Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Mountain Peaks

Pen yr Ole Wen Ascent

Mountain Peaks

Pen yr Ole Wen Ascent

Highlight • Viewpoint

Pen yr Ole Wen Ascent

Recommended by 23 hikers out of 24

Routes leading to this Highlight may be dangerous

Routes may comprise technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience may be required.

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri

Save

Location: Llanllechid, Gwynedd, North Wales, Wales, United Kingdom

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hikes to Pen yr Ole Wen Ascent

4.7

(9)

hikers

1. Pen Yr Ole Wen from Ogwen YHA loop — Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri | Snowdonia National Park

7.28km

03:35

660m

Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Hard

4.5

(10)

184

hikers

2. Carnedd Dafydd – View of Tryfan loop from Tryfan

12.3km

05:48

1,030m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Hard

4.3

(6)

hikers

3. Carnedd Dafydd – Carnedd Llewelyn loop from Tryfan

18.4km

07:49

1,350m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Hard

Tips

Piotr Stopaj 🧉

January 22, 2022

Scramble on up to 68% grade slope. Great views.

Clive G

October 16, 2025

Uncompromising is probably the best way to describe the ascent route from near the top of Ogwen falls. The route is rough and steep, and doesn't ease off until quite close to the summit.

Zoe Evans

August 18, 2023

Pen yr Ole Wen is the seventh highest mountain in Snowdonia and in Wales. It is the most southerly of the Carneddau range. This mountain lies to the north of Idwal Cottage youth hostel on the A5 road, from where it has a pyramidal appearance. It may be climbed from the hostel by a path that leads directly up the south west "corner", climbing 675 m in about 1.5 km (i.e. an average gradient of nearly 1 in 2)
A slightly easier ascent involves starting from Tal-y-Llyn Ogwen, about a mile north-east from the hostel, following the stream until nearing the outflow from the mountain lake Ffynnon Lloer and then branching left to take the path up the ridge.

For many years the mountain's name was translated as "Head of the White Light", the interpretation of which was a mystery. However in 2004 Professor Hywel Wyn Owen at the Place-Name Research Centre at Bangor University in Bangor, Gwynedd resolved the matter saying that Ole comes from Goleddf, which means slope or hillside, making the correct English translation: "Head of the White Slope".

Pen yr Ole Wen is often climbed as part of a longer route on the Carneddau range. It is the same height as England's highest peak, Scafell Pike.

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 670 m

Weather

Today

Saturday 17 January

7°C

2°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 28.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Llanllechid, Gwynedd, North Wales, Wales, United Kingdom

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Llyn Idwal

Carnedd Dafydd

Llyn Bochlwyd

View of Ogwen Valley and Ffynnon Lloer

Y Garn Summit

Free Parking Area in Eryri National Park

Pyg Track (Snowdon)

Cwm Idwal Gorge

Llyn y Cwn

Aber Falls

Between Glyder Fach and Castell Y Gwynt

Devil's Kitchen (Twll Du)

Pen yr Ole Wen Ascent

1. Pen Yr Ole Wen from Ogwen YHA loop — Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri | Snowdonia National Park

2. Carnedd Dafydd – View of Tryfan loop from Tryfan

3. Carnedd Dafydd – Carnedd Llewelyn loop from Tryfan

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️