Having had views of Snowdon on each of our previous walks over the bank holiday weekend for our fourth and final day we'd planned the North Ridge of Crib Goch from the Llanberis Pass. To our pleasant surprise we woke to another beautiful morning and after a full Welsh breakfast at the B&B it was time to get the walking boots on. We parked in a large layby at 621 571 which then requires a short 150m walk up the road (away from Llanberis) to the start of the walk proper and a vehicle bridge over the stream running down the valley.
This starting point is significantly lower than Pen y Pass and the path up to Cwm Glas Mawr is quite a slog. From Cwm Glas Mawr the route heads over to the left, below impressive cliffs on your right, towards a steep and rough path up to the grassy bowl containing Llyn Glas.
Once at the top of the rough path up from Cwm Glas Mawr we headed directly over open ground towards Llyn Glas and the scree slope which marks the beginning of the North Ridge. It's easy walking over grassy terrain and the views of the route ahead and Crib Goch are excellent. Other than a few people being visible up on the main ridge the whole place felt utterly deserted and very peaceful.
Unsurprisingly the short scree slope was unpleasant! We initially headed for a faint path heading up to the right (which was a mistake) before heading back over to the more heavily eroded path on the left which gave much better purchase. Thankfully it’s only a short sharp scree scramble to the beginning of the ridge proper.
We kept to the ridge as much as possible - 'crest is best' afterall! As you ascend, the slope to the right quickly steepens and that on the left is very much a cliff! The scrambling is straight forward though there was a stiff breeze and the shattered rock of the crest, whilst not unpleasant, is more loose than the main ridge and is enough to keep you focused.
The top section of the North Ridge was, for me, by far the best bit of the walk. Once on the East summit of Crib Goch it was time for a quick chocolate stop before the main ridge. I absolutely love this summit - stunning views in every direction.
Suitably refreshed it was time to get ourselves across the main ridge. We ended up behind a large group who were moving slower than we would have been doing ideally but on such a beautiful day we just kept well back and took the opportunity to take in the views.
Once over Crib Goch the next stop was Garnedd Ugain / Crib y Dydsgl. There's some really good scrambling to be found on the section after Bwlch Coch which often seems to get overlooked.
Once on the summit of Garnedd Ugain we found a quiet spot looking down the Llyn Peninsula for lunch and watched a steady stream of people heading up the Llanberis path below.
We'd intended to do the Snowdon summit but after four days walking the legs were tiring and having had a great morning we decided to quit whilst ahead and call it a day. Our route down was to be the Cwm Glas Spur which is the ridge that borders Cwm Glas Mawr. From the summit of Garnedd Ugain we headed north down the grassy slopes with the cliffs of Cwm Glas close to our right and the Llanberis path and mountain railway far over to the left.
As we walked down the pathless and ever narrowing grassy spur it felt very much like we were about the step off the edge of the world - the path ahead wasn't visible and we consulted the map a couple of times before being suitably reassured. Eventually our (careful) persistence was rewarded with a view down the ridge ahead - it's a straightforward path with some simple scrambling at the top and great views over the the Glyders and down the valley to Llanberis.
We'd been half tempted by a grassy slope down to the right of the spur - this is NOT the way down and ends in cliffs above Cwm Glas Mawr. On a beautiful day so close to Snowdon we only met one lone walker all the way down who assured us we were on the quietest path on Snowdon! Eventually the ridge peters out and we crossed the grassy slope down to our ascent path in Cwm Glas Mawr.
The North Ridge is a great scramble up to Crib Goch however from our starting point it seemed to feel like quite a long approach - that said we really enjoyed seeing Crib Goch from Llyn Glas and if you enjoy solitude I think you're unlikely to be disturbed on the way in...or the way down!
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Crib Goch (North Ridge approach), Cwm Glas Spur descent
Crib Goch (North Ridge approach), Cwm Glas Spur descent
by rich_e » Sat Jun 25, 2016 9:23 pm
Hewitts included on this walk: Crib Goch, Crib y Ddysgl
Date walked: 31/05/2016
Time taken: 4.5
Distance: 7 km
Ascent: 1090m
5 people think this report is great. Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).Re: Crib Goch (North Ridge approach), Cwm Glas Spur descent
by HalfManHalfTitanium » Sun Jun 26, 2016 9:20 am
Thanks for posting - a great report with some fantastic photos - shows a less well known but spectacular aspect of the Snowdon massif.
It just shows that even on Britain's busiest peak you can find both solitude and sensational scenery at the same time!
Tim
It just shows that even on Britain's busiest peak you can find both solitude and sensational scenery at the same time!
Tim
Re: Crib Goch (North Ridge approach), Cwm Glas Spur descent
by rich_e » Sun Jun 26, 2016 8:43 pm
Thanks Tim
Regarding the route you're absolutely right; it was quite a strange feeling as we were obviously aware there were lots of people on the mountain but there was simply no one on our ascent or descent routes! The view up as you approach the North Ridge, and the views looking down to Pen y Pass and towards Llanberis off the ridge itself are excellent

Regarding the route you're absolutely right; it was quite a strange feeling as we were obviously aware there were lots of people on the mountain but there was simply no one on our ascent or descent routes! The view up as you approach the North Ridge, and the views looking down to Pen y Pass and towards Llanberis off the ridge itself are excellent
Re: Crib Goch (North Ridge approach), Cwm Glas Spur descent
by Broggy1 » Sun Jun 26, 2016 10:49 pm
Fantastic
Handy as well as I'm hoping to do the North Ridge the next time I do CG and Snowdon. Defo waiting for a day like you had though! Cheers.

Handy as well as I'm hoping to do the North Ridge the next time I do CG and Snowdon. Defo waiting for a day like you had though! Cheers.
Re: Crib Goch (North Ridge approach), Cwm Glas Spur descent
by ChrisW » Mon Jun 27, 2016 6:17 pm
Great route Rich, made all the better by the lack of folks on it (except those slowpokes on the ridge
) I love your sentiment about scree early on......nobody likes that stuff
Lovely pics of a great route



Lovely pics of a great route


Re: Crib Goch (North Ridge approach), Cwm Glas Spur descent
by dav2930 » Mon Jun 27, 2016 8:54 pm
Great report of an adventurous day!
Brought back good memories of climbing days in Cwm Glas many years ago - Main Wall on Cyrn Las, Read's Route on the east pinnacle of Crib Goch - as well as descending the north ridge of Crib Goch during an attempt at the Welsh 3000's which I abandoned at Ogwen due to excessively hot weather.
Thanks for reminding me that I must return to Snowdonia some time. Cwm Glas is one of my very favourite places.

Brought back good memories of climbing days in Cwm Glas many years ago - Main Wall on Cyrn Las, Read's Route on the east pinnacle of Crib Goch - as well as descending the north ridge of Crib Goch during an attempt at the Welsh 3000's which I abandoned at Ogwen due to excessively hot weather.
Thanks for reminding me that I must return to Snowdonia some time. Cwm Glas is one of my very favourite places.

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