Snowdon Crib Goch - Guided Walk & Scramble

Summit Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) via the famous Crib Goch route on a guided walk and scramble with a qualified and experienced Large Outdoors guide.


Experience Type: Day Experience
Distance: Approx. 8 miles (12.9km)
Duration:
Most groups complete this walk/scramble in 7-9 hours
Level: Tough (Scrambling) - see Large Outdoors Experience Levels here
Group Size: Maximum 6
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs allowed


 

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How do we grade our walks?

Take on Snowdon with some added scrambling, via Crib Goch, with a qualified and experienced guide.

Enjoy Snowdon via the infamous Crib Goch ridge route with a group of fellow hikers and a friendly, qualified Large Outdoors guide. We think this is easily the most exhilarating route to the summit of Snowdon but you definitely do need a head for heights! If you’re up for some scrambling and an epic challenge surrounded breathtaking scenery, you’ll love Crib Goch.

Crib Goch, the ‘Red Ridge’, is one of the UK’s most popular scrambles, and with good reason. A mile-long narrow ridge, reaching out from the north-east flank of Snowdon, this beautiful and rocky route gives you views over the whole of North Wales and the Irish Sea and, of course, up to the highest summit in Wales! But it’s not for the faint-hearted as the route is very exposed.

If you’re new to scrambling and not sure if Crib Goch is suitable for your abilities, perhaps try another scrambling route like Helvellyn’s Striding Edge – Day Ridge Walk first of all.

If you have mountain and scrambling experience and have always wanted to take on Crib Goch but without the stress of navigating, this is a fantastic way to do it. We’ll walk (approx. 8 miles, 12.9km) and scramble carefully, and you’ll enjoy the support and feel-good factor of enjoying this experience with a friendly guide and group. We’ll ascend via Crib Goch, reach the summit of Snowdon, take in the views and celebrate our achievement, then make our way down via a different route.

In a small group (no more than 6 per walk/scramble), your Large Outdoors guide will ensure you get the most from this fantastic experience.

Suggested Itinerary

Here’s what we’ve got planned - of course, we may have to offer alternatives or make amendments if the weather misbehaves or other unexpected situations arise!


You’ll meet your guide in Llanberis at 8:45am, where there’s time for introductions before we head over to the bus stop so we can catch the Snowdon Sherpa Bus to Pen-y-Pass, where we’ll start the walk. Please bring £3 for the bus fare (cash/contactless accepted).

Led by a qualified and experienced Large Outdoors guide, you’ll join a friendly group of fellow participants for the walk and scramble ahead.

You’ll spot one our main target, Crib Goch, as an unmistakeable pyramid of rock visible right ahead! We’ll ascend the East Ridge, head along the famous traverse, and finish with the scramble up Crib y Ddysgl to Garnedd Ugain. The full route includes three ‘Grade 1’ scrambles.

Once the scrambles are done, it’s a simple walk the last few hundred metres to the summit of Snowdon. We usually return down via the straightforward Llanberis Path, allowing you time to take in your achievement and enjoy the views.

Most groups complete this walk/scramble in 7-9 hours.

Essential Information

  • Meeting Time: 8:45am
    Please note we walk over to the bus stop shortly after meeting - if you’re late and miss the bus your guide/group won’t be able to wait for you. Please bring £3 per person for the bus fare (cash/contactless accepted).

    Meeting Location:
    Opposite Llanberis Community Centre (Y Ganolfan) *
    Llanberis
    
LL55 4UR

    * Outside Llanberis Community Centre is a set of traffic lights with pedestrian crossing. Please use this to cross the A4086 and meet your guide next to the benches. See our exact meeting location here (view in Satellite mode).

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    Parking: There are pay-and-display car parks at Llanberis Community Centre, Ger Y Llyn (Lakeside) Car Park and Electric Mountain Car Park. These are located off the A4086, along the south side of Llyn (Lake) Padarn, with others available nearby.

    Public Transport: Llanberis is located 10.6 miles from Bangor Train Station, with services to/from Holyhead and Crewe. Bus services are available to/from Bangor. Timetables and meeting time means an overnight stay is generally required if using public transport.

    Finish Time: Most groups complete this walk/scramble in 7-9 hours.

  • Included:

    • A Large Outdoors guide to lead you on your Crib Goch walk/scramble.

    • The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.

    • Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

    Not included:

    • Travel to and from the meeting location.

    • The cost of the local Sherpa Bus travel from the meeting location to the start of the walk at Pen-y-Pass. Please bring £3 per person (cash/contactless accepted).

    • Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.

    • Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.

  • Please see our General (Walking) Kit List.

    The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.

  • • What level of fitness is needed?
    This trip is graded as Tough (Scrambling) and you certainly need a head for heights for this route. We recommend you have previous mountain walking experience before tackling this route. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.

    Is there a time limit?
    We generally allow up to 9 hours to complete the walk/scramble (up to the summit and back to the meeting location), which is adequate for the majority of participants. Our guides do their very best to accommodate the speed of the group they are leading, whilst providing the encouragement needed to complete the challenge. Most groups complete this walk in 7-9 hours.

    • Can I buy food/drink on the walk?
    There are no guaranteed stops for water refills or food along the route, so you should bring sufficient water (at least 2-3 litres per person) and plenty of food. Hafod Eryri – the summit building - is usually open from late spring until late autumn, with a café serving hot and cold drinks, plus snacks (but this is independently operated so we can’t guarantee availability, or that there will be time for your group to visit).

    • Is there a toilet?
    There are usually public toilets available near the meeting location in Llanberis and Hafod Eryri – the summit building - is usually open from late spring until late autumn and has toilets (but these are independently operated, so we can’t guarantee availability).

    • Can I attend on my own?
    Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.

    • Can I bring my dog?
    Dogs are not allowed on this experience, due to the nature and exposure of the route.

  • The first designated National Park in Wales, Snowdonia includes Wales’ highest mountain, Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), and an array of other peaks. Beyond the mountains, there are valleys, sandy estuaries, glacial lakes, forests and miles of walking trails.

    Bounded by the Rivers Conwy and Dovey in the east and south, the view to the north and west stretches over the sea where, on a clear day, you can see the Llyn Peninsula, Cardigan Bay and even Ireland. Nestled among the mountains, you’ll find the history of the area in the form of sheep farming, forestry, and slate mining, and settlements dating back thousands of years.

Why walk/scramble with a guide?

Walking with a guide is an enjoyable, inspiring experience that helps you get the most out of your adventures.

Tackling a mountain isn’t something many of us do often, so we always recommend doing so with an experienced, qualified guide - especially when taking on Crib Goch and the scrambling that’s necessary on this route.

Large Outdoors guides are expert navigators with in-depth knowledge of the scrambling required on this route. They understand the weather conditions and can decide the safest course of action should the weather change. Our guides are first-aid certified and know how to handle unexpected emergency situations.

 
 

This map is provided for guidance regarding the general location. For detailed meeting information, please refer to the 'Meeting Time & Location' section.