If you’ve ever walked the Miners’ Track or the Pyg Track and looked over to Y Lliwedd, you will have seen the Y Gribyn ridge. There's no obvious path orroute up it, so we're guessing you probably continued straight on by without giving it a second thought.
This is the spur that leads down to Glaslyn from the high ground of Bwlch Y Saethau, which translates as ‘Pass of The Arrows’ and is situated between Y Lliwedd and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). The spur is an adventurous little high-end Grade 1 scramble through some very serious terrain, which is best suited to experienced and confident scramblers.
Once you join the Level at Bwlch y Saethau you get to have a bit of a chill and enjoy the views as you make your way over to Y Lliwedd, where the adventure ramps up again for some more scrambling to the summit. I would not recommend doing this route on a wet day. Make it best by saving it for a nice, dry day with low wind. This is definitely not one to be underestimated. Good luck!
How hard is scrambling the Y Gribyn ridge?
DIFFICULTY: Hard | DISTANCE: 10.9km | TIME: 6 hours | TOTAL ASCENT: 750m
FITNESS: Tough, with a sustained amount of scrambling.
TERRAIN: The route passes through some very steep and consequential terrain. It would be difficult to turn in certain parts of the first scramble. This isn't a route for inexperienced or unconfident scramblers.
NAVIGATION: Nav is reasonably straightforward around the scrambling and the route-finding through the scrambling is moderate.
Where is the start of the walk?
The route starts at Pen-y-Pass. It’s probably easier all round just to get the bus and park in Llanberis, Nant or Near Pen y Gwryd, depending on when you visit.
What's the best map for climbing Y Gribyn & Y Lliwedd?
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CLICK HERE to view and download our digital route guide in OS Maps
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Harvey British Mountain Map Snowdonia North (1:40k)
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Harvey Superwalker XT25 Snowdonia North (1:25k)
Snowdon's Y Gribyn ridge | Step-by-step route guide
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To gain the start of Y Gribyn, follow the Miners’ Track around Llyn Llydaw, past the old mill and up the first steep section, where a waterfall and the base of the spur come into sight. A faint track from an old tramline cuts off the main path, just as it levels out at the bend. Contour to the base of the waterfall. Cross the stream here and sniff out the scrambling up to the next level, where the spur changes direction. If you miss the cheeky turn off, just continue to the Glaslyn outflow and join from there by crossing the river. Both river crossings could be difficult after heavy rain.
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The spur starts off reasonably chilled but then the ground drops away on both sides very sharply and you need to switch on. The scrambling isn’t technically very demanding apart from one or two places where you really have to think about where you move and be very conscious of the terrain below you. I can’t overstate the consequences of a fall. It’s Crib Goch serious. About a third of the way up, there is a shallow gully to cross to the left. I have a vivid recollection of doing this when I first started walking in the mountains and thinking it was death on a stick! It was less dramatic this time but still a section to be wary of. There are a few more tricky moves higher up. A good mindset is to keep as central to the spur as possible. Avoid getting pulled too far to the sides and the steep ground. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself at the top, elated. Enjoy the views!
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The section from the top to Bwlch Ciliau is straightforward and enjoyable. Either temporarily join the Watkin Path or hug the cliff-top to make it more interesting. It is incredibly steep on the left-hand side so move with care.
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You can take the same attitude from Bwlch Ciliau to the summit of Y Lliwedd. There is a scrambly path about 10-20m from the left-hand edge, which will take you up to the summit. This is the stress-free option if you found Y Gribyn tough. You can increase the scrambling and the adventure by keeping closer to the left edge. As with the rest of the route, it is very steep and consequential. You do not want to fall down that steep ground. Take your time, move slowly and test for loose rock, keeping a couple of metres away from the drop.
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Once you reach the steep and dramatic summit of Y Lliwedd, the scrambling is pretty much done for the day – though that steep left-hand drop gets even bigger! Keep to the path on the right or nearer the ridgeline, depending on your constitution. Continue over the East Summit, to Lliwedd Bach and the descent point. There are a series of unnecessary cairns, please don’t add to them. As the ground levels out, the path leads off the side of the mountain, descending to Llyn Llydaw.
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You can see that the ground below the descent is safe. If you reach a small pool of water, you have probably gone too far. If you are unsure if it’s the descent, it probably isn’t. It should be obvious and in a north-east direction. There are a few more awkward scrambly steps before you reach a solid path which leads to Llyn Llydaw and the Miners’ Track, from where the return to Pen y Pass is simply a case of reversing your outward route.
What walking gear do I need for this route?
Here's a selection of the best walking gear selected by LFTO's testing team: Walking boots | Hiking daypack | Waterproof jacket | Walking trousers | Walking poles | Walking mid-layers | Base layers
Where can I eat and drink?
Plas Y Brenin bar, so you can look back to your route as the sun sets. Perfect end to the day.
Where's the best place to stay?
Pen-y-Pass would be the simplest option.
About the author
Jamie Rooke is a Mountain Leader with a passion for helping people explore Britain's hills. He's been writing articles and route guides for Trail magazine and LFTO for years and is also one of our go-to experts for navigation tips and advice.
This route originally appeared in the July 2024 issue of Trail magazine. CLICK HERE to become a Trail magazine subscriber and get 50% off a whole year of digital OS Maps