How long does Crib Goch take on a guided day?
On my guided Crib Goch days, I’ve had strong groups and individuals comfortably complete the full Snowdon Horseshoe in five to six hours. I’ve also had slower groups take over eight hours to reach Yr Wyddfa and return by the Miners’ Track, without going anywhere near Lliwedd. There’s been plenty in between, so the route alone won’t tell you how long your day is going to take.
The timings here come from the days I lead, starting and finishing at Pen y Pass. They’re intended to give you a feel for the day you’re booking with me. If you’re planning an independent attempt, the way your own group moves and makes decisions may be quite different.
We normally meet at 08:30 and set off shortly afterwards. I’d keep the whole day free, particularly if you’re travelling afterwards. I can give you a better idea of our likely finish as we get to know the group, but a fixed afternoon commitment can become an unnecessary distraction.
Getting to the start of the narrow ridge
We’re usually at the start of the main ridge by around the two-hour mark. That’s the broader area where the East and North Ridges meet, often thought of as the “top” of Crib Goch. The actual summit is farther along the narrow ridge.
Before reaching it, we’ve climbed the Pyg Track to Bwlch y Moch, followed the approach towards the East Ridge and worked through the steeper rock steps. That early scrambling deserves time of its own. I’m watching how everyone moves, explaining the awkward bits and choosing where I need to be to help.
The Pyg Track section usually takes around 30–45 minutes. Above that, the pace depends quite a lot on how people get on with the climbing. Someone who walks uphill quickly may want more time over a steep rock step, while another person finds the scrambling quite comfortable.
The ridge and pinnacles
The main ridge and pinnacles might take us twenty minutes, or they might take an hour. It’s not somewhere we tend to clock-watch. We move at a pace that suits the people there, with time to explain a move or let someone settle before continuing.
Other parties can affect our progress too, particularly around the third pinnacle. I’ll deal with passing or a bottleneck as we find it, rather than try to keep a group moving to a timetable that no longer makes sense. Wet rock or gusty wind can also change how carefully we need to approach a section.
There’s another ridge afterwards
At Bwlch Coch, we’ve finished Crib Goch itself, but Crib y Ddysgl continues towards Garnedd Ugain. That can be another hour or so of scrambling interspersed with ridge walking, including some steeper climbing and further exposure.
People often feel much more settled by then, although tiredness can start showing in their footwork. There’s still plenty to concentrate on, and the relief of finishing the famous narrow section can make the amount left feel surprising. From Garnedd Ugain, it’s usually another 20–30 minutes to Yr Wyddfa.
As a rough guide to the stages on one of my days:
Stage | Approximate timing |
Pen y Pass to the start of the main narrow ridge | Usually around 2 hours |
The narrow ridge and pinnacles | Around 20 minutes to an hour |
Crib y Ddysgl to Garnedd Ugain | Around another hour |
Garnedd Ugain to Yr Wyddfa | Around 20–30 minutes |
Those aren’t fixed splits to add up and hold the group to. A strong group can move more quickly through several sections, while another group may need longer throughout.
Choosing the finish
We’ll usually have lunch around Yr Wyddfa, then choose the descent with the group and conditions in mind. From there, I generally allow around two to two and a half hours back to Pen y Pass via the Miners’ Track. Continuing over Lliwedd is more like three to three and a half hours, sometimes longer.
Lliwedd adds steep descent on the upper Watkin Path before we climb again, followed by more scrambling and an involved descent towards the lake. It’s a substantial addition when someone’s already tiring, which is why I leave that choice open as the day develops.
The five-to-six-hour Horseshoe days have been comfortable outings for people who could move well throughout. On the eight-hour-plus days, taking the Miners’ Track has been the appropriate finish for those groups. When you join me, we’ll work with the people who’ve actually turned up and the conditions we find, and give the day the time it needs.
