Snowdon's Pyg Track: How Difficult is it?

Not sure how difficult the Pyg and Miner's Tracks are on Snowdon? Here I show you the most rugged sections and also fly the drone so you can see the routes and the general ground conditions.
While neither of these routes are the most difficult, they're not the easiest paths to the summit either.
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My website: thebaldscrambler.co.uk/
Disclaimer: This video does not highlight every risk or provide step-by-step instructions. Should you attempt either route, you do so at your own risk and I accept no liability for your actions.

[@JanasZoro]

I have done it yesterday with no experience and it was amazing. I was a scared at the very end as I suffer height: there is a very narrow exposed track and i felt very anxious on that point. Also it was pretty overcrowded. The rest is very confortable and there is not any dangerous part but you should pay attention always where you put your feet. The only thing is quite long and very tiring. I felt really unconfortable at the summit because we were in a middle of a shower and the fog and mist was covering everything. I have seen people going to crib goch and I was saying wtf, never in my life. That part is a nightmare for me.

[@peterlewis3540]

When its raining, as it usually is in this part of Snowdonia, the Miners and PYG tracks can be lethal, as the well trodden paths are very shiny with the many millions of feet over the years. Its very slippery, throughout most of its length, and its just a relentless slog up a heavily eroded rocky shoulder of Mt Snowdon. Also, its far too busy, with walkers of all abilities struggling up the mountain. In poor visibility, navigation is not easy, so there are easier ways up the mountain, such as the llanberis path or Snowdon Rangers path.

[@glordave]

Was there in early September last year, that weekend when it was boiling! Was a great route, totally agree with the description!

[@thebaldscrambler]

I was swimming in Llyn Idwal on that hot day, a real scorcher. Thanks!

[@Nick-66]

Great video. Very informative. Thanks 😊

[@CammerClips]

Very helpful, we’re going in September, thank you!

[@MrSmid888]

We just did Watkins-Pug-Miners, back to Pen Y carpark then down the valley 5 miles back to car at the beginning of Watkins. Serious hike! I uploaded short video in portrait format of the hike. First time there, couldn’t see a thing! 👍🏻

[@thebaldscrambler]

That's a long trek back! You should consider the Welsh 3000s ;-). Here's some more circular routes on Snowdon that are worth exploring: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5TRZJlspK-MjKc

[@MrSmid888]

@@thebaldscrambler Sickener the last leg from Pen Y, we did Ullswater Way 22 miles two days later!! Very hard hike! I will look those up cheers. Here’s a short video of Snowdon hike, filmed in portrait for phone use kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpOtfJeJaN50nrMsi=ji_Pb3gi_Qd--XO5

[@carlco3378]

Awesome view. ❤️😍 But I also love the video about the Rhyd Dhu pass. I love the view in the Rhyd dhu valley. Just everything is beautiful in Snowdonia ❤❤❤ Just came back from my holidays in Wales and I am already into Snowdonia videos 😅 Would going up the Miner's path and going down the same way be easier than the pyg track up? But it's more important that the way back is the easier one because going downhill is awful 🙈🤣

[@thebaldscrambler]

The section at the top of the Miner's Track where it joins the Pyg is quite loose, it's probably the most rugged bit of the entire circular route, but the rest of the Miner's Track is a path man-made from rocks and easy to follow. If you've done the Rhyd Ddu route, you may find these two routes less exposed, a little looser in places but busier.

[@theog841]

What scrambling grade would you give this? I've done the ranger path last year and found it a bit boring as far as waling (very scenic though!) but recently got into scrambling in the peak district, doing low grade 2 to high grade 2 scrambles. I would love to come back to yr wyddfa and do some more fun routes!

[@jameseastwood4984]

I've ridden my bike down the Ranger! The pyg track is only slightly more difficult. The Watkins path would be a good step up in my opinion. You can also go the Watkins as a loop going up the Blwch Main Ridge and down the classic Watkins. If you want to progress further (as we did) start on the Miners but turn left at Llyn Llydaw lake and go up to the Y Lliwedd ridge, which then joins the top of the Watkins. From there do a clockwise horse shoe walk across the summit and down the Pyg track. A warning on the Watkins though in the scree scramble upper section it's more difficult to route find in fog as there's no single path, it's a bit of a boulder field.

[@thebaldscrambler]

It's a hiking route rather than a scrambling route but there are still hazards. Scrambles within walking distance are Y Gribin, Snowdon Horseshoe, Crib Goch, East Terrace of Cloggy, Tregalan Couloir (G2) and Clogwyn y Person Arete (G3). I've got vids of all these scrambles (and many more) on my channel and the website: thebaldscrambler.co.uk/snowdonia/snowdon-range/

[@MartianHiker]

We did the national 3 peaks last year and finished it off with climbing the Pyg in the middle of the night. It was difficult to keep on the path at that point to be fair. Miners track down was a lot easier to follow though.

[@thebaldscrambler]

I love those nighttime ascents. I've done a few to catch the sunrise on Snowdon and Crib Goch as well.

[@MartianHiker]

@thebaldscrambler I'm still building up the courage to do crib cogh. Was thinking of doing a bit more less technical scrambles first but have my eye set on crib lem next, weather dependent though. Love your videos by the way.

[@thebaldscrambler]

Thank you, Crib Lem is a great route, there's a vid on my channel. Crib Goch is special though, I'm hoping to do a video up there with my new 360 camera soon. So many routes and scrambles I want to do, but so little time!

[@MartianHiker]

@thebaldscrambler I'd never heard of Crib Lem until I came across your video a few months back. It was fantastic footage. 360 video on Crib Cogh would be great to see for us viewers. Crib Cogh is what I'm building up to. I definitely need more scrambling on other routes first, though, to build up the confidence, which is hard working full time combined with family life etc.

[@binyard1972]

Ive always wanted to do cryb goch but at 52 years old not sure i done the rhyd duu path and that got a bit hairy what you reckon love your chamnel mate im a baldy too just done snowdon cadair idris and pen y fan

[@thebaldscrambler]

Crib Goch is quite a big step up from the Rhyd Ddu path, it's very exposed up there! I'm hoping to do some vids about Cadair Idris this year; best and easiest routes etc + some scrambling stuff too.

[@binyard1972]

@thebaldscrambler what would you suggest for me next I was thinking the glyders?

[@bilaltahir9978]

Which route is easier to descend, the Pyg or Miners path?

[@thebaldscrambler]

Very similar, the only hard bit on the Miners is the bit where it links up with the Pyg Track, it's a little loose in places so you'll need to take extra care. The rest of the Miners is straightforward, I've even seen the park authority drive a small jeep up to the top lake via the Miners.

[@peterlewis3540]

Miners path, as when your halfway down the mountain, the PYG track continues for some time at some height, whilst the Miners path continues straight down to the lake below.

[@James-ny1lj]

I would say take care on the PYG track. Don't under estimate it like I did... In 2018 I badly fractured my distal femur bone in right leg about 150 metres from the top. Was rescued by helicopter and had operation to pin back together at Bangor hospital in 2018. Can't thank Llanberis and RAF Mountain rescue enough.

[@thebaldscrambler]

Blimey, where did this happen? 150m from the top must be near the zigzag path? It does get a bit rugged/loose/narrow on that bit.

[@shafhussain929]

Difficult for beginners..especially Pyg

[@mattwright2964]

Sick to the back teeth of what social media is doing to our mountains and wild places.