Snowdon Horseshoe
WARNING
Please take care when walking the terrain described on this page.
Snowdon is very accessible and usually very safe to ascend, there is even a seasonal
train up the mountain, but it can be a very dangerous place if not respected.
Make no mistake, if you fall off the North face of Crib Goch, you will die!
Having said that, if you act responsibly and sensibly, there is no reason whatsoever not to enjoy this walk.
Parts of it are very exposed so a head for heights is required and the most exhilarating way of crossing Crib Goch is on the knife-edge arete itself. Many find this daunting but it is possible to drop down a few feet on the South side
(away from the arete) and this is much safer (as seen in the photos below).
If an exposure to heights is not for you, then the Miners Track and Pyg Track are viable alternatives to the summit of Snowdon from Pen y Pass... and very safe.
And if you can't walk... take the train!!!
Please take care when walking the terrain described on this page.
Snowdon is very accessible and usually very safe to ascend, there is even a seasonal
train up the mountain, but it can be a very dangerous place if not respected.
Make no mistake, if you fall off the North face of Crib Goch, you will die!
Having said that, if you act responsibly and sensibly, there is no reason whatsoever not to enjoy this walk.
Parts of it are very exposed so a head for heights is required and the most exhilarating way of crossing Crib Goch is on the knife-edge arete itself. Many find this daunting but it is possible to drop down a few feet on the South side
(away from the arete) and this is much safer (as seen in the photos below).
If an exposure to heights is not for you, then the Miners Track and Pyg Track are viable alternatives to the summit of Snowdon from Pen y Pass... and very safe.
And if you can't walk... take the train!!!
The Route
Distance = 7.25 Miles
We parked up at Pen y Pass and walked the walk in an anticlockwise direction. We set off from the car park in an Easterly direction towards Bwlch y Moch and up to the top of Crib Goch.
Crossed Crib Goch and up to the Trig Point at Crib y Ddysgl. Followed the ridge round to the summit of Snowdon. Had our lunch in the cafe just below the summit (which I hear has recently been renovated).
From Snowdon summit, we dropped down to the ridge of Bylch Ciliau and up to the peak of Y Lliwedd. Down towards Llyn Llydaw and along the miners track back to Pen y Pass.
The weather was almost perfect with good visibility but a strong wind on Crib Goch.
Distance = 7.25 Miles
We parked up at Pen y Pass and walked the walk in an anticlockwise direction. We set off from the car park in an Easterly direction towards Bwlch y Moch and up to the top of Crib Goch.
Crossed Crib Goch and up to the Trig Point at Crib y Ddysgl. Followed the ridge round to the summit of Snowdon. Had our lunch in the cafe just below the summit (which I hear has recently been renovated).
From Snowdon summit, we dropped down to the ridge of Bylch Ciliau and up to the peak of Y Lliwedd. Down towards Llyn Llydaw and along the miners track back to Pen y Pass.
The weather was almost perfect with good visibility but a strong wind on Crib Goch.
Elevation Profile
The start of the ascent from Pen y Pass car park
Y Lliwedd from the ascent of Crib Goch with Llyn LLydaw in the bottom
The ascent to Crib Goch
Llyn Llydaw from the ascent of Crib Goch
Looking back to Penn y Pass car park from the ascent of Crib Goch
Walking partner... Didds the stamina robot!!!
The ascent to Crib Goch with Llyn Llydaw in the bottom
Llanberis Pass from Crib Goch
Crib Goch with Snowdon in the background
Snowdon from Crib Goch with Glaslyn in the bottom
Garnedd Ugain from Crib Goch with Snowdon on the left
Y Lliwedd with Llyn Llydaw in the bottom from Crib Goch
Crib Goch from the ascent of Snowdon with the pyg track and miners track below.
