Snowdon Traverse

Pen y Pas > Llyn Llydaw > Yr Wyddfa > Bwlch Main > Rhydd Ddu

Distance: 7.75 miles (10.25Km)	Height Gain: Height Gain: 2725 ft (831m)
Overview: Combine two of the most popular routes to cross the roof of Wales in this traverse of Snowdon from east to west.	Maps: Ordnance Survey: Explorer OL17 Online: Streetmap
Strenuousness: 3 Technicality: 1 Photogenic Grade: 3	Start Point: SH 647 557

Combine two of the most popular routes to cross the roof of Wales in this traverse of Snowdon from east to west. As a linear walk this requires either the use of two cars, or the popular Sherpa bus service between Rhyd Ddu and Pen-y-pass for the return.

The car park at Pen-y-pass fills up quickly on summer and weekend mornings, and an early start is recommended to avoid the crowds. In winter the mountain changes dramatically and extra care needs to be taken on particular stretches.

The zig zags where the Pyg and Miners Tracks make the final push towards the summit are a notorious blackspot in winter, with ice causing accidents most years. On the descent take care again at the zig zags as you descend from Bwlch Main, as ice makes the descent more hazardous. Snowdon may have a cafe on top and a train to the summit, but remember it's still a big (by UK standards) mountain - and in winter or bad weather it can be a dangerous place.

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Section 1 - Pen-y-pass to Glaslyn

Distance: 3 miles ( 4.8Km)

Height Gain: 1123ft (342m)

From the car park take the obvious wide track that starts from the lower left corner at a gate. This is the Miners Track, wide enough for 4x4 access, which climbs slowly past Llyn Teryn on your left. At the approach to Llyn Llydaw the path splits in two, with the left hand branch climbing up LLiwedd. Take the right hand branch which soon turns onto a causeway crossing the lake. At the far side of Llyn llidaw turn left and fllow the lakeside path past the derelict miners buildings then start the 500ft of ascent to the the eastern edge of Llyn Glaslyn. Continue along the lakeside path to the abandoned buildings of the old copper mine which gave Glaslyn its stunning blue colour.

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Section 2 - Glaslyn to Yr Wyddfa

Distance:1.15miles (1.81Km)

Height Gain: 1544ft (471m)

From the derelict mine buildings at Glaslyn the path starts to climb more steeply on its way up through jumbled boulders to join the Pyg Track. The junction is marked by a large "Finger" of stone to help navigation on the descent in bad weather.

Once on the Pyg track continue upwards to reach the well known zig-zags. As mentioned in the introduction, the zig zags are a notorious winter accident blackspot as ice builds up on the sheltered sides making conditions underfoot treachorous. The zig zags seem everlasting, but one final long stretch brings you to another Finger Stone that marks the junction of the Pyg Track with the Llanberis Path. Turn left here and follow the railway lines up the crest of the ridge to the summit of Yr Wyddfa - below in classic murkiness.

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Section 3 - Yr Wyddfa to Rhyd Ddu

Distance: 3.6miles (5.79Km)

Height Gain: 58ft (18m)

The descent of the western side of Snowdon is generally much quieter than the eastern side's ascent route. The descent starts south west down the ridge of Bwlch Main, the col between Yr Wyddfa and the South Ridge, passing a marker stone for the Watkin Path on your left.

The descent of Bwlch Main is very exposed and requires special care in high winds and/or winter conditions. After 500ft of descent from the summit pass the marker where the route down South Ridge diverges. The path now turns right along Llechog, with Cwm Clogwyn down to your right.At SH 596 538 the path turns sharp left to descend the western flank of Snowdon.

Descend past the ruins of an old hut once used to serve drinks and continue down hill to the path junction at Pen ar Lon. Turn right at the junction and continue the descent on a wide track down to a stile, then a second stile leads to the long abandoned Ffridd Slate Quarry. Pass between the abandoned buildings and the waste heaps and continue to another path junction with a farm off to the right. A left turn at the junction will bring you out at the main Rhydd Ddu car park via kissing gate and a short section of old railway.

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Route Map - big version