Compare the walks
| Walk | Area | Distance | Ascent | Time | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minffordd Path | Cadair Idris | 9 km | 788 m | 6 hrs | Hard/Strenuous |
| Pony Path (Tŷ Nant) | Cadair Idris | 10 km | 727 m | 5 hrs | Hard/Strenuous |
| Cwm Idwal | Ogwen | 5 km | 140 m | 2 hrs | Moderate |
| Tryfan | Ogwen | – | – | – | Scramble (grade 1 at the easiest) |
Distances, ascent, times and grades from Eryri route pages. Tryfan: National Trust, which publishes no route distance or time because every way up is a scramble.
Distance km
- Minffordd Path9 km
- Pony Path (Tŷ Nant)10 km
- Cwm Idwal5 km
Ascent metres
- Minffordd Path788 m
- Pony Path (Tŷ Nant)727 m
- Cwm Idwal140 m
Time hours (Eryri)
- Minffordd Path6 hrs
- Pony Path (Tŷ Nant)5 hrs
- Cwm Idwal2 hrs
- ModerateEryri gradeCwm Idwal
- Hard/StrenuousEryri gradeMinffordd PathPony Path
- Scramblehands needed (National Trust)Tryfan
Snowdon instead?
Stay safe
- Ask the AdventureSmart three questions: do I have the knowledge and skills, do I know what the weather will be like, and am I confident I have the right gear?
- In an emergency, dial 999 or 112, ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue.
- Register your phone for emergency texts before you go: text register to 999.
- Do not walk on the Snowdon Mountain Railway track. Keep dogs on leads near livestock.
- Turn back if the weather turns or you are behind time. The summit will still be there.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good mountain walk in Eryri apart from Snowdon?
Cadair Idris (Minffordd Path or Pony Path) is a big mountain day of 5 to 6 hours. Cwm Idwal is a shorter, Moderate circular walk of about 2 hours. Tryfan is a scramble for experienced hillwalkers only.
Which Eryri walk is best for beginners?
Of these, Cwm Idwal: Eryri grades it Moderate (5 km, about 2 hours), and a shorter path round the lake avoids the steep section.
Is Moel Siabod on this site?
Not yet. Eryri does not publish a route page for Moel Siabod, and we only list walks we can check against an official source.
Sources
- Eryri: Minffordd Path
- Eryri: Pony Path (Tŷ Nant)
- Eryri: Cwm Idwal
- National Trust: walking and climbing on Tryfan
- National Trust: Cwm Idwal walk
- Eryri: parking in Eryri (prices and payment)
Every figure on this page was checked against these sources on 20 October 2026.