Number 1 Maze [Worksheets] (teacher made) - Twinkl - Free Printable

To solve this puzzle, we need to find the path from the Lion (start) to the Cave (finish).

The rule for these types of "number mazes" is usually:
1. Start at the beginning.
2. Move to an adjacent square (up, down, left, or right — not diagonal).
3. The numbers must follow a sequence. Looking at the grid, the numbers go from 1 up to 20. So, we need to connect 1 → 2 → 3 → ... → 20.

Let's trace the path step-by-step:

Start: The Lion is next to the number 1.

1. From 1, where is 2?
- To the right is 3. Down is 11.
- Wait, let's look closer. The Lion occupies the first two cells of the first column? No, the Lion is in the top-left corner area. Let's assume the start is effectively at cell (Row 1, Col 2) which is 1.
- Adjacent to 1:
- Right: 3
- Down: 11
- We need 2. Where is 2?
- There is a 2 at (Row 2, Col 4). That's far.
- There is a 2 at (Row 3, Col 3).
- There is a 2 at (Row 5, Col 3).
- Let's re-examine the start. Maybe the Lion *is* the start, and we just need to find 1, then 2, etc.
- Let's look for a continuous chain from 1 to 20 where each number is next to the previous one (horizontally or vertically).

Let's try to build the chain:

* Find 1: Located at Row 1, Column 2.
* Find 2: Must be adjacent to 1.
* Neighbors of (R1, C2) are: R1C1 (Lion), R1C3 (3), R2C2 (11). None are 2.
* This implies my assumption about starting at R1C2 might be slightly off, or the path doesn't start strictly at 1 being adjacent to the lion's *body*, but rather the lion is just marking the start zone.
* Let's look for any 1 that has a 2 next to it.
* Option A: R1C2 is 1. Neighbors: 3, 11. No 2.
* Option B: R3C3 is 2. Neighbors: R3C2(15), R3C4(13), R2C3(12), R4C3(1). Ah! R4C3 is 1.
* Let's check if R4C3 (1) is a valid start. It is deep in the grid. The Lion is at the top left. This seems unlikely unless the path winds all the way back.
* Let's look at the other 1 at R4C3. Its neighbor R4C2 is 5, R4C4 is 14, R3C3 is 2, R5C3 is 2.
* Wait, look at R4C3 = 1. Above it is R3C3 = 2. Below it is R5C3 = 2.
* Let's trace from R4C3 (1) -> R3C3 (2).
* From 2 (R3C3), where is 3?
* Neighbors of R3C3: R3C2(15), R3C4(13), R2C3(12), R4C3(1). No 3.
* Let's try the other 2 at R5C3.
* From 1 (R4C3) -> 2 (R5C3).
* Neighbors of R5C3 (2): R5C2(16), R5C4(15), R4C3(1), R6C3(15). No 3.

Let's reconsider the standard layout. Usually, the numbers 1-20 form a single connected snake. Let's find all positions of numbers 1-5 to see how they connect.

Positions:
* 1: (R1, C2), (R4, C3)
* 2: (R2, C4), (R3, C3), (R5, C3)
* 3: (R1, C3), (R7, C2), (R8, C2) -- wait, R8C2 is 3? Let me re-read the grid carefully.
* Row 8: 10, 3, 19, 20... Yes, R8C2 is 3.
* 4: (R4, C6), (R6, C6)
* 5: (R1, C5), (R4, C2)

Let's try starting from the Lion again. The Lion is visually next to 1 at (R1, C2) and 11 at (R2, C2).
Is it possible the sequence is different? Or maybe I missed a neighbor.

Let's look at 1 at (R1, C2) again.
Neighbors:
- Left: Lion
- Right: 3 (R1, C3)
- Down: 11 (R2, C2)

If the path goes 1 -> 3, we skip 2. That's invalid.

Let's look at the other 1 at (R4, C3).
Neighbors:
- Up: 2 (R3, C3)
- Down: 2 (R5, C3)
- Left: 5 (R4, C2)
- Right: 14 (R4, C4)

If we start at 1 (R4, C3), we can go to 2 (R3, C3) or 2 (R5, C3).

Path Attempt 1: Start at 1 (R4, C3) -> 2 (R3, C3).
- Current Pos: 2 (R3, C3). Need 3.
- Neighbors of R3C3: 15, 13, 12, 1. No 3. Dead end.

