Mark Wormald

Wild Places - Places of Awe, Challenge & Peace
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The Snowdon Horseshoe - A Huge Day Out

The Horseshoe
The Snowdon Horseshoe is a route over the hightest mountain in England and Wales or come to that, south of the Scottish Highlands. It is a Big Mountain Day out, taking in four substantial mountain peaks

 

The route gains the altitude of 3000 Feet at the summit of Crib Goch, then follows a high ridge along to Garnedd Ugain rarely dropping much altitude. Then it joins the popular routes to the top of Snowdon before dropping down on to the South side of the Horseshoe to climbing over Y Lliwedd leaving the crowds behind

 

This is possibly the BEST Mountain route available to Hill Walkers with no knowledge of Climbing - It certainly is a personal favourite of mine!

 

Mark Wormald leads individuals and small groups over the Snowdon Horseshoe.


"Great Day", Karen

 

What is it for you?

  • The Challenge?
  • The Allure of Climbing a Real Mountaineering Route?
  • An Adventure Day?
  • A chance to get to know yourself?

 

Your Day
Typically your day will start out along the Pyg Track from Pen-y-Pass making our way to Bwlch Y Moch before cutting up to the first of the day's Welsh 3000 foot Peaks, Crib Goch, then over Crib y Ddysgl to Snowdon itself. The route then cuts down the scree slope at the top of the Watkin path before cutting away to climb Y Lliwedd. Ultimately rejoining the Miner's Track by Llyn Llydaw back to Pen-y-Pass

I suggest that the day would probably be 8-9 hours on the mountain, possibly longer

 

 

 

"Most enjoyable day", a customer 2009

 

 

Part of Crib Goch's Pinnacles

Is it for you?

  • You must be fit, it is a strenuous day
  • You must have "a Head for Heights"
  • Scrambling, that is the use of Hands and Feet to make progress, must hold no fear
  • See above photos for context

Doing it Yourself?

  • All the above applies
  • While the first two Pinnacles of Crib Goch can be avoided - the third is best tackled
  • Avoid taking the easy path to the "left" of Crib y Ddysgl - this has led numerous parties into difficulty in the past.
  • "The Step" up on to Crib y Ddysgl is easier than some of the scrambling already attempted
  • Crib Goch can get busy 

 

 

For answers to some transport & accommodation queries take a look at the Snowdonia Visitor Information page

 

This page was last modified on Monday, July 04, 2011 10:10 GMT