The Ultimate Guide to the Snowdon Horseshoe

Published By: Daniel Woodley. Date: 3rd May 2023. Filed at: Snowdon Scrambles. Disclosure: I may earn a commission from purchases made via links. Disclaimer: Scrambling is a dangerous sport, this route description does not provide step-by-step instructions. Read Disclaimer.

Welcome to my complete guide to the Snowdon Horseshoe route, which is one of the most popular scrambling routes in the UK.

Watch the video version here:

Below you’ll find a route description, photos and other helpful information.

This isn’t a step-by-step guide but a detailed overview of the Snowdon Horseshoe as I’ve experienced it on the many times I’ve completed it.

Please read my disclaimer as scrambling is a dangerous sport and there’s plenty of exposed and steep sections on this route!

Snowdon Horseshoe Map

This map shows the route (red) and also the layby parking, and the path (grey) to the starting point at Pen y Pass car park (this is safer than walking in the road):

Imagery © 2023 Google, Airbus, Bluesky, Infoterra, COWI, Cnes/Airbus, Getmapping PLC, Landset, Maxar Technologies

The 5 Sections of the Snowdon Horseshoe

Here are the five sections of the Snowdon Horseshoe:

1. Pen y Pass car park, Pyg Track and the approach to Crib Goch.
2. Crib Goch and up to Garnedd Ugain.
3. Up to Snowdon’s Summit.
4. Watkins Path descent and the scramble up to Lliwedd.
5. Lliwedd to Pen y Pass car park.

Section 1) Pen y Pass, Pyg Track and the Approach to Crib Goch

The Snowdon Horseshoe starts at the Pen y Pass car park and the first section takes you along the Pyg Track west for about two kilometres.

The Pyg Track is one of the most popular routes up Snowdon and this section of the path is easy to follow and graded as a “mountain walk”.

In front of you for all of this section is the imposing east ridge of Crib Goch.

Follow the Pyg Track for approx two kilometres until you see a wall on your right side, the lakes down to the left and a pair of steps in front of you which lead up to Snowdon. Exit the Pyg Track here by taking a right and making your way to the stone marked “Crib Goch”.

The Pyg Track with the approach to Crib Goch in view

Leave the Pyg Track at this wall (take a right).

The Crib Goch marker stone with the mountain in the background.

Now the route gets serious and the approach to Crib Goch goes from a mountain walk to a grade 1 scramble within a few hundred metres.

The rocky route snakes its way to the ridge and there are several lines one can follow with some easier than others.

As a general rule of thumb, try to follow the well-worn rocks as this is a very popular route.

The approach to Crib Goch.

The summit and the start of the Crib Goch ridge walk.

Section 2) Crib Goch and up to Garnedd Ugain

The Crib Goch knife-edged ridge shouldn’t be underestimated – it’s steep, exposed and exhilarating.

The best line is around one metre to the left of the ridge where you can hold onto the top of the ridge with your hands.

Just don’t look down!

Once the ridge is complete, the next challenge is the three pinnacles.

The first two can be avoided by taking a line slightly (5m) to the left.

The third pinnacle should be tackled straight on (see photos below).

The right side is steeper, so stay slightly left if you feel uncomfortable here.

Drone shot of Crib Goch

The third pinnacle (follow the steps/well polished rocks, straight up)

Now you’ve completed Crib Goch and the three pinnacles, the route takes you up to Garnedd Ugain with a nice scrambling section on the way.

Section 3) Garnedd Ugain to Snowdon’s Summit

This is the easiest section as the summit of Garnedd Ugain is next to the Llanberis Path which is the most popular route up Snowdon.

Jump on the Llanberis path and make your way up for some well-earned rest on the summit.

Garnedd Ugain over my shoulder with Crib Goch in the distance.

Walking off Garnedd Ugain and looking up at Snowdon’s summit.

Snowdon’s summit with Crib Goch in the background.

Section 4) Snowdon’s Summit Down the Watkins Path and up to Lliwedd

Taking the path south from the summit of Snowdon for a couple of minutes, you’ll come across a marker stone for the Watkins Path.

Follow this path which is paved initially and then notoriously loose on the lower section.

The path soon levels off as you approach the western side of Lliwedd.

Here the path forks, with the Watkins Path taking a southwesterly (right) direction and the less obvious route to Lliwedd to the southeast (straight ahead and up).

The scramble up Lliwedd is a classic grade 1 scramble but the route isn’t obvious – there are dozens of lines up to the summit, so take your pick. Most of the routes are easier than the approach to Crib Goch but this is still serious mountain terrain with lots of rocks and boulders to overcome.

Snowdon’s summit and the upper section of the Watkins Path in the background.

Crib Goch (centre right), Garnedd Ugain (left), Snowdon’s summit (far left) as viewed from the approach to Lliwedd.

The view from Lliwedd.

Section 5) Lliwedd Descent to Pen y Pass

From the twin summits on Lliwedd, take the well-worn path east and then northeast, where at first it hugs the side of the ridgeline before descending to Llyn Llydaw (the lake).

This path is easy to follow but take care on the one rocky section on the descent, where some grade 1 scrambling awaits you.

From the lake, take the popular Miners Track back to Pen y Pass.

Descending the first of the twin summits on Lliwedd

Descending Lliwedd to the Miners Track