Description

Perched in the otherwise rolling hills of Central Wales, Cadair Idris is a rocky, craggy anomaly.

The mountain is high, wild and remote, making it a connoisseur's peak rather than one on the radar of glory hunters! The route we've drawn here is the Minffordd Path, the shortest but steepest trail up the mountain.

The initial section of the path features a lot of stone steps so your thighs will get a good workout as you climb up towards Llyn Cau and then onto the summit of Craig Lwyd - the first peak of the day.

Assuming you've come here in good weather the hike only improves from here as you follow the dramatic ridge which links Craig Lwyd with the 893m summit of Cadair Idris.

The views just get better and better as you ascend towards the summit, and from the top they're jaw-dropping.

Surrounded by Craig Lwyd's craggy north face, distant hills and with the Irish Sea dominating the panorama to the west, the little stone summit block has a pretty nice vista! Having soaked it all in, descend Cadair Idris' broad north-east ridge as it gradually drops down towards the distant valleys below and swings down to the sub-summit of Moelfryn.

The journey down to Moelfryn is spectacular, with the steeper ground beyond it (which in turn leads to Mynydd Gwerngrig) making the ridge feel as if it's almost floating above the valleys. From Moelfryn, rejoin the ascent route and descend back to the carpark, from where several lovely little villages are in reach.