Snowdon

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa in Welsh), one of Wales’ most famous and recognisable landmarks dominates the landscape of North West Wales and is well worth a visit. At 1085m (3,560 ft.) it is the highest mountain in England and Wales and hugely popular with over 400,000 walkers flocking to the mountain every year!

For those that conquer this peak the reward is well-worth the climb as the 360° views of the surrounding peaks, jagged ridges, stunning valleys and glistening lakes are truly breath-taking. On a clear day it is possible to see as far as Ireland and even the Isle of Man!

The journey to the top is pretty epic too. As you climb higher, the views across the valleys and lakes unfold. There are plenty of opportunities for an Instagram worthy ‘photo stop’ to catch your breath, so don’t forget your camera!

Bessie parked at Nant Gwynant with Snowdon in the background

The scars of Snowdon’s industrial past sprinkle the mountainside, as copper was once mined here, and you can see the remains of the crushing mill and barracks along the Miners' Path.

The name ‘Snowdon’ means ‘Snow Hill’ and snow can often be seen covering parts of the mountain. Whilst the Welsh name ‘Yr Wyddfa’ translates to ‘Burial Place’, which may refer to the fact that Snowdon is said to be the mythical resting place of Rhitta Gawr – the giant killed by King Arthur.

Summiting Snowdon

So, how long does it take to reach the summit of Snowdon? Well, if you take the Snowdon Mountain Railway to the top then just 1 hour, but if you intend to climb then it all depends which route you take but it should take between 5 to 7 hours to reach the summit and walk back down. Check out the routes below to see how long each one will take and what you may see.

Paths up Snowdon

Tips for Walking up Snowdonia

Before you set off ask yourself 3 questions:

Do I have the right GEAR?
Do I know what the WEATHER will be like?
Am I confident I have the KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS for the day?

If you score 3/3 on these questions, off you go, have a fantastic day! If not, visit Adventure Smart UK to find the answers you need to be kitted up and in the know to be safe!

Where to Park

The main car park at Pen y Pass, the start point for the PyG and the Miners' Track fills up rapidly in the main season, so plan to get there by 6am at the latest! Lower down the mountain, the car park in Nant Peris where you can catch a Snowdon Sherpa bus up to Pen y Pass can be equally busy in the peak season and the advice is to be there before 7am. The car parks for the Watkin and the Rhyd Ddu paths may be quieter, and Llanberis (the village at the foot of the mountain), the starting point for the Llanberis Path usually has plenty of parking.

The Snowdon Sherpa bus links the various starting points for the six main routes up Snowdon, as well as the main car parks, villages and tourist attractions in the area. It is an ideal service for walkers or climbers who intend to start their journey from one point and finish at another, or indeed for anyone who wish to travel around Snowdonia and leave the car at home.

Car Park Rates 2022

Car Park	Payment	Daily Rate	Up to 4hrs
Pen y Pass	Pre-booking	Up to 8hrs - £18 8 to 12hrs - £25	N/A
Nant Peris	Card only	£5	N/A
Pont Bethania	Card only	£6	£3
Rhyd Ddu	Card only	£6	£3
Snowdon Ranger	Card only	£6	£3
Beddgelert	Card only	£6	£3

Pen y Pass Parking: is pre-book only. Please remember spaces are limited and tickets are likely to sell out very quickly. To pre-book your ticket please click HERE.

Snowdon Mountain Railway

If the climb to the summit is a little daunting and not for you then why not take the train to the rooftop of Wales. Since 1896 the steam trains of the Snowdon Mountain Railway have been taking visiters to the summit of Snowdon by rack and pinion railway.

Travel to the Summit is between May and the end of October (last operational date to be confirmed) – weather permitting. During the early season (March and April) trains will run to Clogwyn ¾ up the mountain, where the unsheltered viewing platform offers spectacular views to the valleys below (weather permitting).

For more information and to book visit the Snowdon Railway website www.snowdonrailway.co.uk

2022 Season

For the 2022 season the trains will only run to Clogwyn Station, which is ¾ distance to the summit of Snowdon. The journey time to Clogwyn is approximately 45 minutes and passengers will have a 30-minute stop-over at this station to enjoy the view and take photos.

Sadly the summit building, Hafod Eryri will remain closed, as the essential works to the upper mountain track hasn’t been completed due to the constraints of the pandemic.

Snowdon Mountain Railway