Y Lliwedd traverse up Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa): route map, distance and time
1,085 m · Snowdonia
Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is the highest mountain in Wales, with a choice of well-made paths, a mountain railway and a café on the summit.
From Pen y Pass over the cliffs of Y Lliwedd and Bwlch y Saethau to the summit: a grade 1 scramble with big drops on the north side. More climbing than the 723 m net figure, with re-ascents along the ridge.
The Y Lliwedd traverse starts at about 366 m and gains 843 m over 7.0 km to 1,040 m on the track. The first 3 km are the easy part, averaging 5%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 4 km, which climbs 250 m at an average of 25%, with a 500 m stretch from 6.1 km at about 36%. It keeps climbing at 25% to the top. About 26% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Y Lliwedd traverse at a glance
| Distance | 7.0 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 723 m |
| Climb on the track | 843 m up, 166 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 365 m to 1,045 m (summit 1,085 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 36%, from 6.1 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 26% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 35m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 0m, down the same way |
| Grade | Scramble |
| Start | Pen y Pass car park, LL55 4NY |
| Start grid reference | SH 646 556 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 609 543 |
| Parking | Pen y Pass car park must be booked ahead. Otherwise park at Nant Peris or Llanberis and take the Sherpa'r Wyddfa bus up. |
| Bus | Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses link all the main starts round the mountain. |
Y Lliwedd traverse map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Y Lliwedd traverse GPX
Ascent only: plan your way down. A planning track, not checked on the ground; it doesn't show safe scrambling moves. Track data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), heights from a terrain model.
Y Lliwedd traverse kilometre by kilometre
Height, climb and average gradient for each kilometre of the track, with a grid reference at the end of each one to check your position on the map.
| At | Height | Climb | Gradient | Grid ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 408 m | +42 m | 4% | SH 645 548 |
| 2 km | 427 m | +19 m | 2% | SH 637 545 |
| 3 km | 509 m | +82 m | 8% | SH 631 540 |
| 4 km | 759 m | +250 m | 25% steep | SH 628 532 |
| 5 km | 778 m | +20 m | 2% | SH 621 534 |
| 6 km | 793 m | +15 m | 1% | SH 614 540 |
| 7 km | 1,040 m | +247 m | 25% steep | SH 609 543 |
How long the Y Lliwedd traverse takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 20m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 4h 0m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 10m | 4h 55m |
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 13:14 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12. Start by 13:12 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Snowdon summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Sunday 18 October
Partly cloudy, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -6°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 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 41 mph gusting 51 mph, 90% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12.
Best day of the next seven for the Y Lliwedd traverse: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 33 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 0% (Low), best around 05:00. 7-day inversion outlook.
Hour-by-hour Snowdon forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Snowdon?
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast and hazards · Yr Wyddfa ground conditions report.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -6°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.
- Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
- 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 Snowdon
Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is the highest mountain in Wales, with a choice of well-made paths, a mountain railway and a café on the summit. More about Snowdon, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Furth, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, historic county top, county top.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Crib y Ddysgl (1,065 m), 0.8 km north
- Crib Goch (923 m), 1.6 km north-east
- Y Lliwedd (898 m), 1.6 km south-east
- Y Lliwedd East Top (893 m), 1.8 km south-east
- Lliwedd Bach (819 m), 2.1 km south-east
- Llechog (720 m), 2.4 km north
Challenges that include Snowdon
- National Three Peaks · 3
- Welsh Three Peaks · 3
- Welsh 3000s · 15
- Welsh 100 Challenge · 100
- Welsh 1000m Peaks · 5
- Snowdonia 900m Peaks · 16
- Snowdon Horseshoe · 4
- Paddy Buckley Round · 47
- Furths · 34
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- County Tops · 88
- Marilyns · 1,555
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.
- Pen y Pass via Bwlch y Moch up Crib Goch
- East Ridge and crest up Crib Goch
- Fox's Path and Crib Goch North Ridge up Crib Goch
- 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
- Miners' Track and east ridge up Y Lliwedd East Top
Other routes up Snowdon
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Llanberis Path | 6.9 km one way | 979 m | 3h 0m | Moderate |
| Pyg Track | 5.3 km one way | 740 m | 2h 20m | Moderate |
| Miners' Track | 6.8 km one way | 770 m | 2h 40m | Moderate |
| Rhyd Ddu Path | 5.9 km one way | 900 m | 2h 40m | Moderate |
| Snowdon Ranger Path | 6.4 km one way | 940 m | 2h 50m | Moderate |
| Watkin Path | 6.5 km one way | 1,015 m | 3h 0m | Hard |
| South Ridge (Allt Maenderyn) | 6.5 km one way | 900 m | 2h 50m | Hard |
| Crib Goch | 5.1 km one way | 880 m | 2h 30m | Scramble |
| Fox's Path and Crib Goch North Ridge | 6.5 km one way | 723 m | 2h 30m | Scramble |
| Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant | 5.3 km one way | 903 m | 2h 35m | Scramble |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 646 556, the summit at SH 609 543), 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.
Y Lliwedd traverse: questions and answers
How far is the Y Lliwedd traverse?
The Y Lliwedd traverse is 7.0 km one way to the summit of Snowdon, with 723 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 14.0 km.
How long does the Y Lliwedd traverse take?
About 2h 35m to the summit of Snowdon and 4h 0m 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 55m for the round trip.
How steep is the Y Lliwedd traverse?
The steepest 500 m averages about 36%, starting 6.1 km from the start, and 26% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Y Lliwedd traverse climbs 843 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Y Lliwedd traverse?
The Y Lliwedd traverse starts from Pen y Pass car park (postcode LL55 4NY). The grid reference is SH 646 556. Pen y Pass car park must be booked ahead. Otherwise park at Nant Peris or Llanberis and take the Sherpa'r Wyddfa bus up. Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses link all the main starts round the mountain.
Is the Y Lliwedd traverse 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, or take the Llanberis Path instead.
What time should I start the Y Lliwedd traverse today?
By 13:14 at the latest. Sunset on Snowdon today is 18:14, The Y Lliwedd traverse takes about 4h 0m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for the Y Lliwedd traverse?
Yes. Download it from this page. It is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.