Path Attempt 2: Start at 1 (R4, C3) -> 2 (R5, C3).
- Current Pos: 2 (R5, C3). Need 3.
- Neighbors of R5C3: 16, 15, 1, 15. No 3. Dead end.

This suggests that 1 (R4, C3) is not the start, or I am misinterpreting adjacency. Is diagonal allowed?
If diagonal is allowed:
From 1 (R1, C2):
- Diagonal down-right is 12 (R2, C3).
- Diagonal down-left is 11 (R2, C2) -- wait, R2C2 is directly below.

Let's look really closely at the grid around the Lion.
Row 1: [Lion] [1] [3] [11] [5]
Row 2: [11] [12] [2] [7] ... wait, looking at the image:
Row 2 Col 1 is 11? No, Row 2 starts under the Lion.
Let's map the grid coordinates precisely based on the visual blocks.

Grid Layout:
* Row 1: Cell 1 (Lion), Cell 2 (1), Cell 3 (3), Cell 4 (11), Cell 5 (5)
* Row 2: Cell 1 (empty/Lion body?), Cell 2 (11), Cell 3 (12), Cell 4 (2), Cell 5 (7)
* *Correction*: The Lion spans the first column of Row 1 and Row 2? Or just Row 1?
* Visually, the Lion is in a large box spanning Row 1 Col 1 and Row 2 Col 1? No, the grid lines show:
* Top-left box contains the Lion. It looks like it occupies (R1,C1) and (R2,C1) merged? Or just R1C1?
* Let's assume standard grid:
* R1C1: Lion
* R2C1: 11? No, look at the line. The horizontal line between R1 and R2 goes all the way across. The vertical line between C1 and C2 goes all the way down.
* So, R1C1 is Lion. R2C1 is 11? Let's check the text in R2C1. It says 11.
* So, R1: [Lion] [1] [3] [11] [5]
* R2: [11] [12] [2] [7] ... wait, there are 6 columns?

Let's count columns in the image.
Row 1: Lion, 1, 3, 11, 5. (5 items visible, but Lion might be wider?)
Row 2: 11, 12, 2, 7. (4 items?)
Row 3: 9, 15, 2, 13, 9, 13. (6 items)
Row 4: 8, 5, 1, 14, 0, 4. (6 items)
Row 5: 5, 16, 2, 15, 6, 9. (6 items)
Row 6: 14, 7, 15, 16, 3, 4. (6 items)
Row 7: 6, 8, 18, 17, Cave. (5 items? Cave spans 2 cols?)
Row 8: 10, 3, 19, 20, Cave.

Let's align the grid properly. It looks like a 6-column grid.

Re-mapping the Grid (6 Columns x 8 Rows):

* Row 1:
* C1: Lion (Image)
* C2: 1
* C3: 3
* C4: 11
* C5: 5
* C6: ? (Empty/Cut off? Or does the Lion span C1-C2?)
* Looking at Row 3 (9, 15, 2, 13, 9, 13), it clearly has 6 distinct boxes.
* Looking at Row 1, the Lion box is wide. It likely spans C1 and C2? Or maybe C1 only and C6 is missing/blank?
* Let's look at the vertical alignment.
* The "1" in R1 is above the "11" in R2? No.
* Let's trace vertical lines.
* Line 1 (Left edge).
* Line 2 (After Lion/11?). In R2, the first number is 11. In R3, the first number is 9. They align. So C1 is the first column.
* In R1, the Lion is in C1. What is in R1C2? The number 1.
* So R1C1 = Lion. R1C2 = 1.
* Does R1 have a C6? The row ends after 5. But R3 has 6 numbers.
* Let's look at the right edge. The rightmost vertical line is straight.
* R1: [Lion] [1] [3] [11] [5] ... is there a 6th box? It looks like the box with '5' is the last one. But below it, in R2, the last number is 7. Below that 13.
* Let's count boxes in R1 visually.
1. Lion box.
2. Box with 1.
3. Box with 3.
4. Box with 11.
5. Box with 5.
It seems R1 only has 5 columns drawn? Or maybe the Lion takes up 2 columns?
If Lion takes C1 & C2, then:
R1: [Lion(C1-2)] [3(C3)] [11(C4)] [5(C5)] ... still doesn't match 6 cols.

Let's try another hypothesis: The grid is irregular or I should just follow the numbers regardless of strict grid alignment, focusing on adjacency.

Let's list the coordinates assuming a standard 6x8 grid based on the majority of rows (Rows 3-6 have 6 items).

