Crib Goch Horseshoe
Fancy a superb rocky romp around Snowdon’s best bits without meeting the world and his wife? Nick Livesey leads the way.
The Snowdon Horseshoe is one of Britain’s most exciting ridgewalks – and an essential day out for anyone with a penchant for exposed positions and superlative, historical mountain scenery.
Unfortunately, routes of such quality sometimes come at the price of mingling with legions of fellow humans which, for many, can detract from the outdoor experience. Nowhere is this truer than on Snowdon, a mountain of great beauty and character but one which can often resemble Piccadilly Circus at rush hour.
This route takes in the most memorable sections of the classic ‘horseshoe’ round but cunningly swerves the riotous melee on the heaving roof of Wales. Crowd avoidance, however, is only one of the myriad treats instore for those willing to take an unconventional approach to Snowdonia’s most revered ridge traverse.
The Cwm Glas Horseshoe visits a secluded and truly awe-inspiring upland sanctuary before gaining Crib Goch’s knife edged arête via the equally sharp but relatively undiscovered North Ridge.
After the fun and games leading to Wales’ second highest peak (Garnedd Ugain) a descent following the Cyrn Las ridge affords stunning retrospective views of your day’s journey; a memorable end to a memorable day.