Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa in Welsh) is the highest peak in Wales, offering hiking trails of varying difficulty to the summit. It features in the Three Peaks Challenge alongside Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike. Here’s what you need to know about Hiking Snowdon in Wales.
A bit about Snowdon
Snowdon is know by the local name Yr Wyddfa. There have been campaigns for the mountain to always be referred to by its Welsh name, but these haven’t yet stuck.
Located in Snowdonia National Park in North Wales, Snowdon is the highest peak in Wales with a summit at 1,085 metres (3,560 ft). There are six hiking trails to the summit and, on a clear day (which I did not have!) there are views of Snowdonia, Anglesey, Pembrokeshire and Ireland.
My grandma was from Anglesey, so North Wales has a place in my heart, not least because in Wales everyone knows how to pronounce my name – something I do not enjoy in any other country!
Where to stay near Snowdon
My friend and I stayed at the Royal Victoria Hotel in Llanberis. We booked the hotel as it was one of very few available at the time, but we were happy with our choice! It’s not the most modern hotel in the world, but it was spacious and comfortable, and the staff were friendly.
My friend and I visited in 2021 and we were concerned about Covid, but we were happy with the cleanliness of this hotel.
This hotel has plenty of parking, so it’s a good choice if you’re driving from elsewhere in the UK. After a long drive from Cambridge, we were happy to have a choice of parking spots.
We ate in the hotel the first night, having forgotten to book anywhere for dinner in town. We were lucky to get a table so I recommend planning ahead and booking a restaurant. The food in the hotel was good, though fairly basic, and the service was good. The breakfast buffet was also good.
For other food options, I recommend Pete’s eats for a filling breakfast before a hike and Spice of Llanberis if you like Indian food (they also do takeaway if you’ve left it too late to book a table!). Neither are at all fancy options for food, just basic hiking fuel.
The Royal Victoria Hotel is a short walk to the main street in Llanberis and close to the Sherpa bus stops.
Which trail to hike Snowdon?
There are six hiking routes to the summit of Snowdon, with varying difficulty. The six are the Llanberis path, the Pyg Track, the Miners’ Track, Watkin Path, Rhyd-Ddu Path and the Snowdon Ranger Path.
You can find detailed information about all six routes here.
For a reasonably experienced and fit mountain hiker, I recommend the climbing to the summit on the Miners’ Track, which starts in Penn y Pass car park and descending on the Pyg Track – which arrives back at Penn y Pass, making a nice loop with decent transport connections.
The climb up the Miners’ Track is a distance of 4 miles and takes 3-4 hours to reach the summit. Descending via the Pyg track is 3.5 miles and takes 2-3 hours to return to the start.
You could, of course, hike this loop the other way around – climing the Pyg Track and descending the Miners’ Track – however the views are arguably better the other way around.
Getting to Snowdon’s hiking trails
If you’re staying in Llanberis, the easiest hiking trail to get to is the Llanberis track, which starts at the far end of Victoria Terrace, Llanberis, off the A4086. You can easily walk to here from any hotel in Llanberis. Experienced hikers, however, will likely find this long, straight route busy and uninspiring (though it’s great for beginners!).
The other trails all have car parks however, particularly in peak season, these will likely be busy very early in the morning. If you’re staying in Llanberis, it’s better to get the Sherpa Bus service to the start of your favoured route. You can find the Snowdon Sherpa Timetable here.
The route I recommend – the Miners’ Track and the Pyg Track – starts and ends at the Penn y Pass Car Park. You can board the Sherpa Bus at multiple stops in Llanberis, and you’ll want the S1, S2, or S5.
It’s worth noting that the busiest Llanberis Sherpa bus stop is in the centre of the town, near the train to the summit. If you walk along a little further to earlier on the bus route, you may find it quieter and you can board the bus before the rush.
If you do prefer to drive, you need to pre-book a space in the Pen y Pass car park. Pre-booking is now available for Pen y Pass Car Park. There is also a Snowdon Sherpa Park and Ride Service which runs from Nant Peris and Llanberis car parks. You can find the timetables on the Gwynedd Council website.
Check the mountain forecast
Before heading up any mountain, make sure you check the mountain forecast for the day. Even if it’s sunny and warm in the town, it can be freezing rain at the summit. Checking the mountain forecast before hiking Snowdon will help you to stay safe, and hopefully avoid foggy views!
Take the right kit
As with any mountain, it is absolutely key to make sure you have all the right clothing, footwear and kit for your hike to the summit of Snowdon. If you’re not sure what to wear or take with you, read my post about Essential Mountain Hiking Kit.
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