Using this route, the ascent from Llanberis to the summit can be turned into a very satisfying off-piste round by using this ridge route one way, and the traditional path the other. The following description is for the Llechog ridge route up.
This route is mostly grassy underfoot, but is a good ½ mile longer than the main Llanberis path and will take up to an hour longer. There is also extra elevation involved.
From left to right, Derlwyn, Tryfan and Llechog form the Llechog ridge
From Llanberis, start from the main road by walking through the woods of Coed Victoria, which will bring you out at Pen Ceunant café. Follow the tarmac road for ¼ mile to where the off-road section of the Llanberis Path starts. After another ¼ mile on the path, with Hebron station on your right, bear left off the path and head up the hill for ¼ mile to Derlwyn (416m).
From here you can follow the ridge line, marked by a fence, where after ¾ mile you’ll reach Tryfan (about 580m). During the next section – the best part of a mile – you’ll be able to look down on your right onto Halfway station and the Halfway café, before reaching the highest point of the Llechog ridge – Llechog itself (718m). For the next ½ mile the route will take you close to the railway line, passing Rocky Valley Halt before arriving at Clogwyn station. (Please don’t at any point walk on the line; it’s private property and you’ll be trespassing.)
Just past Clogwyn station you’ll pick up the main Llanberis Path. From here you can either follow the path for the last mile to the summit, or stay off-piste for a little longer.
To do the latter, head up Allt Goch for a matter of 150m, then bear off left up the grassy hill for some 200m towards Gyrn Las (about 865m), From here, follow the ridge to the right (south) for ½ mile (with great views down into Cwm Glas on your left) to the summit of Carnedd Ugain (1065m). From here, the descent is just ¼ mile SW to Bwlch Glas, where you can rejoin the crowds for the last ⅓ mile up to the summit.
The Llechog ridge walk from Llanberis to the summit (Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2024)