Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass

A classic - but Crib Goch is not for the faint hearted!


Route outline for walk gw136:

Pen-y-Pass  -  Pyg Track  -  Bwlch y Moch  -  Craig Fach  -  Crib Goch  -  Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl)  -  Snowdon Mountain Railway  -  Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)  -  The Scree Path  -  Bwlch y Saethau  -  Bwlch Ciliau  -  Y Lliwedd  -  Y Lliwedd (East Top)  -  Lliwedd Bach  -  Gallt y Wenallt  -  Afon Glaslyn  -  Miners' Track  -  Pen-y-Pass



Points of Interest/Notes on this walk:

There is a Snowdon Sherpa bus service that links all the main car parks and starting points for the main routes up Snowdon - including Pen-y-Pass - and the fare is cheaper than parking for the day at Pen-y-Pass - if you can find a space that is. You can buy tickets from the driver (Pen-y-Pass is pronounced 'Pen-uh-pass'). See The Snowdon Sherpa for details.

The final push onto the summit ridge is very steep and often has a large snow cornice quite late into Spring. It can be extremely dangerous for the ill equipped.

The Crib Goch ridge is not for the faint hearted. It is very exposed and airy in places and can be extremely dangerous - particularly in adverse weather conditions.

The Snowdon Mountain Railway is the only rack railway in Great Britain. It was opened in April 1896 and has been ferrying people to the summit of Snowdon ever since. To date, the Snowdon Mountain Railway has suffered only one fatality.On the day it opened one of the engines briefly lost control near the summit, tempting a passenger to leap from the train. He died from injuries.

Note: The descent from Gallt y Wenallt to Afon Glaslyn is down very steep grass and can be dangerous. In wet weather descend N from point 6 to join and follow the Miners' Track back to Pen y Pass (see walk gw198 for route details).

'Pyg' (as in Pyg Track) is and abbreviation for Pen-y-Gwryd - the hotel at the bottom of the pass.

The building on the summit of Snowdon (Hafod Eryri - The Snowdon Summit Visitor Centre and Cafe) is thought to be the home of the highest house mice in England and Wales!


Peaks, Summits and Tops reached on this walk:

hewitt
4
Welsh
Mountains
Wainwright
0
Wainwrights
 Welsh Nuttalls
7
Welsh
Nuttalls
Dewey
1
Welsh
Dewey
Wainwright Outlying Fell
0
Wainwright
Outlying Fells
marilyn
2
Welsh
Marilyns
Bridget
0
Bridgets

Peak Bagging Statistics for this walk:

The highest point of this walk is Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) at 1085m (3561ft). Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is classified as a Welsh Mountain (Hewitt) (1st highest in Wales,Highest in England & Wales)

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is also known as a Welsh Nuttall (1st highest in Wales,Highest in England & Wales) and a Welsh Marilyn (1st highest in Wales, 43rd highest in the UK).

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) means 'The Burial Place' in Welsh and is pronounced 'ur-oo-ith-va'.

The summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point. Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is the highest point in the county of Gwynedd, the highest point in Snowdonia National Park and the highest point in England and Wales.

Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) at 1066m (3499ft). Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) is classified as a Welsh Mountain (Hewitt) (2nd highest in Wales, 2nd highest in England & Wales)

Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) is also known as a Welsh Nuttall (2nd highest in Wales, 2nd highest in England & Wales). Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) means 'Dish Ridge' in Welsh and is pronounced 'kreeb ee thysgl'.

The summit of Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point.

You will also reach the summit of Crib Goch at 923m (3029ft). Crib Goch is classified as a Welsh Mountain (Hewitt) (14th highest in Wales, 20th highest in England & Wales)

Crib Goch is also known as a Welsh Nuttall (15th highest in Wales, 23rd highest in England & Wales). Crib Goch means 'Red Ridge' in Welsh and is pronounced 'kreeb g-och'.

The summit of Crib Goch is marked by a rocky outcrop.

Along the way you will also bag:


You can find more walks near this one on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)

Snowdonia National Park


1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):

OL17 Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa and Conwy Valley/Dyffryn Conwy


1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):

115 Snowdon & Caernarfon


Some Photos and Pictures from Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass

In no particular order . . .

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Glaslyn from Snowdon

Glaslyn from Snowdon

Photo: Paul Gillett (2)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - This is a pic of my boyfriend mounting the steps to the summit of Snowdon in rather foggy conditions!

This is a pic of my boyfriend mounting the steps to the summit of Snowdon in rather foggy conditions!

Photo: Emma Maudsley (1)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Temperature inversion seen from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Temperature inversion seen from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Charles Brown (2)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Pool above Glaslyn, Snowdon

Pool above Glaslyn, Snowdon

Photo: David Atherton (4)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Llechog (Llanberis Path) and the lesser known Tryfan (Snowdon) from The Pass of Llanberis

Llechog (Llanberis Path) and the lesser known Tryfan (Snowdon) from The Pass of Llanberis

Photo: Mike Griffiths (20)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - The final scree path up to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau

The final scree path up to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau

Photo: Gerald Murphy (3)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - A RAF Helicopter above Y Lliwedd and the Watkin Path from Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

A RAF Helicopter above Y Lliwedd and the Watkin Path from Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Will Caesar (9)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Glas Llyn from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Glas Llyn from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: George White (1)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - The awe inspiring view from Snowdon's summit featuring Llyn Llydaw with Carnedd Moel Siabod beyond

The awe inspiring view from Snowdon's summit featuring Llyn Llydaw with Carnedd Moel Siabod beyond

Photo: Andy Haynes (2)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - At the summit of Snowdon in March 2012

At the summit of Snowdon in March 2012

Photo: Nicola James (2)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Crib Goch in the snow

Crib Goch in the snow

Photo: Charles Brown (10)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - The summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

The summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Gerald Murphy (9)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Llyn Llydaw from the Pyg Track

Llyn Llydaw from the Pyg Track

Photo: Richard Nicholls (11)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Snow on Y Lliwedd from the summit of Snowdon

Snow on Y Lliwedd from the summit of Snowdon

Photo: David Cartwright (7)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - On the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) with Y Lliwedd in the background

On the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) with Y Lliwedd in the background

Photo: Tom Shaw (8)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Yr Aran, Y Geuallt, Bwlch Cwm Llan, Allt Maederyn, Clogwyn Du and Bwlch Main from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau

Yr Aran, Y Geuallt, Bwlch Cwm Llan, Allt Maederyn, Clogwyn Du and Bwlch Main from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau

Photo: Gerald Murphy (6)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Bwlch Ciliau, Y Lliwedd Bach and Y Lliwedd from the Finger Post at top of Scree Path near the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Bwlch Ciliau, Y Lliwedd Bach and Y Lliwedd from the Finger Post at top of Scree Path near the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Gerald Murphy (12)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Climbing Snowdon

Climbing Snowdon

Photo: David Atherton (2)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Llanberis from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Llanberis from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Barry Lugg (16)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Yr Aran at the end of the Allt Maenderyn Ridge from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Yr Aran at the end of the Allt Maenderyn Ridge from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Will Caesar (10)


. . . load all 241 walk photos from Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass


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