Welsh 3000s

One for the peak-baggers, the Welsh 3000s route is an iconic running/hiking challenge that requires you to summit each of the 15 peaks over 3000 feet in Cymru / Wales in under 24 hours without any transport. Luckily, the 15 highest peaks in Wales are in close proximity to each other - all located in three mountain ranges in a relatively small area in northern Eryri National Park / Snowdonia - and can be linked together in a route that snakes across the national park.

The route makes for a fantastic day out of epic ridges, rugged peaks and some grade I scrambling. There are several route options for completing the Welsh 3000s challenge - the route described here starts with Crib Goch and finishes with Foel-fras. It’s recommended that you go south to north to ensure that you do the trickiest part of the route - the scramble over Crib Goch - in daylight with fresh legs. Of course, the first and last peak aren’t by the side of the road; the route also includes the run/hike up to Crib Goch from Pen y Pass and the run/hike down from Foel-fras to the small car park at the end.

The route starts at the Pen-y-Pass car park. From here, take the Pyg Track, which is clearly marked and heads northwest from the car park. Follow this for 1.6 km / 1 mile until a track junction where the trail to Crib Goch branches off to the right, heading uphill along the wire fence. The climb becomes more challenging as you head up the eastern ridge of Crib Goch (Crib Goch is a grade I scramble). Here, you’re aiming to get to the highest point on the ridge. Once on Crib Goch’s famous knife-edge ridge, stick to the central part of the narrow ridge. This section is exposed with steep drops on both sides, so take care here. Toward the end of the Crib Goch ridge, you’ll encounter the Pinnacles, three rocky towers. The scramble takes you over them directly; however, there are paths to the left if you wish to avoid them. Again, this is an exposed section, so take your time. After crossing the Pinnacles, descend slightly to Bwlch Coch, the saddle between Crib Goch and the second peak, Garnedd Ugain / Crib y Ddysgl. From here, you’ll see the route to ascend Garnedd Ugain ahead of you; follow the path to summit. From the summit of Garnedd Ugain, carry on straight to reach the well-trodden Llanberis path and turn left to follow this. Near to the top, as you near a building, turn left up the rocky steps that take you to the summit of Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon, the third and highest of the 15 peaks.

Head back down the Llanberis path, continuing straight past where you joined earlier for 1.9 km / 1.2 miles. At the point where the Llanberis path heads left under the railway bridge, continue straight, following the right-hand side of the railway tracks. Follow this for 1 km / 0.6 miles, then, as the railway tracks curve around to the left, stay straight for another 700 m / 0.4 miles across the top of the cliffs. The trail then heads to the right to descend steeply into the valley. At the first, the trail veers to the right, before sweeping around to the left near the bottom of the descent. At the bottom, continue left on the track heading towards Nant Peris. Turn right to take a bridge over the Nant Peris river and continue straight to the road (A4086). At the road, turn left and take the first right down a lane that leads to the Tŷ Isaf campsite and some bunkhouses. Continue along the lane, past the campsite, for 700 m / 0.4 miles, then turn right onto a trail to begin the climb to Elidir Fawr, the fourth peak. After 800 m / 0.5 miles, take the left-hand branch of the trail to cross the Afon Dudodyn stream and climb directly towards the summit.

From the summit of Elidir Fawr, take the path heading east to descend the ridge, with the Marchlyn Mawr Reservoir down to your left. As the descent eases, follow the ridgeline around to the right. Continue following the path along the side of the valley as it loops back, until it begins to climb steeply to Y Garn, the fifth peak. From Y Garn, carry on straight to descend the ridge. The ridge flattens out and eventually reaches a small lake (Llyn y Cwn). Stay left of the lake and continue on the path heading to the right to begin the rocky ascent to Glyder Fawr, the sixth peak. From Glyder Fawr, head straight to follow the wide flat ridge down towards the rocky outcrop of Castell y Gwynt (technically a nuttall, but you might as well bag it too!). The seventh peak, Glyder Fach, is just another 300 m ahead. From Glyder Fach, continue straight and then descend steeply down the ridge towards Tryfan, your next and eighth peak. The track is steep and loose here, so take your time.

Once you reach the Bwlch Tyfan saddle between Glyder Fach and Tryfan, continue to follow the path to head straight onto the south ridge of Tryfan. The south ridge of Tryfan is the easiest route to ascend the peak; however, it does require some easy scrambling. From the peak, descend via the west side: a grade I scramble. The track isn’t clear and there are steep drop-offs, so take your time and be prepared to re-trace your footsteps if needed. For those who are less confident, you can return via the south side and follow the main path down to Llyn Ogwen. The path on the west side heads straight down and then joins with the main path to head down to the right to the A5, half-way along Llyn Ogwen. Turn right on the road and continue for 1.1 km / 0.7 miles, turn left onto a wide gravel path. Continue on this for 300 m / 0.2 miles, then, as the path reaches a gate, turn right onto a smaller trail along the side of the wall. The path continues straight for 1.3 km / 0.8 miles, following the course of the Afon Lloer stream, before it heads left to ascend the ridge to Pen yr Ole Wen, the ninth peak.

From the summit, take the path straight ahead, veering to the right. Continue to follow the ridge for 1.6 km / 1 mile as it descends then ascends to Carnedd Dafydd, the 10th peak. Continue on the ridge for another 3 km / 1.9 miles to reach the 11th peak, Carnedd Llewelyn. At the summit, turn left to descend the left-hand ridge to reach the 12th peak, Yr Elen, then retrace your footsteps back towards Carnedd Llewelyn. Rather than summiting the peak again, take the path that skirts the peak to the left, rejoining the ridge you were on previously. Continue on the ridge to the next peak, Foel Grach (the 13th peak), and then again to Carnedd Gwenllian (the 14th peak). From here, take the path heading off to the right to the final peak, Foel-fras. Congratulations - you’ve bagged them all!

To descend to the car park, take the path veering slightly to the right, descending to continue along the flat top of the ridge. Continue to follow the ridge as it descends, until you reach the farm road at the bottom. From Foel-fras, it’s 4.7 km / 2.9 miles to the road. Turn right and follow the farm road for 900 m / 0.6 miles until you reach the car park.