{"id":49072,"date":"2026-08-02T09:50:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T08:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/?p=49072"},"modified":"2026-08-02T09:51:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T08:51:31","slug":"yr-wyddfa-south-ridge-a-quieter-way-to-the-roof-of-wales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/2026\/08\/yr-wyddfa-south-ridge-a-quieter-way-to-the-roof-of-wales\/","title":{"rendered":"Yr Wyddfa South Ridge: A Quieter Way to the Roof of Wales"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I had another great day in the hills on Friday with Cl\u00e9lia and Mel. Several plans were floated, but with Mel heading back to France soon, we thought we should at least summit Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) before she left Wales. It is the highest mountain in Wales after all, even if it isn\u2019t my favourite. In fact, I\u2019d probably still put it in my top ten, but the crowds do take away some of its appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, which route? Both Cl\u00e9lia and Mel are fit and more than capable of tackling any of the main paths. Crib Goch would have been the most exciting option, but I knew Cl\u00e9lia wouldn\u2019t have enjoyed the exposure, and the last thing I wanted was to put either of them off scrambling. I also wanted a quieter route where they could enjoy the scenery, experience a bit of solitude, and get a real taste of the mountains of North Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the end, I chose the South Ridge. It offers fantastic views, some enjoyable almost-scrambly sections, and just enough exposure above Rhyd Ddu to make things interesting without feeling intimidating. We\u2019d then join the busier paths for the final climb to the summit before descending via the Watkin Path, with a stop at the pools on the way back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything worked out perfectly. The South Ridge had everything I was hoping for. It was much quieter than the more popular routes, yet offered plenty of variety. The weather couldn\u2019t have been better. The cloud that had been covering the summit gradually lifted as we climbed, a light breeze kept us cool, and the views just kept getting better. We stopped for a while to relax on a grassy slope while a helicopter buzzed around the valley and choughs soared and tumbled along the cliffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Group<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"North<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"Admiring<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"Cl\u00e9lia<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As expected, things became busier once the Rhyd Ddu Path joined ours, and busier still when we met the Watkin Path. The summit was absolute mayhem. There was a long queue for the summit photo, the caf\u00e9 was packed, and there was an unpleasant smell from the septic system struggling to cope with the sheer number of visitors. It quickly reminded me why Yr Wyddfa isn\u2019t one of my favourite mountains. I think the girls felt much the same. Neither fancied queueing for the summit marker so we squeezed into the crowded caf\u00e9, grabbed a coffee and a snack, and then headd to the far side of the summit to admire the views across to Crib Goch and over the Pyg and Miners\u2019 Tracks. We took a few photos just away from the summit, and then made a fairly quick escape down the Watkin Path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Busy<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"Taking<\/a><\/figure>
\"Mel\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
\"At<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"Cl\u00e9lia\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
\"Views<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The descent was still busy, but nothing compared with the summit. We settled into a good pace, overtaking several groups as we went, and before long we reached the pools. Shoes and socks came off for a refreshing paddle before the final walk back to the car.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Watkin<\/a>
Watkin Pools<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Cl\u00e9lia had looked tired throughout the day and was looking forward to a snooze on the drive home. Mel, meanwhile, spent the journey eating my sweets and judging my music playlist! I think she secretly enjoyed it though, because she ended up singing along to at least half the songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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