Snowdon Horseshoe
9th June 2009
I don’t think I’ve done this in it’s entirety before, I’ve certainly not done a circuit including Gallt y Wenallt although I’ve done pretty much all the sections before eith the possible exception of ascending Lliwedd. I’d met some guys from the Walking Forum as per plan and we really couldn’t have picked a better day. It started fine and sunny and some cloud rolled in later, to me that’s the best of all worlds, you get a real added atmosphere with some cloud swirling around.
The Horseshoe might be the most famous circular day route in the UK, it takes in one of the most famous ridge traverses along Crib Goch. A lot of the route is scrambling on rock ridges in airy positions with some significant exposure at times and it’s not a placer to be if you get concerned by heights. Along the way you gain nearly a 1000m of height and take in the two highest mountains in Snowdonia.
I think on any list of classic European hiking routes the Snowdon Horseshoe would be right up there with anything other ranges have to offer. I was really exceptionally lucky to be able to do Tryfan and the it’s North Ridge one day followed by the extended version of the Horseshoe next in such great weather.
I’d been wearing my new boots and found them just fine, I think I need some new foot-beds in them just to lift the right heel slightly as it found a pressure point making the descents.
June 9th, 2009 at Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:08:20 +0000
Another great looking day! I would certainly agree that the Snowdon Horseshoe is one of the best days out you can have in the British Isles. The technical difficulty is fairly low, but it puts you in some pretty airy locations. Fantastic.