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Walk up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) From Pont Cae’r Gors

By Dave Roberts   

Published – February 9, 2023

  5/5 (1)

Posted in Walk up Yr Wyddfa Snowdon from Rhyd Ddu, Walking Routes up Yr Wyddfa Snowdon

Walk up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) From Pont Cae’r Gors

Further Details

Route Summary:

This is a variation on what the old guidebooks used to call the Beddgelert path. While it uses to go via Ffridd Uchaf, it has recently been improved and diverted from Pont Cae’r Gors which can be safely walked to from Rhyd Ddu or Beddgelert, by public transport or free parking in Coedwig Beddgelert.

Start and Finish:

Distance: 6 km

Ascent: 880 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 decent pub in Rhyd-ddu – Cwellyn Arms – that has a wide selection of decent ales and food, as well as a tea room.

Beddglert in the opposite direction has plenty of pubs, cafes and a small shop.

Public toilets can be found in both villages but there are none on the route.

Public Transport:

The Sherpa’r Wyddfa will stop here.

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

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Parking: 

Free parking just off the main road in Coedwig Beddgelert, though walking from here adds roughly 1km to the trip.

Hazards:

One section of scrambling on the South Ridge as well as exposure on Bwlch Main

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: 

Walk up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) From Pont Cae’r Gors Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

Download file for GPS

Walk up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) From Pont Cae’r Gors

One of the lesser used routes up Yr Wyddfa used to start at the farm at Ffridd Uchaf, near Pont Cae’r Gors, which gave a slight variation on the Rhyd Ddu Path. This used to be known as the Beddgelert Path – when victorian era tourists would end up climbing Yr Wyddfa by pony.

The Rev Williams Bingley, 1804 North Wales, Including its Scenery, Antiquities, Customs and some sketches of its Natural History

We set out, commencing our mountain journey by turning to the right, from the Caernarvon road, at the distance of about two miles and a half from the village [Beddgelert]. We left the horse at a cottage, about half way up, from whence taking a bottle of milk to mix with some rum that we had brought along with us, we continued our route over a series of pointed and craggy rocks. Stopping at different times to rest, we enjoyed to the utmost, the prospects that by degrees were opening around us.

These days, with the guides gone and ponies unavailable, you’re fully dependent on bus to get the start, which isn’t a problem but it does make it utterly impractical as a descent as the road to Rhyd ddu is unwalkable. However, purusts could well follow the Lon Las Gwyrfai from Beddgelert and follow an approximate historic route to the summit, though we do advise against brining rum and milk as refreshment.

Thanks to the wonderful work done recently by the national park authority, this footpath had been extended and rerouted along a very scenic route that now starts ar Pont Cae’r Gors on the corner of Coedwig Beddgelert. You easily get here easily by public transport, or alternatively you can walk here from Rhyd ddu along the Lon las Gwyrfai. That means you can be based in Rhyd Ddu and still descend this path for a longer but much more beautiful descent.

Walk up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) From Pont Caer’s Gors Route Description

1 From thePont Cae’r Gors junction, take the obvious footpath opposite the woodland. (if you arrived via car, you need to pass here to get to the parking which is a few 100m further into the forest and adds about 1km to the walk).

This newly constructed path initially follows a stream before winding through farmland towards the farmhouse. There’s absolutely no way to actually miss the path, it’s that easy to follow.

2 After around 1km you’ll arrive at Ffridd Uchaf farm. The path veers right around the trees before a sharp final zig zag brings you to a gate.

3 Pass through this gate and the path finally begins to ascend. The path is arrow straight, and follows the wall as it climbs.

Few shots in the snow around Rhyd Ddu late 2022.

4 Thankfully the going soon relents, and the final section toward the main footpaths is virtually flat. That conveniently allows you to enjoy the views in all directions.

Few shots in the snow around Rhyd Ddu late 2022.
Few shots in the snow around Rhyd Ddu late 2022.
Few shots in the snow around Rhyd Ddu late 2022.

5 Finally, the path arrives at Pen a’r Lon – where you finally join the Rhyd Ddu path. From here, you need to continue forward to ascend the Rhyd Ddu path – which is marked with large marker stone. From here to the summit is around 4km and 760m of ascent – the hard work is still ahead of you.

Few shots in the snow around Rhyd Ddu late 2022.

 

Alternatively: You can turn right and you can ascend Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)  via the South Ridge / Allt Maenderyn or up to subsidiary summit of Yr Aran (and then the South Ridge?!).

 

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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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