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Considering making a loop out of these two. Looks like there isn't a decent connecting path in the valley except the footpath that goes back up through the quarry but it's a fair bit more altitude to gain. Can you walk along the railway? The trains don't start again until March. Otherwise it's up and down the Ranger.
I keep meaning to put an article about this on my website, but never get round to it...
which of the two do you want to descend?
Scratch that. Can you elaborate where you want to start, finish and go between. I'm struggling to understand your need ( or do you just mean to return to your car afterwards?)
The obvious option is the 5,4,3,2,1..
Llanberis
Up llanberis path
Down Rhyd Dhu
Along the bridleway to bwylch cwn plan
Carry up the footpath ( Cambrian Way) to the summit
Down Ranger
Up to the coll then down telegraph
Quite satisfying from an aesthetic perspective as it does the two challenging descents
Covers all 3 bridleways on the actual hill
Plus telegraph ( not that that's much of a plus these days)
Manages to avoid retracing any steps ( apart from Rhyd Dhu ridge)
And is entirely legal...
Yes, to get back to the car whilst not going up and down the same way.
That said, we're going up Saturday and it's going to be snowy and I think after examining and reading up on it it looks like there are some scary drops on Rhyd Ddu that are probably best avoided...
This is on foot, btw.
Doh just reread your OP and realised you mean walking. Oops!
There are indeed bits on Rhyd Ddu you wouldn't want to slide off, but it's nothing like Cryb Goch.
( albeit the rules Change in Winter)
Walk up Rhyd Ddu from the car park, descend down the Ranger path, approx three quarters of the way down there is a path that heads south back to the car park which does pass by the old quarry but not much if any further altitude gain.
Nothing to worry about exposure wise on the Rhyd Ddu route IMO.
Unable to upload my OS route but can DM you if you want.
Looks like there's going to be tons of soft fresh snow as there was none at all today but there's an amber warning tomorrow! We have crampons, sticks and a rope. The drop on Rhyd Ddu doesn't look too precarious on Google Earth...
Its not terrible rhydu but its been years!
We have crampons, sticks and a rope.
If you've got those you should be OK, it's not "terribly" exposed. Though if it's actually snowing, blowing then you might want to rethink. What exposure there is is after the two paths meet below the summit, so if you don't like the look of it just do an up and down missing out the top bit.