Snowdon Horseshoe 7.5 miles - Crib Goch, Garnedd Ugain, Snowdon, Y Lliwedd

One for the scramblers!
(Rescheduled from 27.09.2026)

7.5 miles, 6 to 8 hours.

If you’ve ever fancied doing Crib Goch, or you’re a Snowdon veteran and prefer to avoid the crowds, then the Snowdon Horseshoe is a scramblers dream route.

Crib Goch is a Grade 1 scramble, more challenging and exposed than Striding Edge and Sharp Edge in the Lake District, with around 500m of sustained, airy and exhilarating ridge scrambling, followed by more fun clambering across the pinnacles.
If you have a good head for heights, good level of fitness and are a reasonably confident scrambler, you should have no problem. There is no by-pass path or exit route so it’s a case of either carry on or turn back. That being said, it is possible to skip the entirety of Crib Goch and follow the Pyg Track all the way up to Snowdon summit as part of this route (although where’s the fun in that!).

This route is not suitable for dogs.

Meet in the “Nant Peris Maes Parcio” park and ride carpark off the A4086, LL55 4UF, the shuttle bus then drops off at the Pen y Pass carpark where the walk begins. Parking is £5 and the shuttle bus which runs every 15 minutes until 19:00 is £2. (Please note this is not the Snowdon Mountain Railway carpark park and ride, which is in Llanberis).

Starting along the Pyg Track from Pen y Pass, after a bit less than a mile the path splits where it meets the shoulder of the Crib Goch east ridge. A challenging but simple scramble takes us up onto the start of the ridge itself - the “knife edge”! This is understandably much quieter than the Pyg Track, but patience is required sometimes as it can still be busy. You will see people whooping and cheering with elation, people hugging the rock and sweating, and possibly even some of the resident herd of mountain goats up there.

The path then continues up and over Garnedd Ugain and onto Snowdon (crowds guaranteed).

After stopping for lunch on the summit, the Watkins path then drops down quite steeply until it meets with the path that takes us over the ridge-like west and east peaks of Y Lliwedd - more scrambling fun, although not on the same level as Crib Goch.

After this the path drops down next to Llyn Llydaw, when it then meets the Miners Track which takes us back to the Pen y Pass carpark to catch the shuttle bus back.

Whilst only around 7.5 miles in length, this compact horseshoe route packs a punch and is still a strenuous, biggish day out, purely due to the amount of work and scrambling to be done. Estimated time 6 to 8 hours.

A stunning route and the “ultimate” way to do Snowdon/Crib Goch.

Meeting point outside toilets at Maes Parcio park and ride at 08:40 to catch the 08:45 shuttle bus.

Sturdy walking boots, warm/waterproof mountain suitable clothing and food/drink essential.

Map and link for route in comments.

Please note: this route is only attemptable in dry weather with no high winds, so if the forecast is poor then the walk will be cancelled or an alternative suggested.

Quick pint in the Vaynol Arms afterwards, time permitting.