Snowdon Horseshoe Run — Route Guide & Guided Trips
The Horseshoe is the most serious day in Welsh mountain running: a knife-edge scramble across Crib Goch, the summit of Yr Wyddfa, and a long ridge home over Y Lliwedd.
This is not a running route in the ordinary sense. Crib Goch is an exposed Grade 1 scramble on a genuine knife-edge arête with enormous drops on both sides, and no amount of fitness substitutes for a head for heights and dry rock.
What makes it worth it is the shape of the day: everything is above 700 m, the running that does exist is superb, and you finish having crossed three summits on the best ridgeline in Wales.
At a glance
| Distance | Approx. 12 km |
| Ascent | Approx. 1,000 m |
| Terrain | Mountain path, rock scrambling on Crib Goch, loose scree descent |
| Best season | May to September in dry, settled conditions only |
| Difficulty | Serious — includes exposed Grade 1 scrambling |
| Start point | Pen-y-Pass |
| Region | Snowdonia |
| Guided | Yes — quoted against dates and group size, request a quote |
The route, section by section
| Section | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Pen-y-Pass to Crib Goch | Approx. 2 km, 550 m of climbing on the Pyg Track then a direct rocky ascent |
| Crib Goch traverse | The crux — exposed scrambling on the arête, then the pinnacles |
| Crib y Ddysgl to Yr Wyddfa | Runnable ridge with brief hands-on sections to the summit |
| Y Lliwedd and descent | Long ridge over the twin tops, then the Miners' Track back |
Route notes and safety
Only attempt this in dry, still, clear conditions. Wet rock, wind or poor visibility on Crib Goch turns a hard day into a dangerous one. If you want the summit without the scramble, the Rhyd Ddu or Watkin routes give you excellent mountain running with none of the exposure — and see our Snowdon Skyline 30km for a bigger, less technical day.
Running it guided
We guide this route for individuals and small groups. That means route planning, navigation, pace matched to you, safety kit and first-aid cover carried by the guide, and a kit list sent before you travel. Price is quoted against your dates and group size.
- A guide on every run, with route planning and navigation
- Pace grouping, so nobody is dropped and nobody is held back
- Safety kit carried by the guide, plus first-aid cover
- A personalised kit list before you travel
- Technique and pacing coaching on trail, at no extra cost
- Accommodation and transfers bundled in if you want them
Frequently asked questions
Can you run the Snowdon Horseshoe?
Parts of it. The Crib Goch arête is a scramble that must be moved over carefully with hands on rock; the ridge to the summit and the Lliwedd descent contain genuinely good running. Treat the whole thing as a mountain day, not a run.
How hard is Crib Goch?
It's a Grade 1 scramble with severe exposure on both sides. It's the exposure rather than the technical difficulty that stops people — many turn back at the arête.
Is there a safer alternative?
Yes. The Rhyd Ddu path and the Watkin path both give big mountain running on Yr Wyddfa without any scrambling, and they can be linked into an excellent long day.
Where to go next
Ready to run?
Tell us your dates, your rough weekly mileage and where you'd like to run. We'll come back with the routes we'd recommend, availability and a price.