Free delivery on orders over £80A Guide To Snowdon
Located in the middle of Snowdonia National Park, Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is the highest mountain in Wales and England, at 1,085 m above sea level.
Its name is said to have arrived from old English Snowdon for “snow hill” or the Welsh Yr Wyddfa for “tumulus” (a raised mound erected above a grave) in reference to the story of the slain ogre, Rhitta Gawr.
Since the Bronze Age, it has been a special place to local’s with evidence of copper mining seen all over the mountain. It became popular with walkers in the late 1700’s after a guide book was published and the introduction of the railway in 1896 further boosted tourism to the peak.
Today, it continues to draw people from all over the UK as well as further afield, attracting over 530,000 visitors a year. This is mainly over the summer months so if you are willing to go outside of this period it can still be a peaceful walk to the summit.
Mountain Profile
- Name: Snowdon
- Height: 1,085 m
- Location: Caernarfon
- OS Map: Active Explorer OL17: Snowdon
Routes
Intermediate Route – Miners Track
- Distance: 12.9 km
- Ascent: 723 m
- Time: 6 hrs
- Car Park: LL55 4NY
The miners' track takes you up away from the visitors' centre and alongside Lyn Lldaw water before the final ascent to the summit. It is mainly a gravel or stone steeped trail that is well marked – although the path does become less clear and uneven nearer to top.
Intermediate/Advanced Route - Crib Goch
- Distance: 10 km
- Ascent: 760 m
- Time: 7 hrs
- Car Park: LL55 4NY
Grib Goch is a technical grade 1 scramble that requires your full attention and with plenty of exposure throughout the route you’ll need a head for heights. It heads out from Pen y Pass along the Pyg route before the trails turn off. From here on in it is full on scrambling up steep and rough terrain, along Crib Goch ridge, through the pinnacles, across Crib y Ddysgl ridge and on to Llanberis path and the summit.
Intermediate/Advanced Route - Rhyd Ddu Path
- Distance: 13.6 km
- Ascent: 895 m
- Time: 6 hrs
- Car Park: LL54 6TN
Despite being the busiest mountain in the UK you can minimises your time with the crowds following this less travelled gem. It is a gentle start out from Snowdon train station until you reach the halfway point where it gets considerably steeper and rockier. You continue to zig-zag your way up the mountain before you reach Bwlch Main ridge. This requires plenty of attention as it is quite narrow and contains loose rock. The ridge widens out before a short trail up to the summit and a well-deserved cuppa.
Flora & Fauna
Snowdon Lilies
When travelling up Snowdon, you can look into its glacial past and see how the ice carved out channels and as it retreated it left space for plants that excel in colder climates.
Today, Snowdon is recognised as one of 165 IPA (Important Plant Areas) in the UK. Amongst the jagged rock faces, exposed cliff tops and scree, hardy arctic-alpine plants have flourished. This inhospitable and unique environment is home to the only place in the UK where you can find Snowdon Lilies.
From the top of Snowdon, you can sometimes see peregrine falcons, ravens and buzzards. At the base of the mountain, oak, alder and wych woodlands house peregrines, merlins, goshawks and black grouse.
Amenities
Cwellyn Arms
Pubs
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The Saracens Head Hotel
A beautiful country inn located in the village of Beddgelert it has a varied menu that uses local produce where possible and offers a range of traditional cask ales.
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Cwellyn Arms
Cwellyn Arms is a family run country pub that serves seasonal food and has a selection of real ales from selected micro breweries.
Accommodation
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YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass
If you’re after convenience then you can’t do much better than this place. It’s right next to Pen-y-Pass car park, meaning you roll right out bed and onto the mountain. The hostel itself is simple and clean with private rooms or shared bunks available and a café/bar for a well-earnt meal when you get off the hill.
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Snowdon Base Camp
A traditional campsite next to Cwellyn Lake, it is a basic field with modern facilities block housing power showers, dry room and toilets. Twenty minutes’ walk down the road and you’ll find yourself at the start of Rhyd Ddu trail and a day of adventure.
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Tŷ Mawr B&B and Tea Room
A 19th-century stone cottage, this laid-back B&B and tea room lies in Rhyd Ddu village. It has cozy double rooms and serves homely pub food as well as delicious cake and tea in the afternoon.
Kit List
The clothing, equipment and footwear you need for this hike are the same as any other. The only addition to consider would be walking poles – for extra balance and support across rocky terrain.
We’ve compiled a 3 peaks hiking kit list that includes a checklist of all the bits you need make sure you’re fully prepared to tackle Snowdon.
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About the Author:Pete Fletcher - Outdoor ExpertPete grew up hiking most of the trails in the Lake District before being introduced to skiing. A decade later and you're most likely to find him snowboarding, skateboarding or making a mean coffee. |
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