| Length |
11 km |
| Height gain |
725 m |
| Highest point |
1085 m |
| Approximate time |
4.5 hrs |
|
 |
This is a straight forward route up Snowdon. The only points of safety are
to ensure that you keep to the Pyg track, and do not stray on to Crib Goch. The top part of the Pyg track where you join the
Llanberis path up to Snowdon is also dangerous when there is a ice on the
ground.
We shall begin from Pen y Pass, where the cafe has recently been taken over by Caban. Follow the Pyg track up to Bwlch Moch
as in the Crib Goch route. The track is called Pyg, standing for Pen y Gwryd,
which is the name of the hotel at the bottom of the pass. Do not turn up Crib
Goch for this route, rather stay on the well defined path which is almost flat
for quite a distance as you contour above Llyn Llydaw. There are good views
from the path across to Lliwedd on your left, and up to Crib Goch and Crib y
Ddysgl on your right, as well as Snowdon in front of you.
The path will start to go up in front of you, and another track will join
you from the left. This is the Miners track, so called because it used to be
used by miners during their day of work in the hills. This is the route which
you will descend, and is worth noting. Carry on, heading up now but still in
the same direction, and you will reach some zig zags with a wall by them. This
has been maintained recently. Follow the path up to the finger stone (a large
standing rock shaped like a finger), which is used as a marker for the
beginning of the descent to the Pyg and Miners tracks. Now turn left, and
follow the railllow the railway up to the summit.
The views have been described in other sections, so we will not go over
this again other than to mention Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw below you, by which
you will descend. Make your way back to the finger stone, and walk down to
where the Miners track joined you. Now make your way down this track. The
slope is steep, and the best route down is a zig-zag which will eventually
bring you out at the blue lake of Glaslyn. This lake is surprisingly blue
because of the copper content from mining. It is worth a look back towards
Snowdon, which makes an excellent photograph in the right light.
The rest of the walk is very clear. You walk down past several old houses
which were used by the Miners, and will be on what is almost a road. This will
bring you to the reservoir of Llyn Llydaw, to a causeway. This used to be
flooded when there was a lot of rain but has now been raised substantially.
The Miners track is still obvious as it leads you back to Pen y Pass.
Back to the Snowdon Range
|
