Introduction
Nestled in Snowdonia National Park, Cadair Idris isn’t just a mountain ridge – it’s an invite to step into a Welsh postcard. At 2,930 feet, it’s not just a walk in the park. Its name means “Chair of Idris”, thanks to a legend about a star-gazing giant. Talk about a room (or mountain) with a view! Read on for Wild Camping Cadair Idris advice!
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- Route – 4.5k To Summit (Double if you want to return)
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- 890m Summit
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- Strenuous
The journey up is a delightful mix of terrains, so expect your Instagram to be as varied as a mixed bag of candies. From rocky paths that’ll have you questioning your life choices. to views that’ll make it all worthwhile, it’s an experience… and an exercise. The Minffordd Path? A favourite – it’s like the VIP entrance to nature’s best show.
The summit houses a stone shelter, a sort of mountain-top motel where hikers huddle for warmth and, of course, mountain tales. Remember, what happens in the shelter, stays in the shelter (just kidding, but not really because I’ll tell you later.).
The hike in general is fairly meaty, with plenty of places to stop and question your judgement. In my head, the hike was broken up into three sections. After the first few hundred flat metres, you immediately start climbing steps, through a beautiful forest next to a water wall.
The second section was much more open, and from memory, flatter. Although the map profile does not indicate this well, the terminus for this section is Llyn Cau, a beautiful tarn. The final push is onto the rockier summits of the horseshoe of Cadair Idris. There are a few ascents and descents before you a greeted with the final summit push. Legs burning and body sweating you will be rewarded with fantastic views. Unless like us, you get a total white out…
If you are planning this are your first hike, you might consider reading this blog first:
Preparation Checklist for Hiking Cadair Idris:
As wonderful and de-stressing as hiking can be, this can quickly change if you are ill-prepared! Below we have compiled a short list of items to prepare before you depart on your glorious hike. Always try and hike within your means, this is by no means for the total bigger, and there are many suitable places that you can turn around if needed!
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- Inform Someone: Always let a friend or family member know your hiking plans, including the route and expected return time.
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- Weather Check: Monitor the weather forecast closely to avoid any unexpected weather changes and prepare accordingly.
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- Appropriate Clothing: Wear layered clothing to easily adapt to changing temperatures, and ensure they are weather-appropriate.
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- Footwear: Choose sturdy, comfortable, and waterproof hiking boots that provide good ankle support and grip.
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- Hydration: Carry plenty of water to stay hydrated throughout the hike. Consider a portable filter if you plan to refill from natural sources. There is a lake just before the final push-up to the summit (route dependent)
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- Navigation Tools: Bring a map, compass, or GPS device to navigate the trails. Especially in case of poor visibility or snow cover.
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- Emergency Kit: Pack a basic emergency kit including first aid supplies, a multi-tool, a whistle, and an emergency blanket.
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- Food: Bring energy-rich snacks and food to maintain your energy levels during the hike.
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- Lighting: Include a headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries, especially if you might be hiking during low-light conditions.
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- Shelter: Carry an emergency shelter or bivy sack for unexpected situations or if planning to stay overnight at the summit shelter.
Remember, safety first, and always respect the mountain and the natural environment. Enjoy your hike!
Parking at Cadair Idris
So, to start this wonderfully Welsh hike, I recommend parking at the Dôl Idris Car Park. This car park is pay and display and has plenty of space for cars. We visited on a Friday, turned up around 9 a.m. and only 2 other cars were parking up. Now I can’t be certain, but I am sure there were signs for “No overnight parking”. Your choices are your own, and always respect the local area and rules…
Location
Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yAkpVduzxXodmBiP7
What Three Words: ///household.feels.dairy
OS Grid ref: SH 73154 11559
Payment information
Payment method ‘Chip and pin’ or contactless only. Cash payments not accepted.
Price
Daily rate (up to midnight): £6.00
Rate up to 4 hours: £3.00
Blue badge/disabled parking: 3 spaces
Dol-y-cae: The First Section of Cadair Idris
If you bothered to read the introduction, you will have noted that I break this into three sections.
The first section starts as you enter the wooden gate, and start the ascent up the steps and through the small wooded area of Dol-y-cae.
The steps start pleasant enough, but after a while feel fairly relentless. If you are day hiking hopefully you are still able to nimble throughout this section without breaking a sweat. If not there are plenty of places you can stop and pretend to take the scenery, pulling the camera out for a few snaps.
Soon you will break out of the wooded section and the Cadair Idris National Nature Reserve will open up to you a little more. At some point soon you will have to decide to continue on the more trodden path, or head to the left and travel on the Minffordd Path. Luckily this decision isn’t like taking the red or blue bill. You’ll be fine either way as you enter the section second.
Llyn Cau: The Second Section of Cadair Idris
Although, in my head, this part seemed flatter, don’t be fooled. You will still be climbing via steps for the first part, but the whole area just feels more open, with better views than the first section. The steps break away into inclining stoney paths, which form small stream beds in the rain. We had rain. Lots of rain. Walking through crystal clear streams is fun, to begin with, but after slipping on the well-polished wet rocks a good few times, it increases the chance of my coordination failing me and rolling an ankle.
