Pass of Llanberis - The Cromlech Boulders - Gwynedd, North Wales, UK
Posted by: Dragontree
N 53° 05.096 W 004° 02.519
30U E 430210 N 5882226
This beautiful scenic drive/byway is one of the best in the United Kingdom.
Waymark Code: WM6Q58
Location: North Wales, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/06/2009
Views: 8
The Pass of Llanberis, or the Llanberis Pass, takes the highway through the spectacular mountainside between Pen-y-Gwryd and Llanberis. Hugging the accessible route the road twists and turns in a magnificent fashion making a challenging and awesome driving experience.
Along the way the road weaves between the Glyderau and the Snowdon massif which tower above. Nant Peris marks the bottom of the Pass as the road nears Llanberis with the Dinorwig Slate mines and power station. The mines create a mind-blowing landscape mingling man and nature in a way you can never forget. The glistening slate spoil litters the mountainside beside huge natural boulders taken through the valley with the movement of glaciers.
As there is so much rock it is an obvious place for climbers to come and enjoy the environment. Our focal point is The Cromlech Boulders and Pont y Gromlech where a popular roadside parking location runs parellel with the river (Afon Nant Peris). The north side of the Pass has crags such as Dinas y Gromlech (bearing the famous line of Cenotaph Corner), Carreg Wastad, Clogwyn y Grochan (these are together called the Three Cliffs); and further down the valley, Craig Ddu. On the South side, the principal 'roadside' cliff is Dinas Mot. Climbers can be seen both on The Cromlech Boulders and dotted over the mountainside.
There are famous climbers particularly associated with the area including John Menlove Edwards (in the 1930s and 1940s) and Joe Brown (in the 1950s and 1960s). The British 1953 Everest expedition also trained in the area, and were based at the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel at the eastern end of the pass.
At the western end lies Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris just before Llanberis itself. They are divided by the road to the Dolbadarn castle ruin and Snowdon Mountain Railway where it joins the Llanberis Lake Railway.
Being so close to the mountainside means that the crags are very accessible from the roadway itself. A popular Youth Hostel at Pen-y-Pass which is the highest point in the pass is converted from an old coaching inn, the Gorphwysfa Hotel.
We trust you will enjoy driving along this route as we can't find another more breathtaking drive in our country.
There is a link (
visit link) which takes you on the drive with Richard Wilson as he created the programme 'Britain's Best Drives'.