Crib Goch Ridge – Llyn Glaslyn (Glaslyn Lake) loop from Glyder Fawr

Hiking trails & Routes

Crib Goch Ridge – Llyn Glaslyn (Glaslyn Lake) loop from Glyder Fawr

Hard

4.8

(23)

360

hikers

Crib Goch Ridge – Llyn Glaslyn (Glaslyn Lake) loop from Glyder Fawr

06:30

14.5km

920m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 23, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment that may be dangerous

A part of this route comprises technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience may be required.

After 2.15 km for 3.24 km

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

3.84 km

Crib Goch Ridge

Highlight • Climb

The Crib Goch main ridge scramble is one of the best in the UK. Renowned for hair-raising drops on either side, the thin and rocky ridge is the most challenging of all Snowdon ascents. Nothing else comes close!

As a grade one Scramble, competent hikers should not need ropes to tackle Crib Goch nor find any technical sections beyond their capabilities. A head for heights and a thirst for adventure are a must for this breathtakingly exhilarating section.

If you are hiking - and not mountaineering - DO NOT attempt Crib Goch in winter conditions. It's a full-on winter mountaineering traverse, requiring the correct gear and more technical skills than winter hill walking.

The British Mountaineering Council have some great tips for climbing Crib Goch here: thebmc.co.uk/how-to-scramble-crib-goch

Tip by

5.31 km

Garnedd Ugain summit

Highlight • Natural Monument

Garnedd Ugain's battered trig pillar stands on Wales' second highest peak behind nearby Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). To the south west, an easy arcing path takes you to Yr Wyddfa's summit. To the east is the exciting Crib y Ddysgl ridge, which leads to the even more thrilling Crib Goch.

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6.30 km

View of Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw

Highlight • Viewpoint

A great way to tackle Snowdon. While still fairly well used tracks not as busy as the main Llanberis route. Some spectacular views. Mild scrambling required - unless ready for it be careful not to take the fork onto the notorious crib goch (videos of this make my blood run cold). Its possible to take a wrong turn, particularly in fog/mist and there are some steep drops so care is needed. Well worth the effort, the first time I walked this is one of the best days of my life and something that will stay with me forever.

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7.23 km

Llyn Glaslyn (Glaslyn Lake)

Highlight • Natural Monument

The east side of the Snowdon massif is a sensational natural amphitheatre. A horseshoe of charismatic summits: twin peaked Y Lliwedd, towering Garnedd Ugain, the notoriously narrow Crib Goch and Snowdon herself watch over two high llyns below, Llydaw and Glaslyn.

Glaslyn, though smaller, is higher and more atmospheric. Cupped just below Snowdon's mighty east face, it is a spectacular place and one with Arthurian associations. It is said that King Arthur's sword Exalibur was thrown into the water and that, when Arthur died, his body was placed in a boat on its surface before it was carried away to Avalon.

The Miners' Track begins its ascent to Snowdon's summit from Glaslyn's northern shore. There's also a fantastic grade one scramble up the obvious slabby rib of Y Gribin, which begins from the llyn's eastern end and joins the Watkin path between Snowdon and Y Lliwedd.

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8.49 km

Llyn Llydaw

Highlight • Lake

Llyn Llydaw is a beautiful natural lake nestled amid dramatic mountain peaks. The beach at the far end is the perfect place to cool off before the final descent to Pen-y-Pass.

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8.93 km

Ruins of the Britannia Copper Mine at Llyn Llydaw

Highlight • Historical Site

Might be a fun spot for a bivi.

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9.62 km

Llyn Llydaw

Highlight • Viewpoint

Quite idyllic view and if you are on the horseshoe route you can trace back almost the complete set of ridges from here (and see other people scrambling up there).

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10.1 km

Viewpoint

11.9 km

Pen-y-Pass

Highlight • Parking

Right in the heart of northern Eryri (Snowdonia), Pen-y-Pass is superbly located for adventures on the Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) massif and the Glyderau. It is a popular starting point for the Miners' and Pyg Tracks to Yr Wyddfa, as well as for the exciting scrambles on Crib Goch.

The excellent youth hostel has a rich mountaineering heritage. It was famously the haunt of George Mallory, who became part of Everest legend when he died attempting to be the first person to climb the world's highest peak in 1924. Whether or not he ever made it to the summit is one of the greatest mysteries in adventure history. The hostel's Mallory's Bar, is named in his honour.

Tip by

14.5 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.47 km

3.82 km

1.53 km

1.40 km

183 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

3.81 km

3.29 km

3.04 km

2.57 km

1.64 km

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (1,020 m)

Lowest point (180 m)

Weather

Sunday 11 October

16°C

10°C

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Additional weather tips

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Comments

August 16, 2025,Crib goch and snowdon loop. First time visiting Wales definitely won't be the last

An amazing day in and around snowdon, completed crib goch which was on my bucket list, had a tragic end for a walker with another group so keep safe out there when tackling these ridges RIP. X

January 2, 2025,Fun day on Crib Goch

Started with a Icy walk up to start of Crib Goch and began to climb in clear blue conditions. After crossing the first couple of pinnacles the weather took a turn for the worse and by the time we got to the summit of snowdon it was blizzard.