Cicerone Mountain Walking in Snowdonia

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Guidebook to 40 of Snowdonia’s best day walks, with routes up Snowdon and Tryfan, including the Snowdon Horseshoe, Cadair Idris, Y Garn and The Rhinogs. The routes range from Grade 1 scrambles like Crib Goch or Bristly Ridge, to riverside and forest walks. Includes details of a 2-day traverse of all 15 of Snowdonia’s 3000ft peaks.

Cicerone says

This guidebook describes 40 day walks exploring Snowdonia. It showcases some of the best mountain walks in the area, with routes up Snowdon and Tryfan alongside other classic peaks like Y Garn, Cadair Idris and the Glyders. Routes are graded easy to strenuous and include airy and pulse-quickening scrambles such as Crib Goch and Bristly Ridge as well as the Snowdon Horseshoe, the Nantlle Ridge and a 2-day traverse of all 15 of Snowdon’s peaks over 3000ft.

Walks range in distance from 4 miles (6km) to 16 miles (26km). Clear route descriptions are accompanied by OS mapping, and for each walk there is key information about distance, grade, ascent, terrain, access and parking. With useful advice on where to stay and when to go, and an English-Welsh glossary, this book is an invaluable guide to discovering both the popular and less well-trodden corners of Snowdonia.

Snowdonia can justifiably lay claim to some of the finest mountain walking in Britain, from the bristling, jagged ridges of Snowdon to the huge grassy mounds of the Carneddau and the stone-girt fortresses of the Glyderau. These are big mountains with big personalities, with glowering crags and deep rocky cwms. Whether you are based in Bala, Beddgelert, Llanberis, Betws-y-Coed, Dolgellau or Capel Curig, you’ll find walks in this guidebook to suit you.

Our Verdict

For nearly 50 years Cicerone have been producing guidebooks on recognised treks, regions, areas and general tips for hikers.

We have used them countless times and they’ve always provided excellent insight and knowledge that you only get through experience, giving you the edge to make your trip a success and more enjoyable too.

If you’re a gram counter you can easily remove sections of the book to take with you making your own ultra-lightweight guidebook with only the essential sections that you require.

– Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Features

• Seasons: Snowdonia is a year-round walking destination.
• Centres: Ogwen, Betws y Coed, Capel Curig, Llanberis, Harlech, Dolgellau, Bethesda, Beddgelert and Bala areas as well as coastal resorts of North and West Wales
• Difficulty: Walks range from easy low level walks to Grade 1 scrambles to the summits of Wales and England’s highest mountains. There are riverside and forest walks for rest days or when the weather on the tops gets too fierce.
• Must See: Snowdon, including the Snowdon Horseshoe, the Glyderau, Carneddau, Cadair Idris, Rhinogs, Arans, Nantlle Ridge, Cwm Pennant, Moelwyns, Arenigs. Tour of the Welsh 3000s.

Specifications

• Edition: First
• Number of pages: 224
• Size: 17.2 x 11.6 x 1.3cm
• Weighs 270g

Contents

Introduction
Geology
History
Wildlife
Getting there
Getting around
Where to stay
When to go
Equipment
Mountain rescue
Using this guide
Place names
The Carneddau
Walk 1 Tal y Fan
Walk 2 Aber Falls and the Northern Carneddau
Walk 3 Cwm Eigiau Horseshoe
Walk 4 The Southern Carneddau
Walk 5 Cwm Llafar Horseshoe
The Glyderau
Walk 6 Gallt yr Ogof and Y Foel Goch
Walk 7 Glyderau from Pen-y-Gwryd
Walk 8 Tryfan by the North Ridge and Heather Terrace
Walk 9 Tryfan Without Fears
Walk 10 Cwm Bochlwyd and Glyder Fach
Walk 11 Y Garn and the Devil’s Kitchen
Walk 12 Elidir Fawr and Y Garn
Betws-y-Coed
Walk 13 Llyn Crafnant and Llyn Geirionydd
Walk 14 Llyn y Parc and Conwy View
Snowdon
Walk 15 Moel Eilio Horseshoe
Walk 16 Snowdon Horseshoe
Walk 17 Snowdon via Miners’ Track and PyG Track
Walk 18 Lliwedd via Miners’ Track and Y Gribin
Walk 19 Snowdon via the Watkin and the Rhyd Dhu Paths
Walk 20 Yr Aran
Eifionedd
Walk 21 Cwm Pennant and the Moel Hebog Ridge
Walk 22 Mynydd Mawr
Walk 23 Nantlle Ridge
Siabod and the Moelwyns
Walk 24 Moel Siabod
Walk 25 Aberglaslyn Gorge and Llyn Dinas
Walk 26 Cnicht and Cwm Croesor
Walk 27 The Moelwyns
The Rhinogs
Walk 28 Rhinog Fawr by the Roman Steps
Walk 29 Rhinog Fach and Y Llethr
Dolgellau, Cadair Idris and the South
Walk 30 Precipice Walk, Dolgellau
Walk 31 Cadair Idris by the Pony Path
Walk 32 Cadair Idris from Minffordd
Walk 33 The Dolgoch Falls and Tarrenhendre
Bala
Walk 34 Rhobell Fawr
Walk 35 Cwm Cywarch Horseshoe and Aran Fawddwy
Walk 36 Traverse of the Aran Ridge
Walk 37 Arenig Fawr and Moel Llyfnant
Walk 38 Cadair Berwyn and Pistyll Rhaeadr
The Welsh 3000s
Day 1 Snowdon and the Glyderau
Day 2 Carneddau

Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Welsh/English glossary
Appendix C Useful contacts