Y Lliwedd

Most visitors to Yr Wyddfa never climb Y Lliwedd. They pass beneath it, photograph it, and admire it from a distance. This is a mistake. Standing at 898 metres, Y Lliwedd is one of the great mountains of Eryri and an essential part of the Snowdon Horseshoe. It offers outstanding views, fascinating mountaineering history, a genuinely quieter mountain experience, and one of the finest perspectives of Snowdon in existence.

The Mountain and Its Meaning

Y Lliwedd forms the eastern wall of Cwm Dyli — the great glacial basin at the heart of the Snowdon Horseshoe. Together with Crib Goch, Garnedd Ugain, and Yr Wyddfa, it creates the famous horseshoe circuit that many regard as the finest mountain day in Wales. From many angles it appears less dramatic than Crib Goch — it lacks the knife-edge silhouette — but this is misleading. Y Lliwedd is a substantial mountain with impressive cliffs, twin summits, and a mountaineering heritage that predates modern climbing.

The exact meaning of the name is debated, as with many Welsh mountain names. Like so much of the landscape's nomenclature, it is old — woven into the local culture for centuries. What matters practically is that the mountain is significant: it completes the story of Snowdon, provides a counterpoint to the more famous summit, and rewards anyone willing to extend their day beyond the tourist itinerary.

Mountaineering History

Before modern climbing equipment existed, Y Lliwedd was already famous. During the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, the mountain's east face became one of the most important training grounds for British climbers. Many pioneers of Welsh rock climbing — names familiar to anyone interested in the history of British mountaineering — worked their way up Y Lliwedd's cliffs at a time when the mountain was regarded as a serious and committing venue. The routes established here helped develop the traditions of Welsh climbing that continue to the present day.

To this day, climbers visit the east face. The crags are less fashionable than they once were, partly because other venues in Eryri have attracted greater attention, but they retain their historical significance. For walkers who appreciate the story behind the landscape, standing on Y Lliwedd's summit knowing something of what happened on the cliffs below adds a layer of meaning to the experience.

How to Reach Y Lliwedd

Route 1: The Snowdon Horseshoe

The classic approach. After the drama of Crib Goch and the summit of Yr Wyddfa, the descent to Bwlch y Saethau and the climb onto Y Lliwedd feels like a reward rather than additional effort. By this point in the day, the crowds have dispersed — Yr Wyddfa's summit empties its visitors back down the popular routes while the Horseshoe continues quietly around the rim. The view back to Snowdon from Y Lliwedd's summit is one of the great mountain photographs — the summit and its ridge reflected in Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw far below. Allow a full day for the complete Horseshoe; see the separate route guide for the full description.

Route 2: From the Miners' Track

A less demanding and more accessible alternative for those specifically interested in Y Lliwedd rather than the full Horseshoe. The Miners' Track from Pen-y-Pass passes below Y Lliwedd's south face, and a clear path breaks away from the main track near Glaslyn to climb the mountain's southern ridge to the west peak and then the east peak. The ascent from the Miners' Track is steep but not technically difficult. The views from the summit — across Glaslyn, to Yr Wyddfa, and out to the east — are superb. Return by the same route. This approach is well within the capability of any competent hill walker.

The Twin Summits

Y Lliwedd has two distinct tops, separated by a short ridge walk. The east peak at 898 metres is the higher and more celebrated; the west peak at 893 metres is marginally lower but offers a slightly different perspective towards Yr Wyddfa. Both are worth visiting if time and energy allow. The ridge between them is straightforward in good conditions — rocky rather than technical. In winter, ice and snow transform even this section and require appropriate equipment and experience.

Views from the Summit

The views from Y Lliwedd are, by general consensus, among the finest in Eryri. The perspective towards Yr Wyddfa across Cwm Dyli is extraordinary — a complete picture of the Snowdon massif from summit to lake, with the geometric perfection of Glaslyn's copper-green water framed by the ridges. This is not a view you can get from Yr Wyddfa itself, which is why Y Lliwedd rewards those willing to extend their day. To the east, the moorland of the Moelwynion stretches away to the south, and the coast appears in the far distance. The sense of solitude here, so close to one of the most visited mountain summits in the world, is one of Y Lliwedd's most remarkable qualities.

Wildlife

Y Lliwedd's cliffs support nesting peregrine falcons — listen for their high, rasping call echoing across the cwm. Ravens are ever-present, often travelling in pairs along the ridge. The southern slopes below the summit hold heather and bilberry, providing habitat for ring ouzels in summer — the mountain blackbird, a species increasingly scarce in Wales. The lakes below are clear and cold: Glaslyn gets its extraordinary copper-green colour from dissolved minerals in the bedrock, not algae.

Practical Notes

For the standalone approach via the Miners' Track, allow 5–7 hours from Pen-y-Pass for a comfortable ascent and descent. Proper mountain boots are essential — the rocky terrain on the upper mountain requires good grip. Y Lliwedd in winter can be a serious mountain with ice on the ridge; in these conditions crampons and ice axe are appropriate. The summit area is exposed to westerly and south-westerly winds, which can be fierce on the ridge even on days that feel calm in the valleys below.