Along Ancient Copper Mines: Ascending Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) via the Miners' Track

By Subhash Muthukumar • 📅 September 12, 2026 • ⏱️ 5 min read

Standing on the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) at 1,085 meters is a rite of passage for every mountain lover in the UK. While there are six classic routes up the mountain, the Miners' Track from Pen-y-Pass has always held the deepest appeal for me because of its rich industrial heritage, stunning glacial lakes, and sheer mountain drama. I parked early at Pen-y-Pass as the morning mist was still clinging to the craggy flanks of Crib Goch. The trail begins as a wide, well-graded gravel road built in the 19th century to transport copper ore from the mountain down to Llanberis. The initial stretch is surprisingly gentle, contouring around the hillside and passing the silent, reed-lined waters of Llyn Teyrn. Before long, the path rounds a shoulder and opens up the monumental glacial cwm of Llyn Llydaw. The lake has an extraordinary blue-green hue caused by mineral run-off. You cross the lake via a stone causeway that feels like something out of a fantasy film, with the dark mass of Snowdon towering directly ahead. Along the northern shoreline lie the haunting stone ruins of the Britannia Copper Mine crushing mill, with abandoned tramway tracks and crumbling barracks reminding you of the hardy miners who worked these harsh slopes over a century ago. As you reach the third lake, Glaslyn (Green Lake), the gentle path abruptly ends. The water here is dark and brooding, cupped directly under Snowdon’s sheer eastern precipice and the jagged ridge of Y Lliwedd. From here, the route transforms into a serious mountain climb. The trail tackles a steep, zig-zagging scree path that climbs 300 vertical meters up the headwall of the cwm. Hands come out of pockets as you negotiate rocky steps and loose scree. Looking back over your shoulder, the aerial view of Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw sitting together in their glacial bowls is utterly spectacular. You finally crest the ridge at Bwlch Glas, where the Miners’ Track joins the Pyg Track, Llanberis Path, and the Snowdon Mountain Railway. The sound of the vintage steam locomotive whistling through the mountain air adds a uniquely nostalgic charm. A final 15-minute push along the broad summit ridge brought me to the top cairn. Touching the summit brass marker at 1,085 meters with 360-degree views stretching across Eryri, the Irish Sea, and Anglesey was an unforgettable milestone. It’s an 8-mile round trip that combines peaceful lakeside walking with genuine alpine ruggedness.