Snowdon – 1085m
Snowdon is much more than just the summit of Snowdon! It’s the highest mountain in Wales and boasts numerous routes up, and climbing Snowdon is rightly on the top of most walker’s wish lists when visiting Snowdonia. With achievable routes from all directions it’s a mountain with a route for all. Pen y Pass boasts the Miners’ Track, PYG Track and the Snowdon Horseshoe scramble for more experienced mountaineers. Llanberis has the much maligned Llanberis path and on the other side of the mountain, the Snowdon Ranger Path ascends from Llyn Cwellyn.
Rhyd Ddu boasts a further two routes, the Rhyd Ddu path and the Snowdon South Ridge paths. Finally, there’s the Watkin Path from Nant Gwynant that’s one of the best routes up, and without doubt the most scenic.
Carnedd Ugain – Crib y Ddysgl – 1065m
This is Snowdon’s twin peak, only 20m lower in height at 1065m and the second highest mountain in Wales by some measures. It’s a quiet mountain, especially in comparison to Snowdon and usually climbed by those walking up the Snowdon Horseshoe.
Crib Goch – 923m
Whilst arguably only a bump on the ascent of Carnedd Ugain, Crib Goch earns it’s place at any mountain list. It’s an exposed and exciting scramble for those with mountaineering experience and a good head for heights. One for those who want to climb Snowdon.
Y Lliwedd – 898m
The less glamorous half of the Snowdon Horseshoe, but don’t let that put you off. Not as challenging as Crib Goch, it’s still a tough proposition.
Yr Aran – 747m
Number 24 on the list of Wales’ highest Mountains, would be a crowd puller if it wasn’t overshadowed by Snowdon. Nestling to the south of Snowdon, overlooking Cwm Llan, it can be climbed either from Rhyd Ddu or Nant Gwynant. It’s proved to be such a favourite of ours at Mud and Routes that it’s even got it’s own circuit, the Aran Circuit, so you can admire this shapely peak from every angle.
Moel Eilio – 726m
One of those hills that may be climbed once by the visitor to the area, but owing to it’s accessibility for a half day’s walk, countless times by locals! That threatens it becoming stale, but the pleasant and undulating grassy ridge that you can follow from the summit make’s it all worth while. It’s the perfect grassy ridge, you could do it in slippers and you wouldn’t get your feet wet. We exaggerate slightly, but it does make a pleasant change to walk a grassy ridge in Snowdonia that doesn’t want to steal your boots every other step.
Moel Cynghorion – 674m
This is the final summit in the Snowdon range, which is a summit worth ascending for the views towards Snowdon. It’s not the most exciting target for a day out, but can be tacked onto the traverse of the Moel Eilio Ridge or the Snowdon Ranger Path. We’ve added some spice to it in the past by ascending at night, and at night in a blizzard – which we don’t particularly recommend but we particularly enjoyed!!
The Snowdon South Ridge path usually elicits a blank expression on most walkers when you mention routes up Snowdon. Those in the know however, realise that this is an absolute gem of a route that stands modestly in the shadows, shunning the limelight. In comparison, the PYG, Miners Track and Watkin Paths are cheap, talentless …
The Miner’s Track up Snowdon from Pen-y-Pass is often noted as one of the easier walking routes up Snowdon, after the Llanberis Path, don’t let that fool you. It does have a track that mountain rescue can drive up to around 600m, but beyond that this is still a challenging mountain track that commands respect. …
The South Ridge up Snowdon is, surprisingly, not one of the six routes to the top of Snowdon, despite being the best of the lot! While the South Ridge is often started from Rhyd Ddu, the approach via The Watkin Path and Bwlch Cwm Llan from Nant Gwynant is a much more natural line to …
The Watkin Path up Snowdon offers an alternative to the more popular walks from Llanberis and Pen y Pass such as the PYG and Miner’s Tracks. It’s still a very popular path, and rightly so. It provides a variety of walking that none of the other routes to the summit of Snowdon can boast. The Watkin …
The mountain of Moel Cynghorion is often ignored in favour of the Ranger Track up Snowdon, or the popular Moel Eilio Circuit. While it makes a fine add on to those walks, it’s also a fine half day out in its own right. It’s a steady walk with fine views towards Yr Wyddfa and Moel …
The Snowdon Ranger path is one of the quieter approaches to the summit of Snowdon which takes it’s name from the Snowdon Ranger YH, or rather from when it was a hotel which specialised in providing guides for the walk up Snowdon. Starting from the shores of Llyn Cwellyn (and newly christened Lwybr Cwellyn to …
Crib Goch is the hardest route up Snowdon and starts from Pen-y-Pass along the PYG Track. It’s an exposed grade 1 scramble that should only be attempted if you’re confident in your abilities. NOTE – Distance above is for one way only. You’ll need to double up if you descend the same way – but we don’t recommend …
The PYG track up Snowdon is both the shortest tracks up Snowdon, and the one that involves the least amount of ascent as it starts from pen y Pass Car park (LL55 4NY for sat nav!) and already nearly a good way of the way up. Despite this, the PYG track isn’t the easiest path up Snowdon …
