The minor Snowdonia summit of Crimpiau provides an excellent walk from Capel Curig. The route crosses quite mountainous terrain and the view down Llyn Crafnant is one of the great panoramas in the area. Do make sure you are suitably equipped for this walk.
Technical sheet
n°293057
A Capel Curig walk
posted on 04/07/16 by Walking Britain. Last update : 26/03/18
(S)The start is the car park in Capel Curig just off the A5 at grid ref. SH720582. After parking cross the A5 and take the signed footpath/bridleway to Crafnant which starts to the left of the chapel. This leads through a section of woodland into increasingly wild country initially with the minor summit of Clogwyn Mawr (347 metres) on your left.
(1)Cross the footbridge, ignore the footpath on the right and walk north-east and then north climbing steadily to reach a col (grid ref. SH738597). At this point the summit of Crimpiau is up on your left. However it is worth continuing downhill for about 250 metres on the main path to enjoy the view across Llyn Crafnant some 500 feet below.
(2)Return uphill to the col and take the path on your right that leads uphill amongst a rocky landscape to the summit of Crimpiau. The path is well-trodden and clear underfoot. After heavy rain it can be a bit boggy in places but the worst can be easily avoided. If you lose the path then keep heading uphill taking care to avid the steep crags on the north of the ridge. There is no trig point but a small cairn was present the last time I walked this hill. The view north to the Carneddau, with Pen yr Helgi Du and its impressive south ridge particularly prominent, provides a wonderful panorama.
(3)To start the descent follow the path southwest down the ridge. As you descend you will see Llyn y Coryn below. This small tarn lies to the right of the path. After passing this tarn, continue to a fence that lies in a dip beyond the tarn. The path follows this fence (with the fence on your right) down to a stile. Cross this stile and head down quite steeply into a hollow where another stile over a stone wall needs to be crossed. Go right and follow the path over two stiles. Another steep descent takes you down onto the path used on the outward route. Turn right here and return to Capel Curig.(E)
Waypoints
S/E : km 0 - alt. 196 m - Capel Curig car park
1 : km 1.2 - alt. 248 m - Footbridge
2 : km 3.09 - alt. 341 m - Col
3 : km 4.2 - alt. 391 m - Llyn y Coryn
S/E : km 6.07 - alt. 199 m - Capel Curig car park
Useful Information
The summit of Crimpiau (475 metres) can be approached from either Llyn Crafnant in the east or using a shorter approach from Capel Curig in the west. The former route is covered in http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walk-260... , whilst this description offers an "easier" walk that will fill an afternoon or evening. However do remember that you are traversing mountain terrain so a 1:25000 map and a good sense of direction are required especially if visibility is not good.
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
Date of walk : 10/09/19 Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Pleasant walk to start through a wooded area.
Needs to say on the directions to take the path to the left when crossing the wooden footbridge.
It’s worth doing the extra couple of hundred metres to take in the view of the valley.
You get a similar view as you ascend the hill.
Will certainly do this walk again.
sbfmm
Overall rating :
5 / 5
Date of walk : 01/07/18 Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Excellent varied walk through woodland and great views from the top. So good, we ended up doing it again later in the week.
Sarita J
Thank you for pointing out the discrepancy with the waypoint numbers, we have made the corrections so that the written numbers correspond now. Glad you enjoyed the walk. Please feel free to post any photos of the walk if you have any
gward
Overall rating :
4.7 / 5
Date of walk : 21/03/18 Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Great walk with clear written instructions. But please be aware that the written instructions and the numbers on the map did not seem to tie up. We twigged this so it wasn't a problem but might catch people out. Thanks.
