A Breakdown Of The Different Routes Up Snowdon, Wales.
If you've clicked on this post, you're probably planning a walk up Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales. But which route should you take? In today's post, we're breaking down some of Snowdon's most popular routes. Whether you're a beginner, visiting with children or are an an experienced thrill seeker, there's a route for everyone.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning we may make a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and make a purchase
Llanberis path: The Beginner's Choice
Height Climb: 975m
Distance: 9 miles (round trip)
If you're new to hiking and this is your first time up Snowdon, taking the Llanberis route may be your best option.
The Llanberis path is widely considered the ‘easiest route’ up Snowdon due to it's reasonably steady and consistent climb. However, this also makes it the longest.
The Llanberis route has another advantage over all the others, which makes it ideal for beginners. The Snowdon mountain railway offers the possibility to park in Llanberis, walk to the summit of Snowdon, then take the train back down. Be aware that in peak season and if the weather is good, trains can sell out so you may have to wait a while or possibly walk back down! For more information on the Snowdon Railway, visit their website here
Miners Track: Suitable for Families
Height Climb: 723m
Distance: 7 miles (round trip)
The Miners track offers stunning views, even if you only manage to get part way up, making this a perfect choice for families with children. Sometimes it can be difficult for families to know if they will be able to complete the walk all the way up to Snowdon's summit, but taking the Miners track will still give you a glimpse of the Snowdon summit and opportunity to take some beautiful photos of the Snowdon horseshoe if you can only manage part of the journey.
The Miners track starts at the Pen-y-Pass Car Park, however this can fill up quickly early in the day. If this happens, you'll need to park in Nant Peris and get either a Sherpa bus or a taxi to the car park to begin the walk. This is really easy though and should not put you off going, but is something to be aware of.
Watkin Path: The Next Level.
Height Climb: 1015m
Distance : 8 miles (round trip)
Widely considered as the toughest route, Watkin offers it's explorers incredible views and is definitely worth the effort if you're a keen hiker.
The challenge comes towards the end, where the route gets particularly steep with plenty of scree and loose rock so we would only recommend this route to the more experienced hiker.
Snowdon Horseshoe: For The Thrill Seekers
Height Climb: 1062m
Distance: 7.5 miles (round trip)
The Snowdon Horseshoe is the the route we have taken most often and one we would highly recommend to experienced hikers. This route starts with a tough scramble up Crib Goch (watch out for the sheer drops either side) before following the ridge over Garnedd Ugain across to the Snowdon summit, continuing onto Y Lliwedd and back.
As with any climb on a mountain ridge. this is best on a clear, calm day, not least for the great photographs and view you will get at the top.
So that was a brief look into some of the routes up Snowdon. There are plenty of other routes to take, but which is your favourite? Let us know in the comment section below.
Commentaires