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 - Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) from the Miners Track

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) from the Miners Track

Photo: Richard Nicholls (7)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - We made it! Sara and Tess on the summit of Snowdon

We made it! Sara and Tess on the summit of Snowdon

Photo: Leslie Williams (10)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - On Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) summit - the 2nd highest mountain in Wales

On Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) summit - the 2nd highest mountain in Wales

Photo: Adam Coleman (1)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Me, Paul and Andy on top of Snowdon

Me, Paul and Andy on top of Snowdon

Photo: Paul Taylor (1)

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

ON the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: David Jefferies (1)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - On Snowdon with Y Lliwedd beyond

On Snowdon with Y Lliwedd beyond

Photo: David Atherton (5)

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

Crib Goch in the snow

Photo: Charles Brown (7)

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 - Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in the snow from Crib Goch

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in the snow from Crib Goch

Photo: Charles Brown (14)

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

Llanberis from Pen y Pass

Photo: Richard Nicholls (9)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Llanberis Pass with Y Garn (Glyderau) beyond from near Crib y Ddysgl on the Llanberis Path near the top of Mount Snowdon

Llanberis Pass with Y Garn (Glyderau) beyond from near Crib y Ddysgl on the Llanberis Path near the top of Mount Snowdon

Photo: Linda Royston (6)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Mount Snowdon (left in distance) and Crib Goch from Craig Fach

Mount Snowdon (left in distance) and Crib Goch from Craig Fach

Photo: Leslie Williams (6)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Yours truly on Crib Goch

Yours truly on Crib Goch

Photo: Martin Wardroper (4)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - My oldest sons (14 and 15 years old) and some of their mates get hands on at the cairn, on top of Mount Snowdon after doing a charity walk.

My oldest sons (14 and 15 years old) and some of their mates get hands on at the cairn, on top of Mount Snowdon after doing a charity walk.

Photo: Sara Hatcha (1)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - The Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau and Y Lliwedd from the top of the Scree Path close to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

The Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau and Y Lliwedd from the top of the Scree Path close to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Gerald Murphy (8)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Llyn Llydaw from The Watkin Path route up Mount Snowdon

Llyn Llydaw from The Watkin Path route up Mount Snowdon

Photo: Paul Hancock (5)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - The top of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is in sight!

The top of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is in sight!

Photo: Laura Whitfield (1)

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

Glaslyn from Garnedd Ugain

Photo: Charles Brown (13)

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

Descending the Pyg Track, Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Charlotte Drysdale (7)

Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass - Andy and Roman at Pen-y-Pass before our expedition up Mount Snowdon

Andy and Roman at Pen-y-Pass before our expedition up Mount Snowdon

Photo: Leslie Williams (1)


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


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