Walk up the Snowdon Ranger Path
Route Summary:
Quieter route up Snowdon that’s not without it’s merits but perhaps not as exciting or dramatic as the approaches from Rhyd Ddu, Pen-y-Pass or the Watkin Path.
| Distance | Ascent | Time |
| 6.2 km | 894 m | 4 hrs |
Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.
Start and Finish: Snowdon Ranger YH
Facilities:
Pub with excellent ales in Rhyd Ddu – Cwellyn Arms and a microbrewery at Waunfawr (Snowdonia Parc Inn) which sells the beer it brews for around £3 a pint (which is cheap in this area as Snowdonia beer prices in places can make Londoners weep).
Hazards:
Some steep sections along the zig zags.
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.
Public Transport:
Sherpa Buses and WHR to Rhyd Ddu.
Traveline for UK Public TransportParking and Post Code for Sat Nav (where applicable): LL54 7YS
Plenty available – very rarely full.
Weather Forecast:
Met Office Snowdonia Mountain Weather
Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Recommended Maps:
Guidebooks:
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Summits and Places on this Route
- Snowdon – Yr Wyddfa (1085 metres)
Places Nearby
- Nantlle Ridge Wild Camp - 3.0km
- Nantlle Ridge, Moel Hebog and Eifionydd - 3.5km
- Allt Maenderyn Wild Camp - 4.6km
- Snowdon Massif – Yr Wyddfa Range - 4.7km
- Glaslyn (Lake) - 5.3km
Routes Nearby
- Yr Wyddfa via Cwm Clogwyn Trip Report - 0.1km
- Walk up Moel Cynghorion from Snowdon Ranger - 0.3km
- Best Guidebook Walks 1 – Nantlle Ridge - 2.1km
- Mynydd Mawr from Rhyd Ddu to Waunfawr - 2.1km
- Mynydd Mawr from Rhyd Ddu - 2.2km
- Yr Aran From Rhyd Ddu - 2.2km
- Lon Gwyrfai – Rhyd Ddu to Beddgelert - 2.2km
- Yr Aran Trip Report and Gallery - 2.2km
Accommodation Nearby:
- Snowdonia Bunkhouse - 2.4km
- Summit to Savour - 7.2km
- Nook Snowdonia - 8.5km
- Llyn Gwynant Campsite - 8.8km
- Basecamp Wales - 9.3km
Campsites Nearby:
- Llyn Gwynant Campsite - 8.8km
- Your Snowdonia Business Here for free? - 9.6km
- Gwern Gôf Uchaf Campsite - 13.1km
- Gwern Gôf Isaf Campsite - 13.1km
- Dol Gam Campsite and B&B - 18.2km
Pubs and Cafes Nearby:
- Mallorys YHA, Pen y Pass - 8.3km
- Pen y Gwryd Hotel - 9.6km
- Your Snowdonia Business Here for free? - 9.6km
- The Black Boy Inn - 11.6km
- Cynllwyd Cafe – Llyn Crafnant - 18.4km
Other Businesses Nearby:
- Snowdonia Bunkhouse - 2.4km
- Snowdon Events - 5.4km
- Summit to Savour - 7.2km
- Mallorys YHA, Pen y Pass - 8.3km
- Pen y Gwryd Hotel - 9.6km
Walk up the Snowdon Ranger Path Details
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 reflect this in Welsh even if it’s always been Llwybr Snowdon Ranger for the locals since we remember). There’s also a Welsh Highland Railway station at the start of the route.
Snowdon Ranger Walking Route
We can recommend getting to the Snowdon Ranger Path by using the Welsh Hghland Railway.
1 The Snowdon Ranger starts to the side of the Youth Hostel, heading up a track, beside the railway platform before crossing the railway. Note one of the Snowdon Stones here that mark the major routes on the mountain.
2 Follow this track uphill to a farmhouse, then take the signposted path right. The track has been recently improved – and while it looks absolutely hideous at the time of writing (June 2018) – this will soon weather and the new track will help tackle the erosion.
3 Now the path zig-zags endlessly, or at least till the skyline is reached. As you pass through a gate in the stone wall, the ascent soon eases off and you’ll be rewarded with a view of Yr Wyddfa and an easier section ahead.
4 The path now relents and you’ve got an almost flat section for around 1.5km as far as Bwlch Cwm Brwynog, which marks the start of the next set of zig zags. Its usually customary to take a breather here in preparation!
6 A final pull from the grassy shoulder brings you to the railway, which you need to cross with care and you’ll finally arrive at Bwlch Glas where the Snowdon Ranger, Llanberis, PYG and Miner’s Paths all converge before the final assault to the summit of Snowdon.
7 Finally, turn right along the widening path which takes you to Hafod Eryri and the summit of Snowdon.
There’s always a strange mix of people up Snowdon, and even at sunset that’s the case. Last time I was up for sunset we passed someone who really did look like a Himalayan Sherpa going up when we were well down. The strangest? A group of elderly ramblers roped up on the Llanberis Path. In snow I could possibly understand it, but it was in summer. There was also the one time when someone was playing a trumpet on the summit, we could hear them from Glaslyn.
