Discover more great walking routes<\/h4>\n- Best walks in Snowdonia National Park<\/a><\/li>\n
- UK\u2019s best easy mountains and peaks for beginners<\/a><\/li>\n
- Best walks in Wales<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div>
![\""Mount\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2021\/05\/Mount-Tryfan-Snowdonia-GettyImages-1182912348-1-da1206e.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"Mount\\"\/")
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>How high is Cnicht?<\/h2>\n
Cnicht is 689m high. The peak forms the pointy end of a ridge and is part of the Moelwynion \u2013 a range of craggy summits characterised by their boggy bottoms, moist hollows, disused slate quarries, llynau<\/i> (lakes), and ffridd<\/i> (the open habitat between wild upland and managed lowland).<\/p>\n
The peaks grant superb views north to the Snowdon Massif, from which they are cleft by the Gwynant Valley and the A498.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Cnicht is 689m high\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nWhere is Cnicht?<\/h2>\n
Cnicht rises in the far west\u00a0of the Moelwynion, facing the sea. Glittering llynau<\/i> adorn its shoulders and throat, and oak woodlands mantle its feet.<\/p>\n
A slew of prehistoric routes\u00a0and settlements girdle its belly and a scatter of slate quarries scab its knees and toes. It is crowned with a few rocky knobs of igneous rhyolite and volcanic lavas, but its heart is all slate, formed when marine siltstones and mudstones were compressed, metamorphosed and folded during a powerful continental collision known\u00a0as the Caledonian orogeny.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Foothills of Cnicht, in the far west\u00a0of the Moelwynion\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nCnicht walking options<\/h2>\n
The most popular way to its summit is a direct ascent from Croesor. But if you have the time and energy, this circular route from Nantgwynant offers a more varied landscape.<\/p>\n
It is worth considering the excellent Sherpa buses<\/a> \u2013 Snowdonia\u2019s roads are narrow and tortuous \u2013 and be sure\u00a0to take the usual mountain-climbing precautions \u2013 the route is hard to navigate in cloud, the rocks are slippery when wet, and the weather shifts quickly.<\/p>\n Looking for more walks in Snowdonia?\u00a0<\/h4>\n- Walk: Rhosgadfan and Moel Tryfan, Gwynedd<\/a><\/li>\n
- Walk: Harlech to Llandecwyn, Gwynedd<\/a><\/li>\n
- Walk: Dinas Mawddwy, Foel Benddin and Y Gribin, Gwynedd<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div>
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Cnicht walk \u2013 from Nantgwynant<\/h2>\n
9.1 miles\/14.7km | 789m accent | 6 hours | challenging<\/em><\/p>\n1. Navigate the slate<\/strong><\/p>\nFrom the Sherpa bus stop at Pont Bethania in Nantgwynant, follow the path behind Plas Gwynant. Step across Afon Llynedno by a footbridge to reach a narrow lane between lichened stone walls and sheep-grazed fields, and follow\u00a0it to a disused slate quarry and a small parking bay (if you are driving). Cross the stream to Gelli-Iago Farm, home to the Nantmor Mountain Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n2. Path to prehistory<\/strong><\/p>\nTake the marked path upstream over stepping stones and ladder stiles. Look back to see Snowdon, Moel Hebog and the Glyderau. The stream peters out near prehistoric settlements and an old fort. The north face of Cnicht rises ahead with flanks of shining slate scree. Step over a drystone wall to reach the boggy pass of Bwlch y Battel, aquiver with cottongrass and\u00a0 cranberries overlooking a sheltered llyn.<\/p>\n
3. Mule trail<\/strong><\/p>\nIn winter, Canada and barnacle geese compete for space on the quiet llyn and, during the summer months, ospreys nest far below in the Glaslyn Valley. Beyond is the magnificent estuarine vista of Tremadog Bay. Skirt the lake on either side, then follow the brown stream downhill, passing a sheep enclosure, to reach a small cwm<\/i> (valley).<\/p>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Barnacle geese in mid flight \u2013 the species competes for space with Canadian geese in the winter months\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nThis path joins an ancient route between Croesor and Nantmor known as the Roman Road. Strings of mules\u00a0were led over it in WWII by Rawalpindi Muslim muleteers who had been evacuated here from Dunkirk having lost their animals to the Germans. Supplied with fresh mules from the USA, the muleteers undertook three months of\u00a0mountain warfare training at the Nantmor Camp, over which calls to prayer and the smell of chapattis drifted.<\/p>\n
