Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch up Crib Goch: route map, distance and time
923 m · Snowdonia
Crib Goch is the knife-edge ridge on the Snowdon Horseshoe, an exposed grade one scramble and one of Britain's most famous ridges.
The Pyg Track to Bwlch y Moch, then a steep scramble up the east ridge and along the exposed crest.
Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch at a glance
| Distance | 6.3 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 778 m |
| Time up | 2h 35m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 50m, down the same way |
| Grade | Scramble |
| Start | Pen y Pass car park |
| Start grid reference | SH 647 556 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 624 551 |
Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 5m | 3h 10m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 3h 50m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 10m | 4h 40m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:14. Start by 13:24 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12. Start by 13:22 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Crib Goch summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Sunday 18 October
Partly cloudy, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 27 mph gusting 33 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:14.
-
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Moderate drizzle, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 42 mph gusting 52 mph, 90% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12.
Best day of the next seven for Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 33 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 1% (Low), best around 05:00. 7-day inversion outlook.
Hour-by-hour Crib Goch forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Crib Goch?
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -4°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 33 mph.
- Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
- A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.
About Crib Goch
Crib Goch is the knife-edge ridge on the Snowdon Horseshoe, an exposed grade one scramble and one of Britain's most famous ridges. More about Crib Goch, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Furth, Hewitt, Nuttall.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Crib y Ddysgl (1,065 m), 1.3 km west
- Yr Wyddfa - Snowdon (1,085 m), 1.6 km south-west
- Y Lliwedd (898 m), 1.9 km south
- Y Lliwedd East Top (893 m), 1.9 km south
- Lliwedd Bach (819 m), 2 km south
- Llechog (720 m), 2.4 km north-west
Challenges that include Crib Goch
- Welsh 3000s · 15
- Welsh 100 Challenge · 100
- Snowdonia 900m Peaks · 16
- Snowdon Horseshoe · 4
- Furths · 34
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
More walks from Pen y Pass car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- East Ridge via Crib Goch up Crib y Ddysgl
- Pyg Track via Bwlch Glas up Crib y Ddysgl
- Miners' Track via Bwlch Glas up Crib y Ddysgl
- Fox's Path and Crib Goch North Ridge up Crib y Ddysgl
- Pen-y-Pass ridge approach and plateau traverse up Glyder Fach
- Pen y Pass up Glyder Fawr
- Pen y Pass via Llyn Llydaw up Y Lliwedd
- Miners' Track and east ridge up Y Lliwedd
- Pyg Track up Snowdon
- Miners' Track up Snowdon
- Crib Goch up Snowdon
- Y Lliwedd traverse up Snowdon
Other routes up Crib Goch
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Ridge and crest | 2.6 km one way | 560 m | 1h 25m | Scramble |
| Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant | 3.0 km one way | 760 m | 1h 50m | Scramble |
| Fox's Path and Crib Goch North Ridge | 4.0 km one way | 630 m | 1h 50m | Scramble |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 647 556, the summit at SH 624 551), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch: questions and answers
How far is Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch?
Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch is 6.3 km one way to the summit of Crib Goch, with 778 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.6 km.
How long does Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch take?
About 2h 35m to the summit of Crib Goch and 3h 50m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 4h 40m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch?
Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch starts from Pen y Pass car park. The grid reference is SH 647 556.
Is Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch suitable for beginners?
No. It is a scramble: you use your hands on rock, often with big drops below. Go with someone experienced, on a dry and calm day.
What time should I start Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch today?
By 13:24 at the latest. Sunset on Crib Goch today is 18:14, Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch takes about 3h 50m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).