Y Garn via Devils Kitchen
Y Garn is one of my favourite mountain walks in North Wales. If you’re up for a challenging and rewarding hike with breathtaking views, then this is definitely one to add to your list.
Here’s everything you need to know about walking to the summit of Y Garn via Devils Kitchen…
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Y Garn
Y Garn is one of the highest mountains in the UK at 947 metres.
Located in North Wales, Y Garn is part of the Glyderau in Snowdonia National Park.
Y Garn is actually one of the famous Welsh 3000s, which means it's one of the fifteen summits in Wales that reach over 3,000 feet in height!
It’s also the tenth-highest peak in all of Wales! So, if you're up for a challenge and a breathtaking view, why not give Y Garn a go?
Y Garn via Devils Kitchen
The Y Garn via Devil's Kitchen circular walking route is one of my favourite hikes in North Wales.
The trail is approximately 4.5 miles long and takes about 4 hours to complete, depending on your pace and how many breaks you take along the way.
Looking for the right OS Map? You’ll find the Y Garn trails on the Snowdon OS Map.
The Route
The route starts at the Ogwen Cottage car park - located at the end of the A4086, just outside the village of Llanberis.
From there, you'll follow the gradual path which will lead you up to the picturesque lake called Llyn Llydaw.
At Llyn Llydaw’s ‘beach’ you can walk either clockwise or anti-clockwise around the lake to the entrance of Devil's Kitchen.
The Devil's Kitchen is a striking ravine that was formed by volcanic activity many years ago.
The path through the Kitchen is steep and rocky, but it's well worth it for the stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
Be sure to take your time and watch your footing as you make your way through this challenging section of the trail.
Once you've passed through the Devil's Kitchen, you'll reach a wall with a style - and you’ll be relieved to hear that you’ve made it to the top of the Devil’s Kitchen!
Take a moment to catch your breath and take in the views.
From here, continue on towards Llyn y Cwm and turn right at the path - heading towards the summit of Y Garn.
The climb is steep, but again, the views from the top are truly breathtaking. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the coast of Wales!
As you continue along the ridge of Y Garn, you'll pass several small lakes and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
Take your time and enjoy the scenery as you make your way to the summit, which is marked by a cairn and provides stunning 360-degree views of the surrounding area.
Once you've taken in the views from the summit of Y Garn, you'll make your way down the other side of the mountain.
The descent is steep and rocky, so be sure to watch your footing and take your time as you make your way back down to Llyn Llydaw and then on to the car park.
Y Garn via Devil's Kitchen circular walking route is a challenging but rewarding hike that offers some of the best views in Snowdonia National Park
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Route Map
Distance and Elevation
In terms of length, the walk is around 4.5 miles long, with an elevation gain of around 2,800 feet.
It took me around 4 hours to complete, including plenty of stops to take in the views and catch my breath!
Difficulty
Overall, I’d say that this walk is definitely on the more challenging side, and is probably best suited to experienced hikers.
The Devil’s Staircase in particular requires a good level of fitness and sure-footedness, as there are some pretty steep drops to contend with.
That being said, if you’re up for a challenge and love nothing more than being out in the great outdoors, then I’d highly recommend giving this walk a go.
The views from the summit of Y Garn are simply out of this world, and it’s a great way to really immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty of Snowdonia National Park.
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