Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw in the shadow of Snowdon's summmit

From the Youth Hostel, cross the A4086 to the car park opposite. Cross the car park to the far right where there is an information board about the PYG track (A) see photograph 2. No one knows why this is called the PYG track, but it may have been used by miners to bring ore down from the mine. The walk starts here on the tarmac path, see photograph 3.The path is well-marked, but the tarmac path soon starts to rise steeply on a rocky path towards towards Bwich y Moch. Continue following this path. Footbridges are marked on the OS map along this path, but they are generally stone slabs across small water courses and may not be evident.At an obvious path junction, a path crosses from the left. Continue on the main path slightly to the right over a double-ladder style.The path levels out a little at this point and you should be able to see Llyn Llydaw below you to the left. As you continue you will see Glaslyn appear ahead of you to the left. When you reach a definite path junction, with a stone pillar see photograph 1 you have the option of continuing upwards to the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Care is needed on the rocks as they can be very slippery especially as you cross some of the small rivulets which feed the Afon Glaslyn below.Extreme care needed if climbing to the summit as parts of this path are very steep and can be slippery when wet. The path is also a very popular route to the summit so can become surprisingly crowded. If you want to climb up to the summit, continue forwards as the path climbs steeply. Follow this path as it turns to the right and left until you meet a path junction with a bridleway and the route of the Snowdon Mountain Railway. There is a stone pillar at this point. Turn left to walk by the railway line up to the Summit Station. (B)Return back down this path. Follow the path by the railway line until you come to a stone pillar. Turn right to walk down the steep path and rejoin the main route at Waypoint [2], turning right at the path junction marked by the stone pillar.

If not following the optional ascent to the summit, at the path junction turn left to follow the path as it goes steeply down to the side of Glaslyn. This path is quite steep at this point so care needed. Much of the path has been slabbed with stones to reduce erosion, but in places it can disappear. Continue along this path as it crosses over a fairly obvious slabbed footbridge towards the shore of Glaslyn. Turn left and follow the path along the shore, past a disused mine until you come to the Afon Glaslyn as it leaves to flow down towards Llyn Llydaw. Turn away from Glaslyn, to follow the path along the stream towards the reservoir of Llyn Llydaw. Continue along the shore of Llyn Llydaw until you come to the causeway. Turn right to go over the causeway across the reservoir and then forwards along the path ahead. (C) The ruined buildings you can see are from the Brittania Copper mine, sometimes knows as the Snowdon Mine. The mine ceased working in 1916.

At the next path junction you will see a green building on the smaller path to your right. Follow the main path as it curves left and very soon follows a pipeline (D) down on your right. Stay on the path as it gradually descends, past Llyn Teyrn on your right. After a short while you will see the youth hostel below you. Continue on the path until you reach the end of the Miner's track and its information board (E). This track was built in the 1880s and the mine manager was able to drive his car along here to Llyn Glaslyn .You are then only a few steps from the car park at which you started. (D) This pipeline takes water from the reservoir of Llyn Llydaw to the Cwm Dyli hydroelectric power station below.(E) The Miners track was built in the 1880s and the mine manager was able to drive his car along here to Llyn Glaslyn .