   |
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 7½mls (12km) |
| Ascent: | 4,100ft (1,250m) |
| Time: | 6½hrs |
| Grade: |  |
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:
 4 Welsh Mountains |
 0 Wainwrights |
 7 Welsh Nuttalls |
 1 Welsh Dewey |
 0 Wainwright Outlying Fells |
 2 Welsh Marilyns |
 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:
- Y Lliwedd at 898m (2947ft). Y Lliwedd is classified as a Welsh Mountain (Hewitt) (17th Wales, 26th Eng & Wal), a Welsh Nuttall (18th highest in Wales, 29th highest in England & Wales) and a Welsh Marilyn (8th Wales, 240th highest in the UK). Y Lliwedd means 'The Hue' in Welsh and is pronounced 'uh-thl-ee-weth'.
The summit of Y Lliwedd is marked by a cairn.
- Y Lliwedd (East Top) at 893m (2931ft). Y Lliwedd (East Top) is known as a Welsh Nuttall (19th highest in Wales, 31st highest in England & Wales). Y Lliwedd (East Top) means 'The Hue' in Welsh and is pronounced 'uh-thl-ee-weth'.
The summit of Y Lliwedd (East Top) is marked by a cairn.
- Lliwedd Bach at 818m (2685ft). Lliwedd Bach is known as a Welsh Nuttall (37th highest in Wales, 78th highest in England & Wales).
- Gallt y Wenallt at 619m (2032ft). Gallt y Wenallt is known as a Welsh Nuttall (173rd highest in Wales, 408th highest in England & Wales).
- Craig Fach at 609m (1999ft). Craig Fach is classified as a Welsh Dewey (2nd highest in Wales, 3rd highest in England & Wales). Craig Fach means 'Small Crag' in Welsh and is pronounced 'cry-g vacht'.
You can find more walks near this one on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
Some Photos and Pictures from Walk gw136 The Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Horseshoe from Pen y Pass
In no particular order . . .
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) (left), Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) & Crib Goch (centre left) and Lechlog (Snowdon) (right) from Llyn Caseg Fraith
Glaslyn (front) and Llyn Llydaw with The Pyg Track (far left) and the Miners' Track (centre left) from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
My big sister Louise and my brother-in-law Dave at the top of Snowdon last September
Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) - The 2nd highest mountain in England and Wales from the highest - Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Nantgwynant with Ysgafell Wen and Cnicht on the horizon from the summit of Y Lliwedd
Clare on the summit of Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) with Crib Goch in the background (bottom right)
It's a bit foggy but here is a photo of me and our little hiking Jack Russell at the top of Snowdon :)
Myself in September on the final approach to Snowdon summit via the Rhyd Ddu path
The Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau and Y Lliwedd from the top of the Scree Path close to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Llyn Cwellyn and Mynydd Mawr (Llyn Cwellyn) (centre left) and Moel Eilio (Llanberis) (far right) from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
The expeditionists - Tess, Andy, Roman, Sara and Nell take a well-earned break whilst climbing Snowdon via the PYG Track
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.
Crib Goch (centre right) with the PYG Track (mid path) and the Miners' Track (coming up the valley) seen from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
The PYG Track and The Miners' Track, Craig Fach, Llyn Llydaw (top) and Glaslyn (bottom) from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Y Lliwedd summit from Y Lliwedd (East Top) with Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in the distance
The last of the National 3 Peaks 24hr Challenge before descending to finish in 23 hours 45 minutes.
What a tight finish, just time for this photo!
Cefn-Du, Moel Eilio (Llanberis), Foel Gron, Foel Goch and Moel Cynghorion from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Llyn Llydaw from a gap in the crags near Bwlch y Saethau on the upper slopes of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Y Lliwedd, Y Lliwedd (East Top) and Y Lliwedd Bach 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
Glaslyn, Llyn Llydaw and Y Lliwedd from the Miners' Track near the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Roman on the summit of Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) with (the now conquered) Mount Snowdon in the background.
Andy and Nell negotiating a tricky section of the PYG Track up Mount Snowdon. Tess waits her turn.
Goats on the summit of Y Lliwedd with Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) (left) and Crib Goch (right) in the distance
Craig Fach, Llyn Llydaw and Carnedd Moel Siabod from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau
Crib Goch in all its glory with Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) (right) and Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) (left) beyond from the start of Crib Goch
The view from Mount Snowdon with a touch of hoar frost on the grass making them into white ribbons
A RAF Helicopter above Y Lliwedd and the Watkin Path from Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Llyn-y-Gadar (right) beyond the Rydd Ddu Path/Lechlog ridge from the summit of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
On the summit of Snowdon as part of a sponsored walk for Southmead Hospital, Bristol
Llanberis Pass with Y Garn (Glyderau) beyond from near Crib y Ddysgl on the Llanberis Path near the top of Mount Snowdon
My son in law Mark waking up on the top of Snowdon with fabulous clouds down below
Yr Aran, Y Geuallt, Bwlch Cwm Llan, Allt Maederyn, Clogwyn Du and Bwlch Main from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau
Roman standing in the summit of Craig Fach with Glyder Fawr forming the horizon
Glaslyn (bottom), Llyn Llydaw and Y Lliwedd (right) from the top of The PYG/Miners' Track, Snowdon
View back down the South Ridge to Yr Aran from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
The awe inspiring view from Snowdon's summit featuring Llyn Llydaw with Carnedd Moel Siabod beyond
Craig Fach, Llyn Llydaw (top) and Glaslyn (bottom) from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Post marking the pint where the Watkin Path joins Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)'s South ridge above Bwlch Main - with Mynydd Mawrm Llyn Cwellyn and Moel Eilio in the distance
Cwm Llan and Yr Aran (right - in shadow) from Bwlch y Saethau on the upper slopes 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)
Y Lliwedd Bach (centre), Y Lliwedd (East Top) and Y Lliwedd (far right) from the north east ridge
Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl), Crib Goch, Craig Fach, The PYG Track, Llyn Llydaw and Y Lliwedd from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Myself, Willo, Barnsey and Mark at the top of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in September!
Vince Wetton on the PYG Track en-route to Snowdon
via Crib Goch in 2010
Carnedd Moel Siabod (left, distance) and Llyn Llydaw from the top of Crib Goch
On the way up Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) on the PYG track with Cribau and Y Lliwedd prominent in the background
Crib Goch, Craig Fach and The PYG Track from the summit of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Llechog (Llanberis Path) and the lesser known Tryfan (Snowdon) from The Pass of Llanberis
This is a pic of my boyfriend mounting the steps to the summit of Snowdon in rather foggy conditions!
Llyn Peris, Llanberis and the Snowdon Mountain Railway from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
The Watkin Path from Bwlch Ciliau up to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) with Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) visible (far right) from Y Lliwedd
Cnicht (left) and Y Lliwedd poking through a Temerature Inversion seen from Crib Goch
My mountain dog Degla, admiring the view (near the top of the PYG/Miners' Track) off Mount Snowdon
The Watkin Path, Nantgwynant and Cnicht on the horizon from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
On the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) with Crib Goch (left) and Llyn Llydaw (right) in the background
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