The Ogwen Valley is the most dramatic valley approach in Eryri. Flanked by Tryfan on one side and the Carneddau on the other, with the Glyderau closing off the southern end, it is a place of tremendous mountain architecture — a U-shaped glacial valley in textbook form, with the shallow Llyn Ogwen at its head and the classic rock pyramid of Tryfan rising 600 metres directly from the valley floor. For serious mountain users, Ogwen is one of the great British mountain centres.
The A5 road — built by Telford in the early nineteenth century as part of the London to Holyhead route — runs through the valley, making the major walking starts easily accessible. The Ogwen Cottage outdoor education centre and mountain rescue base marks the head of the valley and is the starting point for the standard approaches to Tryfan, the Glyderau, Cwm Idwal and the northern Carneddau. The valley is typically busier than equivalent mountain areas — particularly at weekends — but the walking quality is among the highest in Wales.
What to Do in the Ogwen Valley
| Tryfan North Ridge | Britain's finest non-technical ridge scramble |
| Cwm Idwal circuit | Easy walk, extraordinary scenery — first NNR in Wales |
| Glyder Fawr via Devil's Kitchen | Classic route through dramatic cliff scenery |
| Carnedd Llewelyn from Ogwen | Long day on Wales's second-highest mountain |
| Bristly Ridge | Classic scramble approach to Glyder Fach |
| Llyn Bochlwyd | Hidden lake above Cwm Idwal — short steep walk |
Tryfan
No mountain in Britain is more immediately recognisable than Tryfan. Its jagged North Ridge, which rises in a series of rocky steps directly above the A5, has been photographed from the road by virtually every visitor who has driven through the valley. The summit is marked by two natural rock pillars — Adam and Eve — and tradition demands that anyone who has climbed the mountain must jump between them (a gap of roughly a metre, with a significant drop on both sides). Tryfan is the only mountain in England and Wales where hands are needed for the ascent even on the easiest route.
Getting There
The Ogwen Valley is accessed via the A5 from Bethesda (8km north) or Capel Curig (8km east). There is a large car park at Ogwen Cottage (grid ref SH 649 604). Sherpa buses run through the valley, connecting with Llanberis, Betws-y-Coed and Bangor — check current timetables as this makes it possible to do linear walks without returning to your starting point.
Independently written — Snowdon.com