Get Lost Mountaineering

Snowdon via Miners' Track from Pen-y-Pass

Start/Finish

Car park at Pen-y-Pass about 8 km S of Llanberis on A 086. Expensive (over £10 per day) for cars and can be full by 9 am but this would not be a problem if being dropped off by a separate driver.. For those not in a hurry, it is possible to get a mini-bus, called a Sherpa, from Llanberis (and other places) for about £1 per journey. Timetables are freely available from the local Tourist Offices.

Distance/Time

11 km     About 4 hours

Peaks

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), 1085 m, SH 609 543.     OL 17: Snowdonia: Snowdon Area

Introduction

This is the most straightforward ascent of Snowdon from Pen-y-Pass. In dry, clear weather with no lying snow, it is a relatively easy route. In winter conditions the top of the track may hold awkward snow and winter equipment and experience will be needed. The Miners' Track is fairly level to its end after which it climbs fairly steeply to join the PYG Track which leads up on to the Snowdon crest which leads easily to the summit.

Route

(1) From Pen-y-Pass car park, easily locate the start of the Miners' track at a gate with a sign on it. The Miners’ Track is fairly level and easy to follow for about 50 minutes, especially at the start. It could easily be walked in the dark providing there was some light after about 40 minutes of walking. The level section ends by a lake after a causeway where path climbs steeply with a hint of scrambling and not always obviously, to reach the PYG path. From the junction, the path is fairly obvious before it levels out, curves round to meet the railway then climbs the final slope next to the railway. The café is only open in the Summer months. There is a large cairn, with steps, and a trig point on top. This is the summit of Snowdon, 1085 m.

(2) Retrace the outward route and start descending the obvious path which is a combination of the PYG and Miners' track. Lower down, the path splits (not very obvious) and one descends (not obviously) to the lower path on the right which is the Miners' Track then follow it around the lakes back to the car park or one can stay on the upper PYG track and follow that back to the car park.

Notes

(a) This walk took place in 2010 in poor weather and was then forgotten about until 2016 when decent photos were obtained.

(b) This route would be a very serious undertaking in winter conditions and ice axe and crampons would be essential. The exit from the top of the PYG and Miners' track on to the Snowdon ridge can hold late snow.