Snowdon South Ridge (Allt Maenderyn) Summit Walk, Rhyd Ddu

Starting from Rhyd Ddu, the route climbs steadily towards Bwlch Cwm Llan, passing the remains of an old slate quarry. Here, abandoned workers’ huts, trackways, and ruined structures offer a glimpse into Snowdonia’s industrial past, set against an increasingly mountainous backdrop.

Beyond the quarry, the path rises onto the South Ridge itself. The walking becomes more open and exposed, with the occasional easy, unexposed scramble adding interest rather than technical difficulty. As height is gained, steep drops fall away on either side, creating a dramatic and exhilarating section of the route.

Despite the exposure, the ridge follows a clear, well-defined line, and the views expand with every step. On clear days, the sense of space and scale is striking, with sweeping outlooks across surrounding peaks and down into the valleys below.

Near the top, the route joins the Watkin Path for the final short stretch to the summit. The descent follows the Rhyd Ddu Path — watch carefully for the turning on the way down as it’s easy to miss. If you do miss it you’ll find yourself heading back down the South Ridge, which isn’t a disaster, but a map makes the whole descent more straightforward.

“This is another hidden gem — hardly anyone comes up the South Ridge and I’m not sure why, because it’s a brilliant route. The scrambling is easy, barely counts as scrambling really, but it adds to the feeling of adventure. The one thing to watch is the turning on the Rhyd Ddu descent — it’s genuinely easy to miss so keep an eye on the map at that point.” — Delyth, Perthi Holiday Cottages