Cambria Sports Culture CIC Cymraeg

All walksEryri: Yr Wyddfa and Llanberis

Eryri: Yr Wyddfa and Llanberis

Yr Wyddfa by the Pyg and Miners’ Tracks

The classic round: up one and down the other, with the lakes of Cwm Dyli below you for most of it. Shorter than the Llanberis path and considerably more interesting.

Distance
7.1 mi / 11.5 km
Time
5 hr 30
Ascent
750 m
Difficulty
Strenuous
Shape
Circular

Where it is

The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.

The route

Take the Pyg Track from Pen-y-Pass, climb to the Bwlch and follow the zigzags to the summit. Descend by the Miners’ Track past Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw. The final section of the Pyg involves easy scrambling.

Worth knowing

  • Pen-y-Pass parking must be booked ahead and sells out. The Sherpa bus from Llanberis or Nant Peris is easier.
  • The zigzags above the Bwlch are where most incidents happen. Take your time, especially descending.
  • The Miners’ Track looks flat on the map and is not. The last mile back up to Pen-y-Pass surprises people.

What you’ll see

Llyn Llydaw and Glaslyn, the crossing causeway, old copper mine ruins and the Snowdon Horseshoe above.

Background

The Miners’ Track served the Britannia copper mine, which worked until 1917. The ruined buildings by Glaslyn were the crushing mill.