RHYD-DUU & RANGER

PITT'S HEAD PATH 6 miles, 3¾ hrs
A favourite but not very interesting until the saddle is reached. Starts from Beddgelert. The track, leaving main Caernarvon road at 2.75 miles, ascends N.N.E. to a farm, pass through farmyard and a gate, then bear left beside a wall, from the end of which it joins (3.5 miles in 1.5 hrs) the track from Rhyd-Ddu. Turn right through an iron gate and gradually climb (N.E.) over open fell to (2¾ hrs) the west extremity of Lleclog ridge 2400 ft. When the track is faint a line of small cairns marks the way. Turn right along edge of precipitous N. face of Lleclog and look down on tarn of Cwm Clogwyn. Advancing along the cliff-edge the right-hand slope becomes steeper and the ridge narrows into the the rocky and razor-edge of Bwlch Main (the stony passage 3056 ft.), with a good and safe path. The path soon broadens and is joined by the Watkin path on the right. Finally ascend the last few feet to the railway station and cafe and the summit.

RHYD-DDU PATH 3¾ miles, 2¾ hrs

Identical for most as Pitt's Head. The signed track picks a meandering way through rocks and boggy ground. Ascend by quarry road starting at south end of the hamlet, passing through a gate beside a farm. Before a second gate fork to the right; and after 3 more gates, at top of a rise, turn left through another gate, joining (1¼ mile) track from Pitt's Head.

SNOWDON RANGER PATH 3½ miles, 2¾ hrs

Starts from Llyn Cwellyn, track ascends N.E. in steep zig-zags from farm above Snowdon Ranger hostel to the fork 1200 ft. where track for Llanberis diverges on the left. Continue over south slopes of Moel Cynghorion, avoiding marshy ground in Cwm Clogwyn, where five tarns cluster. From (1¼ hr) pass of Bwlch Cwn-Brwynog at 1600 ft., mount steep ridge of Clogwyn-du'r-Arddu (sheer N. face on left). Farther on cross mountain railway and join Llanberis track ¼ hr below the summit. This route can be taken in reverse as a round-trip with Rhyd-ddu path, combining two of the easier routes to Snowdon's summit and which tend to be less crowded. From yhe youth hostel it may be possible to follow trackbed of the Welsh Highland Railway back to Rhyd-Ddu, or if unavailable to take a waymarked path through the Glan-yr-afon quarries. If you've had enough walking by now the Snowdon S herpa bus will take you back to your starting point.