Crimea Pass
A470Blaenau Ffestiniog to Dolwyddelan · Gwynedd / Eryri (Snowdonia)
Distance11.2mi · 18 km
Drive time20 minon the road
DifficultyEasy
MountainMoorlandValley
Open mountain crossing on the A470 between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Dolwyddelan.
The A470 Crimea Pass, Bwlch y Gorddinan, climbs to about 385m between the slate town of Blaenau Ffestiniog and the Lledr Valley at Dolwyddelan, named for the Crimean War around the time it opened in 1854. Reconstructed in 2008, it is now a wide, well-graded run of long curves through bleak high country, with slate spoil and a castle below. It is sometimes closed in winter for snow. Mind exposed crosswinds on the summit, fast-changing mountain weather and fog, and surface water on the steep descents.
Where it runs
Blaenau FfestiniogStart · Gwynedd / Eryri (Snowdonia)
DolwyddelanEnd · Wales
Character
Corners16bends
Tightness3of 10
Max gradient9%≈ 1-in-11
Hairpins0tight bends
Climb201 mtotal ascent
Summit392 mhighest point · 1286 ft
SpringSummerAutumnWinter
Elevation
352 m rangeKnow before you go
- Summit crosswinds
- Mountain fog
- Winter snow closures
Sources
In these collections
Nearby roads
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