​The most magnificent mountain day

The Snowdon Horseshoe is often described as one of the best ridge walks in Wales with 'interesting' terrain and amazing views but with grade one scrambles and big drops to contend with it's certainly not for the faint-hearted. The route is made up of a horseshoe shaped ring of ridges and peaks on Snowdon’s eastern side and makes for a great mountain day suitable for most. It starts with an easy climb from Pen y Pass along the Pyg Track before veering off to tackle the exposed ridge of Crib Goch. The bravest will march confidently along the top whilst the more nervous will be on all fours with most people managing a bit of both! The pinnacles give you a bit of easy vertical scrambling before the now easy walk to Snowdon's summit. You'll then descend to the south to the rough, rocky Y Lliwedd with its amazing views back to Crib Goch then further down into Cwm Dyli before joining the Miners' Track back to the start.

​We can take you and your family, small group of friends or whole organisation around the Snowdon Horseshoe at any time of the spring, summer or autumn (conditions depending). We'll chat to you in advance, discuss your needs and ensure you've got the right gear for an enjoyable day out. On the day we'll meet you at the start point and guide you safely along the route and supply you with entertaining facts and bad jokes along the way. ​

CONTACT US ABOUT A PRIVATE BOOKING

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​Frequently Asked Questions

How many people can be in our group? ​

We'd recommend no more than four people but we can be flexible. Get in touch and give us a bit more information about the make up of your group and we'll be able help.

Can children come along?

The Snowdon Horseshoe is an exposed grade one scramble and a long day out and would only be suitable for older children with plenty of mountain walking experience. Any under 18's that accept the challenge but must be accompanied by their parent or guardian at all times. If you'd like to discuss your child's suitability please get in touch and we can have a chat.

How long will it take?

In normal conditions you should allow six to eight hours to complete the Snowdon Horseshoe. You should treat it as a day out and expect it to take six to eight hours to get to the top and back down again. We never treat these days as races or endurance tests - the idea is to enjoy yourself.

What if we need to cut the day short?

There are several descent options available should the weather deteriorate or time run out and your mountain guide will discuss these with you if required. 

Do I need to go shopping for lots of expensive new gear?

Absolutely not! This is much more of a challenge than simply summiting Snowdon by one of the easier paths so you'll need good study shoes (worn-in hiking boots are best) but as with many outdoor activities you can easily spend a fortune on the latest top-end clothing but there's really no need unless you plan to do this sort of thing regularly.

So what exactly to I need to bring with me?

Starting from the bottom up, you'll need something comfy to walk in. If you've bought new footwear be sure to wear them a few times before you attempt the Snowdon Horseshoe to make sure they're a good fit. An extra pair of socks is always handy. Walking trousers are great particularly the ones you can zip the bottoms off to make shorts. Jeans are really bad as if they get wet they become very heavy and are difficult to dry. The key to your top half is layers. Don't wear a t-shirt then a big heavy coat - better to wear a t-shirt, a fleece of some sort and a jacket - that way you can easily add/remove layers as the conditions change. If you have a hat and gloves then pack them. Remember the temperature on the summit will always be considerably less than at sea level so be prepared. Finally you'll need a rucksack to carry everything. No need for a huge expedition backpack - just something big enough to carry your lunch and spare bits. If you have any questions about what you need on the day, get in touch.

Is the summit of Snowdon busy?

It certainly can be, yes. You might have seen photos of crowds queuing at the summit for their photo opportunity however this is really only an issue on summer weekends and sunny bank holidays. To mitigate this we always recommend an early start and quick exit from the summit to continue the Horseshoe.

Is there really a cafe at the top?

Yes there is! But it only opens from around the end of Spring until late October and then only on good weather days so it's always best to be self-sufficient and bring your own snacks and drinks.

What about toilets?

There are public toilets at the start of each route and when the Summit Visitor Centre is open there are also facilities at the top.