Guide to walking up Cader Idris

Before travelling, please check the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park website or their Twitter feed @visitsnowdonia for the latest information on visiting, parking and conditions.

For the people of southern Eryri (Snowdonia), Cader Idris is a constant presence in their lives. The distinctive shape of the mountain's peaks can be seen for miles around, from the coastlines at Tywyn and Barmouth and high over the market town of Dolgellau. The summit of Penygadair is a sharp contrast to the gentler hills below - when the clouds lift from the peak, that is!

There are three recommended routes to conquer Cader. It’s not an easy walk by any means, whichever route you take. They are all designated ‘hard/strenuous’ routes, and you should allow between five to six hours to get there and back. You’ll need to take plenty of food and drink as there isn’t a café (or toilet) on the summit. 

Cader is a very popular day out for school parties, sponsored walks, or group challenges, especially as it is one of the Welsh Three Peaks.

Weekends and bank holidays usually get very busy on the mountain. If you'd prefer a quieter walk, head up on weekdays in spring or autumn. During cold weather the paths can be covered with snow and ice, so please don't attempt it unless you are experienced and properly equipped.

Legend has it that Cader is named after a giant called Idris. ‘Cadair Idris’ in English means ‘Chair of Idris’, while 'Cader' could also refer to an ancient fortress. It's locally known as Cader Idris rather than Cadair, but either may be used. The most well-known tale is that if you spend the night on the mountain, you’ll end up mad or a poet. Staying overnight on the peak is definitely not a good idea, as the small shelter is exposed and could be dangerous in bad weather. There are many cliff edges to be aware of, especially in low visibility.

The eastern slopes are a regular haunt for fans of the Mach Loop low flying aircraft practice area, and on good days gliders from further up the coast swoop by high above the valleys below.

Adventure Smart UK has plenty of advice on how to ‘make a good day better’, and we recommend you read it before planning your day out. 

Well-behaved dogs are welcome but please keep them on leads when there are sheep about. Please make sure you take your litter home and help to protect the fragile eco-system and wildlife by keeping to the designated paths for your own safety.

The nearest main line railway stations are Machynlleth, Tywyn and Barmouth. Minffordd has a nearby bus stop, however you’ll need to walk a few miles from Dolgellau or Abergynolwyn to get to the other starting points. The T2 Trawscymru service stops at Minffordd and Dolgellau. Traveline Cymru is a useful journey planner for public transport in the region.

You can park your car at Dôl Idris (Minffordd), Llanfihangel y Pennant and Tŷ Nant. The Dôl Idris and Tŷ Nant car parks are run by Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and there is a charge to use them – take the right money as they don’t give change. Find out the up to date information on the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park car parks page. It’s best to get there early as they can fill up at busy times. The Llanfihangel y Pennant village car park is free to use but it’s quite small.

There are toilets at each of the car parks which is useful as there aren’t any on the mountain.

10km / 6 miles, allow 5 hours there and back

The Pony Path starts from the Dolgellau side of Cader. It’s probably the most popular route, heading up the mountainside to the curve of the cliff edge above Llyn y Gader. Starting from Tŷ Nant car park, it's a steepish climb with steps in several places to help you along. On the way you’ll see spectacular views over the Mawddach estuary towards Barmouth. Once you get to the ridge over Llyn y Gader you'll get fab views inland towards Bala and over the lake. Follow the steep path to Penygadair. Then it's a scramble up to the trig point. 

10km / 6 miles, allow 5 hours there and back

The shortest route but the steepest. The Minffordd Path starts near the Visitor Centre and café. To start with, you’ll climb up lots and lots of steps, before walking along the ridge above Llyn Cau toward Penygadair. Take care coming back down from the summit, as it’s easy to miss the path and you probably don’t want to end up walking towards Dolgellau.

The seasonal Visitor Centre is worth a visit as there’s plenty of information about Cader. There are also short walks around the nature reserve, including accessible broadwalks, to explore the lower lakes and waterfalls.

16km / 10miles, allow 7 hours there and back

If you’re after peace and quiet, the longer Llanfihangel-y-Pennant Path is usually the perfect route to take. Llanfihangel y Pennant is a hamlet deep in the remote Dysynni Valley and an interesting place to visit in its own right. It’s reached by a narrow single track road, passing the romantic ruins of Castell y Bere on the way. The small car park and toilets are opposite St. Michael’s Church.

The path is well marked and there are several places you can rest and appreciate the unfolding views of the Dysynni Valley down towards the coast or across to the summit of Tarrenhendre. Compared to the other paths, it’s fairly gentle until you join the Pony Path, then it’s a hard plod up to Penygadair.

Spend a little time exploring Llanfihangel y Pennant itself. As you walk out of the hamlet you’ll pass the remains of Mary Jones’ cottage. Mary was just 15 when she walked 26 miles barefoot over the mountains to Bala, to buy a Welsh language Bible she'd been saving up for years to pay for. Her story is told in the nearby St Michael's Church, where there’s also a fabulous handmade 3D patchwork map of the valley.

You can find out more about Mary's story at Byd Mary Jones World in Bala.

Fans of Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising series of books will recognise Cader as the home of the disturbing, but thankfully mythical, ‘Brenin Llwyd’ – the Grey King, who appears as menacing, thick dark clouds on the slopes above Llyn Mwngil (Talyllyn Lake). It’s hard not to imagine a malign presence when the clouds do come down when you’re half way up the mountain…

...so be prepared for drastic changes in the weather and make sure you check the forecast before you go via the Met Office Cadair Idris forecast.

Plan your route carefully and let people know where you are going, and what time you expect to be back.

There’s a full list of recommended kit on the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park website.

Help Wales become the first Refill Nation by using nearby Refill Points to fill up your water bottle before you head off. Find out more including how to download the free Refill app to find your nearest Refill Point on the Refill Wales website.