There is far more to Snowdonia than taking one of the many ascents up the now named Yr Wyddfa. Yes Crib Goch and the many crystal clear plunge pools on The Watkin Path are incredible places to visit, but the national park offers many other highlights. With Snowdonia covering a massive 2,132 square kilometres, it is relatively easy to escape the crowds and find wild beauty that you may have all to yourself. This article will act as a guide when you’re thinking about exploring The Carneddau Range- one such area of Snowdonia where you can lose yourself to the solitude and natural beauty around you.
Where Is The Carneddau Range?
The Carneddau Range is located towards the northern end of the national park. To the south east lies the popular town of Betsw-y- Coed, while just to the north is the coast and the A55. The map above does show that the area is fringed by well used A roads, which makes getting there relatively easy. Just be prepared for slow tourist traffic, especially during peak season. Don’t worry though. Head a short distance away from one of these main routes and you’ll likely feel the only person exploring the Carneddau Range.
Why Should You Visit The Carneddau Range?
This is a wilder part of Snowdonia, where the views are vast and free roaming horses share the land with you. It also offers several mountains, which exceed three thousand feet in height. The highest of these is called Carnedd Llewelyn and is only around seventy feet shy of Yr-Wyddfa. You may well expect it to be almost as busy as its slightly higher neighbor, yet it is possible here to stand on its summit in July and have nobody else around. Wonderful.
You could spend weeks exploring the Carneddau Range, such are the near endless walking opportunities. It is also a wonderful place to wild camp. I have thoroughly enjoyed this experience several times such as on this occasion.
I think it is best now to complete this guide by sharing with you some of the main highlights of this area. Many I have visited, but of course there are several I have only read about and plan to explore on future trips. As of yet, I have not even remotely tired of exploring the Carneddau Range.
Hiking The Carneddau Ridge
I completed this route during mid summer and thoroughly enjoyed it. The views on a clearer day are spectacular, as you enjoy mountain lakes, rocky scrambles and landscapes that are almost lunar in places. You can read more details about the route and enjoy the many photos I took here.
The Dulyn Valley and Bothy
The road you need to drive to access this remote valley is hair raising and great in its own right. You may well find yourself praying that nobody is coming the other way when negotiating what seems like a near vertical hairpin bend, but the destination at the end makes it more than worth it.
It is a privilege exploring The Carneddau Range here as Dulyn Valley is wild, wide and remote. There is a real sense of space and the cascading river in the valley bottom makes for a great soundtrack.
Dulyn Bothy makes this valley even more amazing in my opinion. Like all other bothies found in various wild parts of The UK, it is open to anybody, is free of charge and comes complete with a wood burning stove and bunk space if you want to stay the night. I’ve stayed in many bothies and consider this one of the better ones. Some can feel gloomy and even a bit spooky, but the white interior walls make Dulyn Bothy feel quite welcoming. Read more details about my overnight stay here.
Cwm Eigiau
I was lucky enough to visit this valley during a snowy spell of weather, but I can believe that this valley is stunning any time of the year. Located close to Dulyn, this valley is even more remote. Various ruins can be found along the way as well as another bothy, which can be booked and used for a small fee.
The scenery is also incredible. Craggy mountains are the name of the game here and I have explored several websites such as this one, which discuss the rock climbing opportunities. I decided to wild camp in the valley and consider it one of the best options if looking to do this in Snowdonia. Feel free to explore more pictures and details about that snowy camp here.
Aber Falls
Located on the northern slopes of The Carneddau, this waterfall is considered one of the most spectacular in Snowdonia at 120 feet high. I have not yet visited, but have watched several videos that show just what a sight it is. It can be found fairly close to the A55 with ample parking and other facilities provided. For more details about how to reach the falls and plan your visit, please click here.
Fynnon Llyffant
If you like record holders, then you’ll want to visit this tiny lake located below the hulking mass of Carnedd Llewelyn. At around 820 metres above sea level, some research slows me that this is indeed the highest lake in all of England and Wales. If this didn’t make it impressive enough, a plane crash from back in the 1950’s has left wreckage all over the area. A very sad story for obvious reasons, but it makes for quite the experience when you make the effort to hike up there. Details about a possible route, together with photos can be found here.
Fynnon Caseg
Yes it is another lake making the list, but this one must surely be one of the most unknown yet most stunning mountain lakes in Snowdonia. I have not yet visited, but will certainly do so at some point. The best route in is apparently from the town of Bethesda and it is a fair old trek across an area little visited by tourists. Most people spot the lake from the top of the mountain ridge, but never actually get down to dip their toes in the water. A shame really as I think it would make a cracking place to wild camp. Details about one such trip can be seen here.
To Conclude….
I hope this article has shown you why exploring the Carneddau Range should be on your bucket list when planning to visit Snowdonia. If you love solitude, want to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy taking in fine mountain scenery, then I can assure you that this area won’t disappoint. Happy exploring!
