Cadair Idris: Height, Routes & Legend of Wales' Iconic Mountain

The height of Cadair Idris is 893 metres (2,930 feet) above sea level, according to Ordnance Survey data. The summit is known as Pen y Gadair — Welsh for "the head of the chair" — and sits at the head of a dramatic horseshoe of cliffs enclosing Llyn Cau, a glacial lake formed during the last ice age.

To put the Cadair Idris height in context, here is how it compares to the other mountains in the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge:

At 893m, Cadair Idris is only 7m taller than Pen y Fan — a remarkably small gap for mountains 90 miles apart. The Cader Idris height makes it a Marilyn (a peak with 150m+ of topographic prominence), with a prominence of 608m — one of the highest in Wales. It is also classified as a Hewitt and a Nuttall. [Source: Ordnance Survey]

Both "Cadair Idris" and "Cader Idris" are correct and widely used. The difference comes down to Welsh orthography versus local dialect.

Cadair Idris is the standard literary Welsh spelling, used in most modern maps, guidebooks, and official documents. The word "cadair" means "chair" in Welsh.

Cader Idris reflects the local Meirionnydd dialect pronunciation, where the final consonant softens. This spelling has been used informally for centuries and appears in many historical references. In 2016, Snowdonia National Park adopted the "Cader Idris" spelling on its official signage — a decision that acknowledged the local dialect while causing some debate among Welsh-language purists.

In practice, you will see both spellings on maps, road signs, and guidebooks throughout the region. The mountain is the same regardless of which spelling you use, and both terms are searched for extensively online — "Cader Idris" is particularly common in older guidebooks and in English-language walking literature.

For reference, the mountain's Welsh name on Ordnance Survey maps is "Cadair Idris," while the summit itself is labelled "Pen y Gadair" — "the head of the chair."

Cadair Idris difficulty is rated moderate on the standard Pony Path — it is a accessible walk for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness, with no scrambling required and a well-graded path throughout. However, the difficulty increases significantly on the alternative routes.

Here is a breakdown of Cadair Idris difficulty by route:

The Pony Path is the route most walkers choose for their first Cadair Idris climb. It has the gentlest gradient, a well-built stone path, and no scrambling. The Minffordd Path is shorter but steeper, with a short scramble near the summit — it is the most scenic route, passing Llyn Cau and skirting the dramatic cliffs of the horseshoe. Fox's Path is the steepest and most direct, with loose scree near the summit that can be treacherous on descent; it should be ascended rather than descended.

In winter conditions (December–March), Cadair Idris difficulty increases substantially. Ice and snow on the upper slopes can make the Pony Path treacherous, and the Minffordd scramble becomes a genuine mountaineering challenge. Always check the Met Office mountain forecast and carry ice axe and crampons if there is any chance of winter conditions.

There are three main Cadair Idris routes, each starting from a different trailhead and offering a distinct experience:

1. The Pony Path (from Ty Nant) — the most popular and easiest route. It starts from the Ty Nant car park (postcode LL40 1TN) near Dolgellau and follows a well-graded stone path northwards through bracken and oak woodland before emerging onto open hillside. The trail climbs steadily to a broad ridge, then turns west to reach Pen y Gadair. The round trip is about 9km with 720m of ascent, taking 5–6 hours. This is the route we recommend for first-time visitors and families.

2. The Minffordd Path (from the south) — shorter but steeper, and widely regarded as the most scenic route up Cadair Idris. It starts from the Minffordd car park on the A487 and climbs alongside the stunning Llyn Cau before a short scramble to the summit. The dramatic views of the glacial corrie and Llyn Cau far below are among the finest in southern Snowdonia. The round trip is approximately 6km with 730m of ascent, taking 5–6 hours.

3. Fox's Path / Dol Idris route — the steepest and most direct route, starting from the Dol Idris car park on the northern side of the mountain. It involves loose scree near the summit and should be ascended rather than descended. The round trip is about 7km with 750m of ascent, taking 5–7 hours. This route is best suited to experienced walkers who are confident on steep, loose ground.

For a complete Cadair Idris route map, we recommend carrying OS Explorer OL18 (Cadair Idris & Llyn Peninsula) or the Harvey Cadair Idris Superwalker map. Both show all three routes plus the surrounding paths and tracks in clear detail.