Row 3: 9, 15, 2, 13, 9, 13 (Cols 1-6)
Row 4: 8, 5, 1, 14, 0, 4 (Cols 1-6)
Row 5: 5, 16, 2, 15, 6, 9 (Cols 1-6)
Row 6: 14, 7, 15, 16, 3, 4 (Cols 1-6)
Row 7: 6, 8, 18, 17, [Cave Start?]
Row 8: 10, 3, 19, 20, [Cave End?]

Now let's fit Rows 1 and 2 into this 6-column structure.
Row 2: 11, 12, 2, 7 ... wait, looking at the image, Row 2 has:
[11] [12] [2] [7] ... and then empty? Or does it align with the right side?
Let's look at vertical alignment between R2 and R3.
R2 "11" is above R3 "9"? Yes.
R2 "12" is above R3 "15"? Yes.
R2 "2" is above R3 "2"? Yes.
R2 "7" is above R3 "13"? Yes.
Are there more numbers in R2? The image shows a box after 7? No, it looks like the row ends or merges.
Actually, looking at R1:
[Lion] [1] [3] [11] [5]
The "1" is above "11" (R2C1)? No, "1" is above "12" (R2C2)?
Let's look at the vertical line between Lion and 1. It continues down between 11 and 12.
So:
R1C1: Lion
R1C2: 1
R2C1: 11
R2C2: 12

Next vertical line: Between 1 and 3 (R1). Between 12 and 2 (R2).
So:
R1C3: 3
R2C3: 2

Next vertical line: Between 3 and 11 (R1). Between 2 and 7 (R2).
So:
R1C4: 11
R2C4: 7

Next vertical line: Between 11 and 5 (R1). After 7 (R2)?
R1C5: 5
R2C5: ? (Empty/Blank)

What about Column 6?
R3C6 is 13. R4C6 is 4.
Is there anything in R1C6 or R2C6? The image cuts off or they are blank.
However, notice R1 has 5 elements + Lion. R2 has 4 elements + 11?
Let's assume the grid is 6 columns wide, and some top cells are empty or part of the Lion graphic.

Let's refine the coordinate map:

* R1: C1(Lion), C2(1), C3(3), C4(11), C5(5), C6(Empty)
* R2: C1(11), C2(12), C3(2), C4(7), C5(Empty), C6(Empty) -- *Wait, looking at the image, R2 seems to stop after 7? Or is there a blank?* Let's assume blanks are walls/unusable.
* R3: C1(9), C2(15), C3(2), C4(13), C5(9), C6(13)
* R4: C1(8), C2(5), C3(1), C4(14), C5(0), C6(4)
* R5: C1(5), C2(16), C3(2), C4(15), C5(6), C6(9)
* R6: C1(14), C2(7), C3(15), C4(16), C5(3), C6(4)
* R7: C1(6), C2(8), C3(18), C4(17), C5(Cave?), C6(Cave?)
* R8: C1(10), C2(3), C3(19), C4(20), C5(Cave?), C6(Cave?)

*Note on Cave:* The cave graphic spans R7C5, R7C6, R8C5, R8C6 roughly. The goal is to reach the cave. The number 20 is at R8C4, right next to the cave. So the path must end at 20.

Goal: Find path 1 -> 2 -> ... -> 20.

Step 1: Find 1.
Candidates for 1:
- R1C2
- R4C3

Step 2: Check paths from each 1.

Case A: Start at R1C2 (1)
- Neighbors of R1C2:
- Left: Lion (Start)
- Right: R1C3 (3) -> Skip 2. Invalid.
- Down: R2C2 (12) -> Skip 2. Invalid.
- Up/Out of bounds.
- Conclusion: R1C2 cannot be the start of the 1-20 sequence because it has no adjacent 2.

Case B: Start at R4C3 (1)
- Neighbors of R4C3 (1):
- Up: R3C3 (2)
- Down: R5C3 (2)
- Left: R4C2 (5)
- Right: R4C4 (14)
- Valid moves to 2: R3C3 or R5C3.

Let's trace both sub-paths.

Path B1: 1(R4C3) -> 2(R3C3)
- Current: 2 at R3C3.
- Need 3.
- Neighbors of R3C3:
- Up: R2C3 (2) -- Already used/wrong number.
- Down: R4C3 (1) -- Previous.
- Left: R3C2 (15)
- Right: R3C4 (13)
- No adjacent 3. Dead End.

