The Welsh 3000s - Snowdonia's ultimate mountain challenge

The Welsh 3000 are 15 of Wales highest mountains, all above 3000 feet high and all close together in Northern Snowdonia.  The challenge is to traverse them all, the ultimate challenge is to do it in one long, long day.

I think the best way to tackle the challenge is from the south, starting at Pen y Pass below Snowdon.  A short walk leads to scrambling and the famous airy catwalk of the Crib Goch ridge, followed by easier walking over Crib y Ddysgl, Garnedd Ugain and on to Snowdon's summit.  A long descent to Nant Peris is followed by a longer grind back up to Elidir Fawr, the effort is rewarded by view into the Ogwen Valley and the long switchback ridge over Foel-goch, Y Garn and on to the Glyders.  Descending towards Tryfan, the best way on is over Tryfan and down its North Ridge to the valley and the A5.  Straight across the road a rising path leads to the easy scrambling of Pen yr Ole Wen's East Ridge.  This gives access to the Carneddau and as you follow the rim of Ysgolion Duon you can congratulate yourself that the hard ascents are over.  Don't relax though, you still have miles to go.  Over Carnedd Llewelyn, a detour to Yr Elen, and on over Foel Grach, Garnedd Uchaf and Foel-fras, finally descending to the Anafon valley.  By now you have walked over 30 miles and ascended some 13,000 feet (3,900m)!

If this sounds like your sort of challenge but you would like some help with the route-finding then we can help.  Outdoor Horizons can lead your party over these mountains in one long day or we can break it into 2 or three days of easier mountain walking.  We aim to provide a fully personal service, not an off the peg course, so if you would like to pick and choose the mountains that you want to climb, we will do our best to organise an itinerary to suit you.

Contact us to discuss your mountain walking adventures in Snowdonia.

Matthew Daily-Hunt

info@outdoorhorizons.co.uk

www.outdoorhorizons.co.uk 

07803 280514