Glyder Fawr

Description

The fifth highest mountain in Wales, Glyder Fawr, is situated on the east to west ridge of mountains known as the Glyderau of which it is the highest point. The ridge is characterised by rocky cwms or cirques and airy ridges overlooking the Ogwen Valley to the north and smoother less precipitous outlines dropping to the south. The slopes above the Llanberis Pass however are a vast sweep of boulders which drop right to the roadside.

The easiest ascent route is from Pen y Pass and is a mainly grassy path which rises without any difficulty to the summit with no hint of the bouldery chaos dropping to the valley below. This route is usually done as a circular, traversing to Glyder Fach and descending to Pen y Gwryd. There are short scrambles and very rough sections en route to Glyder Fach. The mountain presents its most impressive face to the north overlooking the atmospheric tarn of Llyn Idwal. Here the Idwal slabs provide many rock climbing routes and the Cribin Ridge, an exiting but safe walking route to the peak. There is a path down through the cliffs below the dark cleft of the Devil's Kitchen or traverse to Y garn west of Glyder Fawr or Glyder Fach to the east.

Thanks to Frank Verwijs for this description.