Path B2: 1(R4C3) -> 2(R5C3)
- Current: 2 at R5C3.
- Need 3.
- Neighbors of R5C3:
- Up: R4C3 (1) -- Previous.
- Down: R6C3 (15)
- Left: R5C2 (16)
- Right: R5C4 (15)
- No adjacent 3. Dead End.

Something is wrong.
Did I miss a 1 or a 2?
Let's re-scan the grid for 1s and 2s.

1s:
- R1C2
- R4C3

2s:
- R2C3
- R3C3
- R5C3

Let's re-evaluate adjacencies.

Is it possible that R1C2 (1) connects to R2C3 (2) diagonally?
If diagonal moves are allowed:
- 1(R1C2) -> 2(R2C3) [Diagonal Down-Right]
- From 2(R2C3), need 3.
- Neighbors of R2C3 (including diagonals?):
- Orthogonal: R2C2(12), R2C4(7), R1C3(3), R3C3(2).
- Ah! R1C3 is 3. It is orthogonally adjacent to R2C3? No, R1C3 is above R2C3. Yes!
- So: 2(R2C3) -> 3(R1C3).
- From 3(R1C3), need 4.
- Neighbors of R1C3:
- Left: 1 (Used)
- Right: 11
- Down: 2 (Used)
- Diagonals?
- If diagonal is allowed, R2C4 is 7. R2C2 is 12.
- No 4 nearby.
- Wait, is there a 4 near R1C3?
- R1C4 is 11. R2C3 is 2.
- Dead end at 3?

Let's look for 4s in the grid.
- R4C6
- R6C6

Let's look for 3s in the grid.
- R1C3
- R6C5
- R8C2

If the path goes 1->2->3->4, the 3 must be next to a 4.

Check 3 at R6C5:
- Neighbors: R6C4(16), R6C6(4), R5C5(6), R7C5(Cave).
- R6C6 is 4. This is a valid link! 3(R6C5) -> 4(R6C6).

Check 3 at R8C2:
- Neighbors: R8C1(10), R8C3(19), R7C2(8).
- No 4 nearby.

Check 3 at R1C3:
- Neighbors: 1, 11, 2. No 4.

So, the only viable segment involving 3 and 4 is ... -> 3(R6C5) -> 4(R6C6) -> ...

This implies the path comes from somewhere else to reach 3 at R6C5.
Predecessor of 3 is 2.
Where is a 2 adjacent to 3(R6C5)?
- Neighbors of R6C5:
- Up: R5C5 (6)
- Down: R7C5 (Cave)
- Left: R6C4 (16)
- Right: R6C6 (4)
- No 2 adjacent to R6C5.

Did I miss a 3?
Grid scan for 3:
- R1C3
- R6C5
- R8C2

Did I miss a 2 adjacent to any of these?
- R1C3 neighbors: 1, 11, 2(R2C3). Yes!
- If we use 2(R2C3) -> 3(R1C3), we established earlier that 3(R1C3) has no 4 neighbor.

Let's re-read the grid values. Maybe I misread a number.

Row 6: 14, 7, 15, 16, 3, 4.
Row 5: 5, 16, 2, 15, 6, 9.

Is there a connection between 2(R5C3) and 3(R6C5)? No, too far.

Let's look at 2(R3C3).
Neighbors: 15, 13, 12, 1.

Let's look at 2(R5C3).
Neighbors: 16, 15, 1, 15.

Let's look at 2(R2C3).
Neighbors: 12, 7, 3(R1C3), 2(R3C3).

There seems to be a disconnect. Let's look for 4 again.
- R4C6
- R6C6

Who connects to 4(R4C6)?
- Neighbors: R4C5(0), R4C7(out), R3C6(13), R5C6(9).
- No 3 or 5.

Who connects to 4(R6C6)?
- Neighbors: R6C5(3), R5C6(9), R7C6(Cave).
- Connects to 3(R6C5).

So we have a fragment: 3(R6C5) -> 4(R6C6).
We need a 2 before 3(R6C5).
Neighbors of 3(R6C5) are 16, 6, Cave, 4.
There is NO 2 next to this 3.

Is it possible the sequence is not 1-20?
Or maybe I am misidentifying numbers.

Let's look at R5C5 = 6.
Let's look at R6C4 = 16.

What if the number at R6C5 is not 3? It looks like a 3.
What if the number at R5C5 is not 6? It looks like a 6.

Let's look at the other end: 20.
20 is at R8C4.
Predecessor 19.
19 is at R8C3.
Predecessor 18.
18 is at R7C3.
Predecessor 17.
17 is at R7C4.

