The Snowdon Horseshoe is
a superb high-level route that needs little introduction. I had done it
some 17 years previously, and thoroughly enjoyed the exciting rocky
circuit with its fine views of Snowdonia. So with fine weather forecast,
we decided to go for it.
On this occasion, the
walk was about two miles longer than the last - the car park at
Pen-y-Pass was full, and we had to drive back down to the road junction
at Pen-y-Gwryd.
The route proper starts
at the aforementioned pass, and climbs steadily on a well made path,
which further on becomes the popular Pyg track. The horseshoe path
diverges to the right, to the foot of the steep rocky scramble which
leads unerringly to the peak of the narrow rocky ridge which is Crib
Goch. Time for lunch!
Time also to study the
route ahead - Crib Goch and Crib-y-Ddysgl are narrow ridges, high and
exposed. Only the very bold (or foolhardy) walk its length - lesser
mortals will hang on with both hands....
The ridge ends
more-or-less at the railway track, where the Snowdon Mountain Railway
carries the paying public to the summit and back. Once a bastion of
steam, the line now operates diesel locomotives and railcars - such as
the illustrated "Peris".
Snowdon's summit is
defaced by the "hotel" built by the railway company;
nevertheless we did not let prejudice get in the way of thirst. The pint
of Guinness was well earned on this occasion....
We didn't stay longer
than necessary on the crowded summit, and soon continued our route to
the "last nail in the horseshoe" - the shapely peak of
Lliwedd. We took another brief break here for more refreshments, then
began the descent proper to Llyn Llydaw, and the Miners' Track back to
Pen-y-Pass. What a great day's walk!
See also
Snowdon Sunrise:
dawn from the summit, in a sea of mist....
; "Lliwedd, seen from Crib Goch as a shower passes")
; "From the road to Pen-y-Pass - view to Nant Gwynant")
; "Leaving Pen-y-Pass - looking down the Llanberis pass")
; "The path climbs toward Crib Goch")
; "Looking back down the path to Pen-y-Pass")
; "The rocky scramble up the east face of Crib Goch")
; "A lofty lunchbreak on Crib Goch")
; "Crib Goch - hold tight!")
; "From the ridge - view to Llanberis")
; "Llywedd and Llyn Llydaw")
; "More scrambling on the climb to Crib-y-Ddysgl")
; "Seagull; view to Lliwedd")
; "The worst (=best?) bit over - taking in the view to Llanberis")
; "\"Peris\" on the Snowdon Mountain Railway")
; "The view east towards Capel Curig")
; "Llyn Llydaw, seen from the col on the route to Lliwedd")
; "\"We've just walked around there!\" Lliwedd, Snowdon and Crib-y-Ddysgl")
; "Yet another seagull - or is it a sandwich tern?")
; "On the descent to Llyn Llydaw")
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