Wales
Y Lliwedd
898M
2946FT
About Y Lliwedd
Formidable and rugged, this peak serves as the southern anchor of the famous Snowdon Horseshoe. Defined by its massive northern precipices, it offers a dramatic scramble along the ridge. From the summit, you gain an unparalleled perspective of Yr Wyddfa’s peak and the jagged profile of Crib Goch across Llyn Llydaw.
Key Statistics
Rank
18th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
153.8m
Nearest Town
Gwynedd
Geology
You are walking on ancient layers of volcanic ash and debris. These rugged rocks were formed by powerful eruptions that shaped Y Lliwedd’s dramatic ridges.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SH622533
Latitude
53.0591°N
Longitude
4.0577°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Welsh and likely stems from 'llif' (meaning saw or file), referring to the serrated, blade-like appearance of the ridge when viewed from the valley floor.
- •Its massive 1,000-foot north face is legendary in British mountaineering; the pioneers of the first 1920s Everest expeditions, including George Mallory, used these sheer slabs for intensive training.
- •The mountain features two distinct summits: the higher West Peak and the East Peak. Traversing the crest between them provides a front-row seat to the Gribin ridge and the deep, dark waters of Glaslyn tucked into the cwms below.
- •While officially classified as a Hewitt and a Nuttall, it is most frequently climbed as the final major leg of the Snowdon Horseshoe after descending from the main summit via Bwlch Ciliau.
- •The north face looks so vertical from the Miners' Track that it effectively acts as a psychological filter, ensuring only those comfortable with heights bother to continue toward the summit.