So we have a solid fragment at the end:
17(R7C4) -> 18(R7C3) -> 19(R8C3) -> 20(R8C4) -> Cave.

Now we need to connect 16 to 17(R7C4).
Where is 16?
- R5C2
- R6C4

Check 16(R6C4):
- Neighbors: R6C3(15), R6C5(3), R5C4(15), R7C4(17).
- Yes! R7C4 is 17.
- So: 16(R6C4) -> 17(R7C4).

Now we need 15 before 16(R6C4).
Where is 15?
- R3C2
- R5C4
- R6C3

Check neighbors of 16(R6C4) for a 15:
- Left: R6C3 is 15.
- Up: R5C4 is 15.

Two options for 15. Let's trace back further.

Option 1: 15 is at R6C3.
Path so far: ... -> 15(R6C3) -> 16(R6C4) -> 17(R7C4) -> 18(R7C3) -> 19(R8C3) -> 20(R8C4).
Need 14 before 15(R6C3).
Neighbors of R6C3(15):
- Left: R6C2(7)
- Right: R6C4(16)
- Up: R5C3(2)
- Down: R7C3(18)
- No 14. Dead end.

Option 2: 15 is at R5C4.
Path so far: ... -> 15(R5C4) -> 16(R6C4) -> ...
Need 14 before 15(R5C4).
Neighbors of R5C4(15):
- Left: R5C3(2)
- Right: R5C5(6)
- Up: R4C4(14) -> Bingo!
- Down: R6C4(16)

So: 14(R4C4) -> 15(R5C4) -> 16(R6C4) -> 17(R7C4) -> 18(R7C3) -> 19(R8C3) -> 20(R8C4).

Now we need 13 before 14(R4C4).
Neighbors of R4C4(14):
- Left: R4C3(1)
- Right: R4C5(0)
- Up: R3C4(13) -> Bingo!
- Down: R5C4(15)

So: 13(R3C4) -> 14(R4C4) -> ...

Now we need 12 before 13(R3C4).
Neighbors of R3C4(13):
- Left: R3C3(2)
- Right: R3C5(9)
- Up: R2C4(7)
- Down: R4C4(14)
- No 12. Dead end?

Let's check other 13s.
- R3C6 is 13.
- R2C4 is 7.

Did I miss a 12?
- R2C2 is 12.

Is there a path from 12 to 13?
12(R2C2) neighbors:
- Left: R2C1(11)
- Right: R2C3(2)
- Up: R1C2(1)
- Down: R3C2(15)
- No 13.

Wait, look at R3C4(13) again.
Is it possible 12 is diagonal? No, usually orthogonal.
Is it possible I misread R2C4? It is 7.
Is it possible I misread R3C5? It is 9.
Is it possible I misread R3C3? It is 2.

Let's look for another 13.
Only R3C4 and R3C6.

Let's look for another 14.
Only R4C4.

Let's look for another 15.
R3C2, R5C4, R6C3.

Let's re-evaluate the connection to 13(R3C4).
Maybe the number before 13 is not 12? No, sequence is 1-20.

Is there a 12 adjacent to 13(R3C6)?
Neighbors of R3C6(13):
- Left: R3C5(9)
- Up: R2C6(Empty)
- Down: R4C6(4)
- Right: Out
No 12.

Let's look at 12(R2C2) again.
Where can it go?
Neighbors: 11, 2, 1, 15.
It must go to 13.
Is there a 13 next to 12?
R2C2 is at Row 2, Col 2.
R3C2 is 15.
R2C3 is 2.
R1C2 is 1.
R2C1 is 11.

There is NO 13 adjacent to 12(R2C2).

This implies 12(R2C2) is NOT in the main path, OR my grid reading is wrong.

Let's look at R1C4 = 11.
Let's look at R2C1 = 11.

Let's look at 11.
If 11 is in the path, it needs 10 and 12.

11(R2C1) neighbors:
- Up: Lion/R1C1
- Down: R3C1(9)
- Right: R2C2(12)

If path goes ... -> 10 -> 11(R2C1) -> 12(R2C2) -> ...
We know 12(R2C2) has no 13 neighbor. So this path is dead.

11(R1C4) neighbors:
- Left: R1C3(3)
- Right: R1C5(5)
- Down: R2C4(7)

No 10 or 12. So 11(R1C4) is likely not in the path.

Where is 10?
- R8C1.