Cadair Idris — "the Chair of Idris" — takes its name from a giant of Welsh folklore. According to legend, Idris was a giant who lived in the area and used the mountain's summit as his chair, from which he could survey his domain. The name "Pen y Gadair" — "the head of the chair" — refers specifically to the summit.

The mountain is steeped in Welsh mythology. The most famous legend holds that anyone who spends a night alone on the slopes of Cadair Idris will wake up either a poet, a madman, or not wake at all. This tale has drawn romantics, poets, and adventurers to the mountain for centuries, and it remains one of the best-known pieces of Welsh mountain folklore.

The lake near the summit, Llyn Cau, is also woven into the legend. Some versions of the tale say Idris used the lake as a bath; others that the giant's chair overlooked it. The lake sits in a dramatic glacial corrie at the head of the horseshoe and is one of the most striking features of the mountain — many walkers on the Minffordd Path pause here before the final push to the summit.

The Idris legend has inspired Welsh-language poetry for centuries and was a favourite subject of Romantic-era painters. Richard Wilson, the 18th-century Welsh landscape painter, depicted Cadair Idris in several works, and J.M.W. Turner sketched the mountain during his tour of Wales in 1798. The mountain remains a powerful symbol in Welsh cultural identity — a wild place where the boundary between inspiration and madness feels thin.

If you are planning to climb Cadair Idris, here is the practical information you need:

Parking: The Pony Path starts from the Ty Nant car park (postcode LL40 1TN), about 4 miles from Dolgellau. The Minffordd Path starts from the Minffordd car park on the A487. The Fox's Path / Dol Idris route starts from the Dol Idris car park. All three car parks are signposted from the main roads, but the Ty Nant car park can fill up quickly on summer weekends — arrive before 9am to guarantee a space.

Nearest town: Dolgellau is the main base for Cadair Idris, with a full range of accommodation, pubs, cafes, and outdoor shops. It is approximately 4 miles from the Ty Nant trailhead. Barmouth and Tywyn are also within easy reach on the coast.

OS map: Ordnance Survey Explorer OL18 (Cadair Idris & Llyn Peninsula) covers all three routes. The OS grid reference for the summit is SH 711 130.

Best time to visit: May to September offers the most reliable conditions, with the longest daylight and the least chance of ice on the upper slopes. October and April are shoulder season — expect changeable weather. From November to March, the mountain can be a serious winter proposition, particularly on the Minffordd scramble and Fox's Path.

Public transport: The Ty Nant and Minffordd trailheads are accessible by bus from Dolgellau, but services are limited — check the Snowdonia National Park website for current timetables. The nearest railway station is at Barmouth, about 12 miles away.

Cadair Idris and Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) are the two most popular mountains in Snowdonia National Park, and walkers often ask which one to choose. The answer depends on what you are looking for.

Height: Snowdon is 192m taller (1,085m vs 893m) and is the highest mountain in Wales. If your goal is to stand on the highest point in Wales, Snowdon is the one.

Crowds: Snowdon attracts over 500,000 visitors a year and can be very busy on summer weekends, particularly on the Llanberis Path and the Pyg Track. Cadair Idris receives far fewer walkers — even on a fine summer day, you can have large sections of the Pony Path to yourself.

Wildness: Many experienced hillwalkers consider Cadair Idris the wilder and more atmospheric mountain. Its horseshoe of cliffs above Llyn Cau, its rich folklore, and its relative quiet give it a sense of remoteness that Snowdon — with its summit cafe, railway, and well-trodden paths — can lack.

Difficulty: Both mountains have moderate standard routes. The Snowdon Llanberis Path and the Cadair Idris Pony Path are both accessible to fit walkers without scrambling. However, both mountains also have harder routes — the Snowdon Watkin Path and Crib Goch are more technically demanding than anything on Cadair Idris.

Access: Snowdon has better public transport (the Sherpa bus network and the Snowdon Mountain Railway), while Cadair Idris is more dependent on a car.

If you have time, climb both — they are very different experiences and together they give a full picture of what Snowdonia has to offer. Browse our UK mountains directory to discover more peaks in Wales and beyond.