless nature of the descent, this scramble is best left for a fine summer’s day.