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The Snowdon Horseshoe Scramble

By Dave Roberts   

Published – March 5, 2015

  5/5 (4)

Posted in Walking Routes up Yr Wyddfa Snowdon, Walks up Yr Wyddfa Snowdon from Pen y Pass

The Snowdon Horseshoe Scramble

Further Details

Route Summary:

The Snowdon Horseshoe is one of the classic UK mountain days – recommended for fit and experienced hill-goers only.

Start and Finish:

Distance: 12.17 km

Ascent: 1061 m

Time: Allow 8 hours

Timings are approximate and depend on the individual. Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Before You Walk up Snowdon, ask yourself – Are you equipped? Do you know what you’re doing? Are the conditions safe? If you answer no to any of these, stay safe, don’t go! Check the weather forecast and make sure you know about walking up Snowdon in the Snow. If you lack experience – hire a Snowdon Mountain Guide.

Facilities:

There’s a good cafe at Pen-y-pass as well as the cafe bar at Mallory’s in the Youth Hostel opposite.

Public toilets are available at Pen y Pass.

Public Transport:

Sherpa Buses allow you to reach the Ranger from Porthmadog/Beddgelert, Llanberis, Caernarfon  and Betws-y-coed. Park and ride available from Nant Peris.

See our page on Walking up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) using Public Transport

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Parking: 

IN SEASON – LIMITED & PRE-BOOKING required! 8 hrs – £18 / 8-12hrs – £25 / 12-24hrs – £40. Park in Nant Peris for the Park and Ride.

Off Season – £10 a day – card only

See our Yr Wyddfa Snowdon Parking 2023 page for full information

Hazards:

This is an exposed scramble to be attempted only by those with experience and a head for heights!

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Walk up Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon Safely Navigation and the Gear and Equipment you’ll need.

Check the Weather before setting out.

We reccommend  Met Office Snowdonia and MWIS and live conditions on Adventure Smart – live conditions

Snowdon Guidebooks:

Recommended Snowdon Maps: 

The Snowdon Horseshoe Scramble Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

Download file for GPS

The Snowdon Horseshoe Scramble

The Snowdon Horseshoe is without a doubt one of the classic walks in the UK, let alone on Snowdon and is probably the best overall route if you can cope with the heights and the exposure.

This route combines the Ascent of Snowdon via Crib Goch from Pen y Pass and descends via Y Lliwedd – in a delicious circuit. You can extend the walk by ascending Craig Fach and finishing on Gallt y Wenallt for a truly epic mountain day.

The Full Snowdon Horseshoe Scramble Route Description is on Mud and Routes.

 

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

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