4. Hands-on\u00a0climbing<\/strong><\/p>\nFollow the Cnicht finger post on to the ridge path, taking a moment to peer into Cwm Croesor. The <\/b>quarries here produced slate for roofs, slabs, chimneys, floors and snooker tables. Moelwyn Mawr glowers darkly across the deep valley. From here, the summit of Cnicht looks rather terrifying.<\/p>\n
The climb up the rocky path is steady and soon levels out to a small plateau. In cinematic light, the views to the Snowdon Massif are transmogrified. Take the stony path right, hugging the rock face to rejoin the ridge. Just below the summit is a small oasis of grass, graced with a cairn.\u00a0The final climb from here is a bit of a scramble with a steep drop into Cwm Croesor.\u00a0You will need to use your hands occasionally and be sure of your feet to reach the top.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Cotton grass blankets the slopes of Cnicht\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n5. Up on the roof<\/strong><\/p>\nThe views from the summit\u00a0are epic; Snowdon and the Glyderau to the north, the coast west, and Cwm Croesor and Moelwyn Mawr to the south. While among the surrounding Moelwynion, steely blue llynau<\/i> gleam among a vast hinterland of\u00a0rolling moor.<\/p>\n
Continue across the dolerite ridge overlooking Llyn y Biswail to your left, and descend over purple moor grass to the sheltered north-east bank of Llyn yr Adar.<\/p>\n
6.\u00a0Mirror views<\/strong><\/p>\nFrom here onwards the path is hard to find. Head north-east to negotiate the steep descent over the cliffs, glancing up at the secret and steely, cliff-sheltered Llyn Llagi, brooding dark like an antique mirror.<\/p>\n
7. Tree and stone<\/strong><\/p>\nThe path is vague, but passes Burnt Mound, possibly the cooking site of prehistoric shepherds. Keep the stream in sight as you leave the uplands for the ffridd<\/i>, walking among boulders and hawthorns and Llwynyrhwch\u2019s gentle groves of oaks. If your car is at Gelli-Iago, turn left. Otherwise, return to Nantgwynant.<\/p>\n
Wait for your bus on the lush banks of Llyn Gwynant or rest at Caffi Gwynant<\/a>, a renovated Calvinistic Methodist chapel. Once the hallowed haunt of quarrymen, it\u2019s now the lair of hungry locals and mountain conquerors alike.<\/p>\nCnicht map<\/h2>\n
<\/p><\/div>
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>How high is Cnicht?<\/h2>\n
Cnicht is 689m high. The peak forms the pointy end of a ridge and is part of the Moelwynion \u2013 a range of craggy summits characterised by their boggy bottoms, moist hollows, disused slate quarries, llynau<\/i> (lakes), and ffridd<\/i> (the open habitat between wild upland and managed lowland).<\/p>\n
The peaks grant superb views north to the Snowdon Massif, from which they are cleft by the Gwynant Valley and the A498.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2021\/10\/Cnicht-mountain-f1ee273.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Where is Cnicht?<\/h2>\n
Cnicht rises in the far west\u00a0of the Moelwynion, facing the sea. Glittering llynau<\/i> adorn its shoulders and throat, and oak woodlands mantle its feet.<\/p>\n
A slew of prehistoric routes\u00a0and settlements girdle its belly and a scatter of slate quarries scab its knees and toes. It is crowned with a few rocky knobs of igneous rhyolite and volcanic lavas, but its heart is all slate, formed when marine siltstones and mudstones were compressed, metamorphosed and folded during a powerful continental collision known\u00a0as the Caledonian orogeny.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2021\/10\/Cnicht-foothills-052b738.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Cnicht walking options<\/h2>\n
The most popular way to its summit is a direct ascent from Croesor. But if you have the time and energy, this circular route from Nantgwynant offers a more varied landscape.<\/p>\n
