Yr Aran, Snowdonia

May292025

Often seen yet seldom climbed: Yr Aran – the ‘little pointy one next to Snowdon’ – is a real connoisseur’s mountain. Despite its diminutive height – the summit is a modest 747m, compared to the towering 1085m top of Snowdon on the other side of the valley – it’s still quite a challenge, with some steep walking in places and plenty of ascent and descent. The rewards for doing so are plenty though, with some amazing views of Snowdon and its shapely south ridge, and usually, a good dose of solitude too.

Distance: 5.5 miles (9km)
Time: 3/4 hours
Start & finish: Bethania SH627506
Paths: A mix of good tracks and faint paths. Some steep going and some boggy ground.
Maps: OS Explorer Series (1:25 000) OL17 Snowdon
TIC: Beddgelert – 01766 890615 (Easter – Oct) or Betws-y-Coed – 01690 710426 (year round)

Your route

Cross the bridge and turn right into the lane. Almost immediately bear left up steps to a gate marked Watkin Path. Now follow this up through the wood to join a major track at a gate. Turn left onto this and follow it up into Cwm Llan. Stay with the main track as it swings left and then right and then climbs steeply. As it levels, next to an ugly weir and opposite an old building, turn left onto a vague path.

This quickly becomes a good track (old incline) and follows a stream up to a traversing tramline. Keep ahead – still alongside the stream – and this leads to another level. The stream dissolves into the steep hillside here, but keep ahead in roughly the same direction, and aim to the left of the obvious reddish quarry spoil you’ll see ahead. The going is hard, but keep at it and you’ll soon climb above the quarry ruins to reach the tip of Yr Aran’s lovely east ridge.

Turn right onto a clear path and follow the old wall along the ridge top with great views in all directions. You’ll drop into a saddle then climb steeply to a path junction. Turn left to climb on a stony zigzag path all the way to the summit, where you can enjoy great views in all directions. Descend the way you came up and at the path junction, bear left to continue alongside the wall. At the bottom, bear left around a pool and then right to scramble up and then down short rocky steps. Now descend all the way into Bwlch Cwm Llan.

You now need to drop back into Cwm Llan. Turn right to follow a stony path down and continue over soft ground until you eventually reach a broad track. Turn right onto this and follow it easily along until you cross the path you originally ascended on. Turn left here and drop back to the main valley path, which you turn right onto. Now retrace your steps back down to Bethania.