Easier Hill Walks in Snowdonia and North Wales
By Dave Roberts 
Published – April 8, 2018
Posted in Full Outing, Walking In Eryri Snowdonia
Easier Hill Walks in Snowdonia and North Wales
There are plenty of challenging mountain days in Snowdonia, just read our Best Hill Walks in Snowdonia article. The following is a list of some of the less challenging walks to hills and mountains in Snowdonia and North Wales that might be more suitable for beginners or as a good walk in their own right. All the walks are over terrain that needs care, with some ascending to over 700m. Some of the lower hills aren’t easier either, with Crimpiau and Moel y Dyniewyd having only a faint path on their final sections to the summit.
Moel Famau
Moel Famau in the Clwydian Range is one of the most popular hills in North Wales, attracting hundreds of locals on busier days. It’s also a reasonably easy walk to follow, with an excellent track all the way.
Yr Eifl From Llithfaen
Hidden away on the Llyn Peninsula, are the three summits of Yr Eifl (please don’t offend the locals by calling them ‘the rivals’) which rise steeply from Caernarfon Bay. The longer walk includes Mynydd Gwaith and Tre’r Ceiri which has an impressive iron age fort on the top, that still has it’s defensive walls and huts that still stand metres tall.
This shorter walk can be completed in around an hour, but why rush it. Note that some of the sections on the ascent of Yr Eifl are steep and care is needed, but the views are worth it.
Moel y Gest
This minor summit dominates the town of Porthmadog. It’s a challenging lump of a hill, with some care needed in it’s ascent. This route is a longer walk from Tremadog that ascends via an easier route than the direct route from Porthmadog, but uses that route in descent.
Mynydd y Twr (Holyhead Mountain) and Ynys Lawd (South Stack) Walk
The highest point on the county of Ynys Mon, Mynydd y Twr provides an excellent viewpoint all around. You get a good dose of hill as well as a generous portion of coastal walking on one of the best walks in Anglesey. It’s worth the dog leg to South Stack, even if you do need to exert a bit of effort to return!
Moel Eilio From Llanberis
This may be over 700m in height, but is a straightforward walk in good conditions. There’s a good track all the way up, and a fence to follow for the final section. You can complete a horseshoe walk or return the same way.
Crimpiau from Capel Curig
At only 475 metres, this is a short hill with plenty of attitude. Nestling in the southern end of the Carneddau above Llyn Crafnant, the minor peak of Crimpiau would surely be a classic ‘Wainwright’ walk were it in the Lakes. This is Snowdonia, so it’s quiet and the path to the summit sketchy in places. There is however an excellent path to the bwlch, which is the recommended out and back walk for easier navigation as the walk via Llyn y Coryn is more difficult to navigate.
Tal y Fan from Pen y Sychnant
The northernmost mountain in Wales, and if you ascend from Bwlch y Ddeufaen, one of the easiest to climb. The path is a bit wet in places, and there’s a steep and rocky pull to the summit from the final bwlch – so care is needed on this one. The route linked to is a slightly longer walk in from Pen y Sychnant.
Moel y Dyniewyd
The minor summit of Moel y Dyniewyd is unknown to most, especially surprising as how busy the neigbouring Cwm Bychan and Mynydd Sygyn can be. Largely a straightforward walk, but the final section from the bwlch to the summit is heathery and rougher going. The struggle is worth it though!
Mynydd Mawr From Rhyd Ddu
One of the few proper mountains on the list, Mynydd Mawr is a bit more of a challenging walk for those with a bit more experience in the hills. With a couple of steep sections, and a few boggy parts on the return to Llyn y Dywarchen – this one only just makes the list! Best in dry weather, or ascend and descend via the forest route.
Yr Orsedd – North Carneddau
This walk in the northern Carneddau is along an easy grassy ridge, but with a grand setting. The walk’s only a few kms in length and most of that is along the good track of the Bwlch y Ddeufaen roman road.
Craig Fach from Pen y Pass
Finally – one of Snowdon’s own foothills that gives you a bite sized walk along the PYG track to boot. The views up Llyn Llydaw is the highlight of this pint sized walk, but the descent along a grassy ridge to Pen y Pass is also a pleasure.
Dave Roberts
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