It is worth considering the excellent Sherpa buses<\/a> \u2013 Snowdonia\u2019s roads are narrow and tortuous \u2013 and be sure\u00a0to take the usual mountain-climbing precautions \u2013 the route is hard to navigate in cloud, the rocks are slippery when wet, and the weather shifts quickly.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> 9.1 miles\/14.7km | 789m accent | 6 hours | challenging<\/em><\/p>\n 1. Navigate the slate<\/strong><\/p>\n From the Sherpa bus stop at Pont Bethania in Nantgwynant, follow the path behind Plas Gwynant. Step across Afon Llynedno by a footbridge to reach a narrow lane between lichened stone walls and sheep-grazed fields, and follow\u00a0it to a disused slate quarry and a small parking bay (if you are driving). Cross the stream to Gelli-Iago Farm, home to the Nantmor Mountain Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2. Path to prehistory<\/strong><\/p>\n Take the marked path upstream over stepping stones and ladder stiles. Look back to see Snowdon, Moel Hebog and the Glyderau. The stream peters out near prehistoric settlements and an old fort. The north face of Cnicht rises ahead with flanks of shining slate scree. Step over a drystone wall to reach the boggy pass of Bwlch y Battel, aquiver with cottongrass and\u00a0 cranberries overlooking a sheltered llyn.<\/p>\n 3. Mule trail<\/strong><\/p>\n In winter, Canada and barnacle geese compete for space on the quiet llyn and, during the summer months, ospreys nest far below in the Glaslyn Valley. Beyond is the magnificent estuarine vista of Tremadog Bay. Skirt the lake on either side, then follow the brown stream downhill, passing a sheep enclosure, to reach a small cwm<\/i> (valley).<\/p>\n This path joins an ancient route between Croesor and Nantmor known as the Roman Road. Strings of mules\u00a0were led over it in WWII by Rawalpindi Muslim muleteers who had been evacuated here from Dunkirk having lost their animals to the Germans. Supplied with fresh mules from the USA, the muleteers undertook three months of\u00a0mountain warfare training at the Nantmor Camp, over which calls to prayer and the smell of chapattis drifted.<\/p>\n 4. Hands-on\u00a0climbing<\/strong><\/p>\n Follow the Cnicht finger post on to the ridge path, taking a moment to peer into Cwm Croesor. The <\/b>quarries here produced slate for roofs, slabs, chimneys, floors and snooker tables. Moelwyn Mawr glowers darkly across the deep valley. From here, the summit of Cnicht looks rather terrifying.<\/p>\n The climb up the rocky path is steady and soon levels out to a small plateau. In cinematic light, the views to the Snowdon Massif are transmogrified. Take the stony path right, hugging the rock face to rejoin the ridge. Just below the summit is a small oasis of grass, graced with a cairn.\u00a0The final climb from here is a bit of a scramble with a steep drop into Cwm Croesor.\u00a0You will need to use your hands occasionally and be sure of your feet to reach the top.<\/p>\n 5. Up on the roof<\/strong><\/p>\n The views from the summit\u00a0are epic; Snowdon and the Glyderau to the north, the coast west, and Cwm Croesor and Moelwyn Mawr to the south. While among the surrounding Moelwynion, steely blue llynau<\/i> gleam among a vast hinterland of\u00a0rolling moor.<\/p>\n Continue across the dolerite ridge overlooking Llyn y Biswail to your left, and descend over purple moor grass to the sheltered north-east bank of Llyn yr Adar.<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0Mirror views<\/strong><\/p>\n From here onwards the path is hard to find. Head north-east to negotiate the steep descent over the cliffs, glancing up at the secret and steely, cliff-sheltered Llyn Llagi, brooding dark like an antique mirror.<\/p>\n 7. Tree and stone<\/strong><\/p>\n The path is vague, but passes Burnt Mound, possibly the cooking site of prehistoric shepherds. Keep the stream in sight as you leave the uplands for the ffridd<\/i>, walking among boulders and hawthorns and Llwynyrhwch\u2019s gentle groves of oaks. If your car is at Gelli-Iago, turn left. Otherwise, return to Nantgwynant.<\/p>\n Wait for your bus on the lush banks of Llyn Gwynant or rest at Caffi Gwynant<\/a>, a renovated Calvinistic Methodist chapel. Once the hallowed haunt of quarrymen, it\u2019s now the lair of hungry locals and mountain conquerors alike.<\/p>\nLooking for more walks in Snowdonia?\u00a0<\/h4>\n
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Cnicht walk \u2013 from Nantgwynant<\/h2>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/GettyImages-475073801_0-56d577a.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/GettyImages-825584068-f60bdfd.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Cnicht map<\/h2>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2022\/10\/Cnicht-map-c14280c-e1666262136113.png?quality=90&resize=620%2C401"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
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