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The Miners’ Track – Llwybr y Mwynwyr

By Dave Roberts   

Published – February 16, 2023

  4.8/5 (5)

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

The Miners’ Track – Llwybr y Mwynwyr

Further Details

Route Summary:

The Miners’ Track is one of the most popular walks to the summit of Snowdon and involves a straightforward start, followed by a trickier and steeper finish.

Updated for 2023

Start and Finish: Pen y Pass - Snowdon Summit

Distance: 6.54 km

Ascent: 770 m

Time: 3 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 café at Pen-y-pass as well as the café 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:

Zig Zags are an accident blackspot when iced and navigation from the PYG/Miners junction to the zig zags can be tricky in mist.

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 Miners’ Track – Llwybr y Mwynwyr Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

Download file for GPS

The Miners’ Track – Llwybr y Mwynwyr

The Miners’ Track up Snowdon is regarded as one of the easier walks up Snowdon, though it can still be difficult in parts, especially once it joins the PYG track. One of the most popular choices for a day out climbing Snowdon from Pen-y-Pass is up via the PYG track and down via the Miner’s Track, or vice versa of course. The path is good and wide, and the going underfoot is excellent as far as Glaslyn. From Glaslyn, the Miners’ Track heads steeply uphill on myriad steps to join the PYG track to the summit.

The Miners’ Track – Llwybr y Mwynwyr Full Route Description

1 -The Miners’ Track route starts from Pen y Pass, and is clearly marked at the corner on the opposite corner to the Café. It’s essentially an un-surfaced road for the first few kilometres and the gradient is nice and steady.

2 The track continues to climb steadily as it passes high above Llyn Teyrn as the vista towards Yr Wyddfa slowly emerges.

3 The track relents after around 2,5km of walking and bring you out at Llyn Llydaw

Left for Lliwedd and right for the Miner’s Track

4  The Miners’ Track turns right, across a causeway and along the far side of the lake, steepening as it reaches the far end and climbing up into the next hanging valley.

 

5 Finally you reach the lake at Glaslyn, which is a good spot for a breather and take in the views.

6  Follow the steps uphill to your right. They can be easy to lose in places, but with care you’ll find yourself at the fingerpost that marks the PYG track.

7  The Miners’ Track path is now actually quite tricky to follow, and can be easy to lose in mist. It’s also a lot rougher, requiring the use of hands in places.

The Miner’s Track up Snowdon after joining with the PYG

8 You continue up into the head of the cwm, with the mountains apparently closing in around you. This can be especially so when the summits are in cloud and does remind you of Mordor. However, as you reach the headwall the path joins the clear zig-zags to Bwlch Glas.

The Miner’s Track up Snowdon

9 Bwlch Glas is a relief, after being closed in on the latter parts of the Pyg/Miners’ track, and further relief is that the summit is an easy 20 minute walk to your left. Keep an eye out here for the new stone markers that you’ll need to follow back down. You join with the Llanberis Path, Snowdon Ranger Path and the Snowdon Mountain Railway for the final push to the summit, and this section is usually busy.

The Miner’s Track up Snowdon The Miner’s Track up Snowdon

And on to The Summit

In Decent –Ensure you turn down the proper path at Bwlch Glas – use the stone markers! Also, take care not to leave the path early as you can end up in the middle of disused mine workings. The junction between the Miners’ track and PYG is clearly marked with a standing stone. If in doubt, continue on the PYG as it also takes you back to Pen y Pass.

Left for Lliwedd and right for the Miner’s Track

 

 

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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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