The 610 Circular (Short and Long)

QMD Walks

Relevant OS Maps include: OS Explorer OL17 (1:25), OS Landranger 115 (1:50), Harvey North Snowdonia Superwalker (1:25), Harvey Snowdonia North XT40 (1:40).

Distance: Short 3-4 miles; Long 5 miles (Doesn’t include getting from and to car)

Going: Demanding. Some rough ground. PRoW and FPs not always clear. Route finding necessary. Grade 1 scrambles on the Long.

This route is ideal for either recceing the Welsh 3000s or a short or long day out from Llanberis Pass pass. There are a number of options to starting the long route and it can be varied by including/excluding the North Ridge of Crib Goch. Short Version

1. Start at the PRoW on the driveway up to Wern SH590591. Either follow the PRoW to just before where it joins the Llanberis Path SH584587 and then cross country to Derlwyn SH588586, CB OR cut up onto the ridge as soon as possible once you are in OA heading for Derlwyn.

2. From Derlwyn handrail the ridge line/fence to Tryfan SH597578. From Tryfan continue to 610m ring contour SH601574, 550m. There are a number of stiles along the way but the 610 stile is distinct in having rocks/boulders alongside the fence and as you cross the stile there is a flat place with a small ‘seating area’ (flat rocks below small earth wind stop) within 5m or so. Halfway Station is on the RHS as you approach and can be seen from Tryfan if you have visibility but can’t be seen from the 610.

3. At the 610 cross over the stile and descend on CB 075 following path. Slippery when wet. Steeper lower down. (There is a faster gully descend after c. 300m rough CB 355.) As you approach the wall at the bottom (SH607576) you will see a FP between the two walls (roughly SH606577). Cross over stile over wall and follow FP CB 325 to bridge over leading into Nantperis.

Long Version

4. Starting either Pen y Pass OR Pont y Gromlech SH629565. From Pen y Pass follow Pyg Path to Crib Goch. From Pont y Gromlech cross stile into OA and follow faint FP towards Dinas Bach SH631560, CB 175. Before Dinas Bach handrail first stream

SH630561, CB 235. As you near head of stream SH627558 TR CB 308 to make way up to flat place SH624560. From here head for North Ridge CB 159 and follow ridge to Crib Goch SH625552.

5. From Crib Goch go to Garnedd Ugain. After Garnedd Ugain TR CB 005 and follow ridge to Gyrn Las SH611559 then BL and follow ridge to join Llanberis Path SH609559. When Llanberis Path BL away from railway line continue on CB 335 and handrail ridge or railway line to Llechog SH605567.

6. From Llechog follow ridge to 610m ring contour SH601574, CB 330. Follow step 3 above.

Glossary BL - Bear Left BR - Bear Right CB - Compass Bearing FB – Footbridge FP - Footpath. Usually marked on 1:25 but not on 1:50 JNCT - Junction (paths/tracks cross/join) OA – Open Access PRoW - Public Right of Way. Usually marked on 1:25 and 1:50 Quad bike track - Two parallel lines going across the fell made by continued use by quad bike RHS – Right hand side LHS – Left hand side TL - Turn Left TR - Turn Right Track - A wide track that looks suitably for 4x4 vehicles