Snowdon Horseshoe
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:57 pm
This was my first foray into Wales and as it was a spur of the moment decision to go I only had time to research Routes up Snowdon. I drove from the Campsite in Llanberis to Nant Peris park and ride and caught the sherpa bus to Pen Y Pass (£3.00 return) and set off up the PYG track.As the weather was fine I decided that I would follow others who were heading up Crib Goch. After a steep scramble I found myself at the start of the Ridge which is a dramatic sight. It is very steep to the left and vertical to the right The ridge was an exhilerating half hour or so with an interesting up and over on the final Pinnacle. Another scramble from the Bwlch brings you to Garnedd Ugain which is only 20 metres lower than Snowdon. Stop here for your lunch You wont regret it. Enjoy the peace while you can. Be warned. From here its a gentle stroll to the railway and the final few yards to the highest point in the U.K south of Loch Lomond.An achievement tinged with being a tad miffed that I had a struggle to get to the summit cairn without tripping over grannies, kids, buggies etc that had been transported up the mountain on the train. Did they care that I'd spent the last 2 and a bit hours slogging my way up cliffs and risking life and limb crossing a razer sharp ridge for this moment? Did they buggery!!
In my opinion Garnedd Ugain is a superior summit to Snowdon as it is quiet compared to the hundreds swarming round it's summit. Mind you the new visitor centre there does have it's advantages such as indoor toilets, some where to warm up and dry out in bad weather and you can get food if you bring money and are prepared to queue and pay the prices. I rate Snowdon as a G.U.S.O. summit ( That's GO UP and SOD OFF, preferably to somewhere quieter).
There's a steep path of sorts from the summit to the bwlch before tackling the last height of the day, Y Lliwedd. A mix of walking and scrambling brings you to the summit atop a huge cliff face overlooking Llyn Llydaw. I followed the edge to the Eastern summit before dropping down to the lake and the miners path which took me back to Pen Y Pass. All in all a superb day and one that ranks as one of my best days out.
Unfortunately my back started playing up so I will have to go back for Tryfan and the glyders another time.
More pics here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27538469@N06/
In my opinion Garnedd Ugain is a superior summit to Snowdon as it is quiet compared to the hundreds swarming round it's summit. Mind you the new visitor centre there does have it's advantages such as indoor toilets, some where to warm up and dry out in bad weather and you can get food if you bring money and are prepared to queue and pay the prices. I rate Snowdon as a G.U.S.O. summit ( That's GO UP and SOD OFF, preferably to somewhere quieter).
There's a steep path of sorts from the summit to the bwlch before tackling the last height of the day, Y Lliwedd. A mix of walking and scrambling brings you to the summit atop a huge cliff face overlooking Llyn Llydaw. I followed the edge to the Eastern summit before dropping down to the lake and the miners path which took me back to Pen Y Pass. All in all a superb day and one that ranks as one of my best days out.
Unfortunately my back started playing up so I will have to go back for Tryfan and the glyders another time.
More pics here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27538469@N06/