During this section, on a clear day, you will begin to see the summit of a few of the surrounding summits that make up the ridge on either side of Cadair Idris.
At this point, I would highly recommend breaking from the route and heading to the shore of Llyn Cau. An amazing clear water tarn, with an epic grey slate and green moss backdrop that looks to just drop into the far side of the tarn. This is a great place to stop and refuel before the final push. If it’s windy it might provide a bit of shelter before pushing the summit.
There are plenty of flat(ish) patches of peggable ground, so if you are looking to Wild Camp Cadair Idris, this would certainly be a good location. I would estimate there is enough room for about 4-6 1-2 man tents.
At this point, my party set up a tent put all our hiking bags in. We took a single bag with fluid for the final push. I was heavily invested in this idea because, to be frank, I was blowing. Never had I wished that I’d used my unutilised gym membership more than this point. Dropping the bags was a relief. Onwards.
Cadair Idris – Penygadair Summit: The Third Section
After leaving the security of the Llyn Cau, we headed southwest up more steep inclined steps. The steps are fairly sheltered until you reach the lower point of the ridge. From there on out the paths seemed few and far between, but trusted Cairns lead the way. We had GPS in the form of OS maps app, paper maps, and a compass, however, in the horizontal rain I tried to keep these tucked out of the way for the most part.
The ridge is a mixture of light scramble rocks, subtle paths, and a few ups and downs. The vistas are epic from this 700m+ viewing platform. We have the occasional break in clouds and rain to truly appreciate it. (Thank you, Mountain Gods)
At this point, you will have to summit Craig Cwm Amrach at about 791m, and then drop down to around 710 straight after. Slightly soul-destroying given all your efforts so far, I’m sure. But you’ve come this far, so just like us you will be in hot pursuit of that Trig marker that hails Cadair Idris as “The highest summit” (in the immediate area), so dig deep and keep going, you know it’s worth it. And if this is your first Snowdonania summit, your about to be welcomed to the club.
Finally, the final bit of the final accent looms. It gets rocker, maybe even with some light scrambles, and we certainly could not find any paths at this point. Just follow your nose and head up. (And consult a map if you are really unsure) The Trig point awaits on a seemingly odd bed of concrete.
Well done, pull out the phone and take a selfie. You can show your photographic evidence to all the people at work on Monday, who honestly won’t have any clue what it was like to climb. Or care.
Should the weather have been unkind during your Cadair Idris Hike, there is a decent little stone shelter with a roof and everything. We chilled in here for a while, I ate a couple of Mars bars and told the lads about my next ambitious gym plan to be in shape for next time…
Getting down from Cadair Idris: Section four onwards
Yes, getting up to Cadair Idris Penygadair summit I had broken it down into 3 sections, but unless you plan to make the stone shelter a permanent dwelling, you will need to descend too. Sorry, maybe I should have made that clearer. Ahem.
Two options really, continue around the Cadair Idris ridge, until you reach Mynydd Moel, which should allow you to drop down back into the lower valley and back to the relentless steps. Note – I haven’t taken this route, so do some research if you think that is your intended route back.
Wild Camping Cadair Idris – Llyn Cau
We headed back the way we came until we reached the eastern side of Llyn Cau, where our tent and kit were waiting for us, with open arms. We had planned to wild camp this spot. Now being soaked through, and confused with the concept of goretex, we began setting up the tents and tried to dry out.
I honestly thought we would be sheltered from the wind in our spot near the shore, but we got battered by the wind all night. Not the “Oh crap we are in real trouble” type of wind, just the annoying “tent being buckled in your face during the night” type. Isn’t that why we head out though?
Up early in the morning, we dropped the tents and headed back down the stairs of doom at pace. The rain was on and off again, so we made quick headway descending. I slipped on more rocks, pretty sure this is a right of passage for me now.
We dropped down through the wooded area, and the waterfall was slightly more swollen due to the rains. We passed a lot of people who started their climb on the Saturday morning. Glad we chose Friday as it was generally quiet for us, so I would recommend doing it in the week if possible for you.
Conclusion:
Our trudge up Cadair Idris was nothing short of an epic saga of man versus nature. Dol-y-cae introduced us to an unending staircase that was as charming as a pop quiz, and the persistent drizzle at Llyn Cau turned our path into a slip-n-slide – minus the fun and games. Each step, slip, and stumble upwards was a handshake with the wild soul of Snowdonia.
By the time we hit the summit, amidst the concert of gales and rain, it was clear – Cadair Idris wasn’t just a mountain. It was a rite of passage, an initiation into a club where membership came at the price of wet boots and wind-kissed cheeks. The descent? Well, let’s just say, it wasn’t a stroll in the park. The winds at Llyn Cau offered a soundtrack of howling melodies while our tents decided to play a game of twister.
In the end, as we looked back at the mingling of rain, rocks, and relentless winds, there was a begrudging respect. Cadair Idris had tossed us into a dance of nature’s dramatic crescendos and silent whispers. We emerged not just with damp gears and aching muscles, but stories that would outlive the echoes of our steps against the wild, Welsh winds. Every slip, every ascent, another line in the ballad of our conquest – raw, unscripted, and unabashedly real.
More type two fun was achieved. Good Luck.