The Rhyd Ddu Path up Snowdon is one of the traditional routes, and originally started from Beddgelert as a pony track. It’s now one of the quieter paths up, reasonably easy to follow and with an excellent airy walk over Bwlch Main to reach the summit. Full Route Description Snowdon Rhyd Ddu Path 1 From the Car …
This has to be the most popular and easiest route to the summit of Snowdon, Wales’ highest mountain. In normal weather, it poses no problems for the fit walker, with even the navigation being reasonably easy. On a fine day, you’ll be able to follow the hordes of other people who have also decided to follow …
Yr Wyddfa* , or Snowdon, (it’s never Mount or Mt Snowdon ) is one of the most popular mountains in the United Kingdom, let alone Snowdonia. It’s sometimes climbed as one of the National 3 Peak Challenge, the Welsh 3 Peaks or during the 14/15 Peaks. With the coming season people will be flocking to ascend Snowdon …
A walk from near Beddgelert that takes you through a hidden valley on the flanks of Yr Wyddfa. You can start this walk from the National Trust car park at Craflwyn that’s free, but suggests a modest £2 donation to help pay for footpath repairs. We strongly suggest you do put some money in the pot …
Walk to Cwm Bleiddiaid and Nant Gwynant from Craflwyn Hall Read More »
Without a doubt, Pen y Pass is one of the most popular walking locations in the Snowdonia National Park. Not surprisingly as the most popular routes up to Yr Wyddfa (the proper name for the summit of Snowdon – NEVER Mount Snowdon!!!) such as the Miner’s Track, PYG and the Snowdon Horseshoe / Crib Goch …
Walks in Snowdonia from Pen y Pass and Pen y Gwryd Hotel Read More »
The rounded hill of Moel Eilio is just right for a less strenuous Snowdonia mountain day. This horseshoe from Llanberis is the best way to walk this hill, with a return over the pleasant ridge and summits of Foel Gron and Foel Goch. Views across to Mynydd Mawr, the Nantlle Ridge, Snowdon and the Glyderau …
The walk up Moel Eilio is a popular route with locals, and this is the easiest walk up. The route up Moel Eliio from Waunfawr starts from a car park above Waunfawr, or you can walk in from the village if you wanted to double the distance. We recommend extending the walk over the range …
Scrambles in Snowdonia To celebrate the launch of the new Scrambles in Snowdonia by Steve Ashton, published by Cicerone, we’ve collated the best selection of Grade 1 scrambles in Snowdonia. We’ve steered clear of the trickier scrambles and kept to the easier grade 1 routes. Be warned that these are far from being ‘easy’ routes! …
Snowdon is such a popular mountain, it seems quite a bizzare option to visit and totally ignore the summit. However, there’s a little known route called the Girdle of Snowdon that was developed by the guidebook writer – Showell Styles in his classic guidebook – Mountains of North Wales. These days, guidebooks are pretty predictable, but …
Your mission, if you choose to undertake it, is to cover as much Snowdon as you can in 7 days. Many of these walks are seriously long and would make excellent 2 day backpacking routes in Snowdonia. By following these routes, you’ll only miss out a handful of summits across the entire park. just for …
Mark Barrett of hillexplorer.com shares his scramble route for The Clogwyn y Person arête – one of Snowdonia’s classic higher grade scrambles. The route includes a wonderfully scenic approach via the luscious green valley of Cwm Glas Mawr, and the picturesque Llyn Glas. The walk can also incorporate an approach scramble at the right hand …
There are a surprising number of these mini mountains in Snowdonia, and even 500m from the honey pot of Pen-y-Pass, you can find a corker of a hill along with total isolation. The hill of Moel Berfedd doesn’t really find itself onto any significant hill list, and barely rises 70m from the col that separates …
Moel Berfedd – Another Snowdonia Mini Mountain Adventure Read More »
Sometimes, walking to the summit of Snowdon may not be for you. Maybe you’re after a shorter walk to suit your fitness or group, perhaps you want to avoid the snow or you want something that can be followed in the dark. The Miner’s Track as far as Glaslyn fits all these criteria (though it …
This easy family walk to Gelerts Grave in Snowdonia, is perfect for when you’ve got little ones with you, or less mobile family members. The path is also pushchair and wheelchair friendly. Most people who visit Beddgelert for the first time will probably visit Bedd Gelert – or Gelert’s Grave. You can just walk the …
Beddgelert and Gelert’s Grave Easy Snowdonia Walk Read More »
Y Lliwedd is a worthy scramble from Pen y Pass in itself, and an even better route up Snowdon! While not as challenging as Crib Goch, or as popular, it is still a fine day out! If time is short, you can climb Lliwedd and descend the same way, which is achievable during a summer …
The Watkin Path up Snowdon is one of the more popular routes to the summit, but can be heavy going when conditions are against you. This easier alternative follows the lower reaches of the Watkin Path to explore Cwm Llan, before returning along the old quarry tramline to rejoin the Watkin. I makes an excellent …
