Guide to routes up Snowdon

Snowdon is one of the UK’s most recognised and iconic landmarks attracting over 1,000,000 visitors every year and it has something for everyone.

Snowdon is the tallest mountain in Wales and one of the tallest mountains in the UK and whether it’s a leisurely stroll along the Miners Track and some of the mountains glacial lakes or a more exhilarating scramble along Crib Goch, one of the best grade A scrambles in the UK, Snowdon has plenty to offer.

We will give you complete guides to the 7 main routes to the summit of Snowdon as well useful information including parking, how long it takes to climb Snowdon, equipment and weather.

Over 20 years experience of hiking Snowdon has gone into the creation of this guide to help you to enjoy one of the most beautiful and magical national wonders of the UK. From useful hints on how to prepare for your walk up Snowdon, tips on what to do in an emergency as well as other information regarding the attractions in surrounding Snowdonia.

Glaslyn at sunrise

Preparing For Your Walk

Find out what equipment you need to take
Find out useful information to help you prepare for your walk

Information on Snowdon

General information about Snowdon

General information including height, facts and legends

Useful Walking Guides

Including equipment and emergencies

Guides on what equipment to take, how to pack it and what to do in an emergency

Crib Goch is one of the most extreme and exciting Grade A scrambles in the UK. It features a knife edged arête which should only be attempted by competent walkers who aren’t afraid of heights. That being said, out of the 7 routes listed here, it is also the most exhilarating way to get to the summit of Snowdon.

Start Point: Pen Y Pass car park (Postcode LL55 4NU)

Return Length: 7.5 miles

Time: 6-8 hours

Detailed guides on routes up Snowdon

Llanberis Path is one of most popular routes to the summit of Snowdon. It’s a long gentle ascent with no climbing involved and spectacular views along the way. In the summer, there is a cafe half way up for refreshments.

Start Point: Victoria Terrace – Llanberis (LL55 4TT)

Return Length: 9.5 miles

Time: 6-7 hours

Detailed guides on routes up Snowdon

The Miners Track is a gentle winding path that runs through the glacial lakes that lie to the East of Snowdon. It is a popular walk in it’s own right but gets much tougher at the end when you ascend to meet the Pyg Track for the final ascent.

Start Point: Pen Y Pass carpark (LL55 4NU)

Return Length: 8 miles

Time: 6-7 hours

Detailed guides on routes up Snowdon

The Pyg Track is a popular route because it has some minor scrambling combined with long paths with fantastic scenery. It runs above Miners Track but below Crib Goch but be mindful if you plan to use the Pen Y Pass car park because it fills up very early on.

Start Point: Pen Y Pass carpark (LL55 4NU)

Return Length: 7 miles

Time: 5-7 hours

Detailed guides on routes up Snowdon

The Rhyd Ddu path is one of the quieter routes up Snowdon so if you want to summit without lots of crowds, it’s a great choice. The views along the route are breath taking and you can easily forget you’re climbing one of the UK’s most popular natural landmarks.

Start Point: Rhyd Ddu train station carpark (LL54 6TN)

Return Length: 8.5 miles

Time: 5-6 hours

Detailed guides on routes up Snowdon

The Snowdon Ranger path is on of the oldest routes to the summit of Snowdon. It is a winding path along the western slopes with fantastic views. This route isn’t so busy so, if you want a quieter walk up Snowdon it’s worth trying this route.

Start Point: Snowdon Ranger Youth Hostel (LL54 7YS)

Return Length: 8 miles

Time: 5-7 hours

Detailed guides on routes up Snowdon

The Watkin Path is one of the tougher routes to the summit of Snowdon. It has some gentle paths as well as some scrambling towards the end. With tremendous views from the southern slopes it is a tough but rewarding walk.

Start Point: Nant Gwynant (LL55 4NW)

Return Length: 8 miles

Time: 5-7 hours

Detailed guides on routes up Snowdon

Tallest Mountains in the UK
Guide to Snowdonia

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is the highest mountain in Wales and is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of visitors every year because of its many different routes to the summit and the breath taking views that they each offer. Whether you’re a novice walker or an experienced adrenaline junkie, there are different routes up Snowdon to suit your level of comfort and experience and, let’s not forget, when you get to the summit, there’s the amazing Snowdon visitor centre and cafe at the top where you can have a brew and take in the scenery.

About Me

I’ve been walking around the mountains of Snowdonia for over 20 years. From the first time I ran up Snowdon as a cadet it’s been my passion and during lockdown, when all of us were housebound, I still longed to be outside and walking in the mountain air. Because I couldn’t get out and enjoy the mountain, I decided that I would create this website as a useful guide for any new visitors to Snowdon in order to try and help make your day out as easy and as pleasurable as possible. Within the website, there are full guides to the 7 main Snowdon routes as well as other useful information such as some interesting facts about Snowdon and some of the legends surrounding the iconic peak.

There is something about Snowdon that makes you leave feeling fulfilled and happy. I have never met or passed a single walker that wasn’t enjoying themselves and I have never heard someone recount a story about Snowdon without it being a happy one. If this is your first time up Snowdon, please have a read of some of the guides and decide which is the best path up Snowdon for you, make sure you take the correct gear with you, check the weather before you leave and enjoy your day.