Y Lliwedd
... a mountain with history and heritage!
Y Lliwedd - 898 metres
Y Lliwedd, to the south-east of Snowdon’s summit, has a twin-peaked summit. On a clear day it can be clearly seen from the PYG and Miners’ Track paths, and from many parts of the upper section of the Nantgwynant valley. Y Lliwedd forms the southern half of the Snowdon Horseshoe, but can be undertaken separately as a route either up to Snowdon’s summit from Llyn Llydaw on the Miners’ Track, or as a stand-alone summit from Llyn Llydaw or from Nantgwynant via the Watkin Path.
The eastern sides of Y Lliwedd are steep cliffs rising above Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw.
Y Llywedd history
The British climber George Mallory, who later participated in the first three British Mount Everest expeditions in the early 1920s, used Y Lliwedd as a location for many of his early climbs. It was also the location for much of the training for the 1953 British Everest Expedition.
The north face of Y Lliwedd was explored by climbers and mountaineers in the latter part of the 19th century. It subsequently became the focus of the first British climbing guide, published in 1909, The Climbs on Lliwedd by J. M. A. Thomson and A. W. Andrews.
A poem: Y Llywedd - 898 metres of perfection
Y Lliwedd - 898 metres of perfection
Y Lliwedd, oh Y Lliwedd, quiet and peaceful,
The true gem of the horseshoe, tranquil and blissful,
Not for you the ego of attention seeking mountains with more fame,
Not for you the limelight selfies, insta and popular acclaim.
You need not the glory of being the highest,
You crave not clamouring summit queues in the slightest,
Not for you Crib Goch’s infamous death inviting reputation,
or Snowdon’s bustling tourist summit station,
Yet you are a worthy scramble,
for those who to your steep slopes ramble,
who care not for busy pyg or miners track,
care not for Watkin Path or Gladstone plaque,
but care for you with fine views a-far,
of lakes and valley, under sun, cloud or star.
For your, stately unsung quality,
has no want of notoriety,
visited only by a few true friends,
caring not for noisy modern trends.
Subject of the first British climbing guide in 1909,
now mostly forgotten with the passing of time,
you know you pedigree is assured,
your north face’s place in history secured.
Y Lliwedd , oh Y Lliwedd, giving so much yet noticed by few
How I seek to be like you.
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