10(R8C1) neighbors:
- Up: R7C1(6)
- Right: R8C2(3)

If 10 is in the path, it needs 9 and 11.
Neighbors of 10: 6, 3. No 9 or 11.

This suggests the path does not include 10, 11, 12?
But the sequence is 1 to 20. All numbers must be present.

Let's re-read the numbers in the grid very carefully.

Row 1: Lion, 1, 3, 11, 5
Row 2: 11, 12, 2, 7
Row 3: 9, 15, 2, 13, 9, 13
Row 4: 8, 5, 1, 14, 0, 4
Row 5: 5, 16, 2, 15, 6, 9
Row 6: 14, 7, 15, 16, 3, 4
Row 7: 6, 8, 18, 17, Cave
Row 8: 10, 3, 19, 20, Cave

Is it possible that 0 is actually 10?
R4C5 is 0. It looks like a 0.
If R4C5 is 10:
Neighbors of 10(R4C5):
- Left: 14
- Right: 4
- Up: 13(R3C5 is 9? No, R3C5 is 9. R3C4 is 13. R3C5 is 9.)
- Down: 6(R5C5)

If R4C5 is 10, it needs 9 and 11.
Neighbors: 14, 4, 9(R3C5), 6.
So 9(R3C5) -> 10(R4C5).
Then needs 11.
Neighbors of 10(R4C5): 14, 4, 9, 6. No 11.

Okay, look at R3C5 = 9.
Look at R3C6 = 13.
Look at R2C6. Empty.

Let's look at 9(R3C1).
Neighbors: R2C1(11), R3C2(15), R4C1(8).
If 9(R3C1) -> 8(R4C1)...
And 11(R2C1) -> 12(R2C2)...

Let's try to find 11 and 12 again.
We have 11 at R2C1 and R1C4.
We have 12 at R2C2.

If the path uses 11(R2C1) -> 12(R2C2), it gets stuck.

What if 12 is elsewhere? No other 12.

What if 11 is elsewhere? No other 11.

Is it possible that R1C4 (11) connects to R2C4 (7)? No.

Let's look at 7.
R2C4 is 7.
R6C2 is 7.

Let's look at 8.
R4C1 is 8.
R7C2 is 8.

Let's look at 9.
R3C1 is 9.
R3C5 is 9.
R5C6 is 9.

Let's try to build from 1 again, assuming I missed a link.

1(R4C3).
We proved 1->2->3 fails locally.

What if 1(R1C2) is the start?
1(R1C2) -> ?
If diagonal is allowed:
1(R1C2) -> 2(R2C3).
2(R2C3) -> 3(R1C3).
3(R1C3) -> ?
Neighbors of 3(R1C3): 1, 11, 2.
If diagonal allowed:
R2C2 is 12. R2C4 is 7.
No 4.

Is it possible the number at R1C4 is not 11?
It looks like 11.

Is it possible the number at R4C5 is not 0?
It looks like 0.

Let's look at the cluster around 5.
R1C5 is 5.
R4C2 is 5.
R5C1 is 5.

Let's look at 4.
R4C6 is 4.
R6C6 is 4.

Let's look at 6.
R5C5 is 6.
R7C1 is 6.

Let's try this path:
1(R4C3) -> 2(R5C3) -- Stuck.
1(R4C3) -> 2(R3C3) -- Stuck.

Wait! Look at R3C3 = 2.
Look at R3C2 = 15.
Look at R2C3 = 2.

Is there a 1 next to 2(R2C3)?
Neighbors of R2C3: 12, 7, 3(R1C3), 2(R3C3).
No 1.

Is there a 1 next to 2(R3C3)?
Neighbors: 15, 13, 12, 1(R4C3).
Yes, 1(R4C3).

Is there a 1 next to 2(R5C3)?
Neighbors: 16, 15, 1(R4C3), 15.
Yes, 1(R4C3).

So all 2s connect to 1(R4C3) or nothing.
And 1(R4C3) is isolated from the rest of the low numbers (3,4,5...).

Unless...

Look at R4C2 = 5.
Look at R4C1 = 8.
Look at R5C1 = 5.
Look at R5C2 = 16.

Look at R3C1 = 9.
Look at R2C1 = 11.

Look at R1C2 = 1.

What if the path starts at 1(R1C2) and goes to 2 via a wrap-around or something? Unlikely.

What if R1C3 (3) is actually 2? No, it says 3.

Let's look at R6C5 (3) and **R6C6 (4