Snowdon, the summit of Wales

Snowdon, in Welsh Yr Wyddfa, is the highest mountain in Wales and the highest in the British Isles outside the Scottish Highlands, at 1,085 metres. It stands in the heart of Eryri National Park, known in English as Snowdonia, and from its summit, on clear days, you can see Ireland, the Isle of Man and England. You can climb it on foot along several paths or ride up on a rack railway that has been running since the 19th century.

History

The Welsh name Yr Wyddfa means "the tumulus" or "the grave": according to legend, the giant Rhita Gawr, killed by King Arthur, is buried on the summit. For centuries the mountains of Eryri were the refuge of the Welsh princes against English invaders. In the 19th century the region was transformed by the slate quarries, which employed thousands of people, and by tourism: in 1896 the Snowdon Mountain Railway opened, still carrying visitors to the top today.

In 1951 Eryri became one of the first national parks in the United Kingdom. In 1953 members of the British expedition that conquered Everest, including Edmund Hillary, trained on these mountains, staying at the Pen-y-Gwryd hotel. In recent years the park authority has preferred the Welsh names, Yr Wyddfa and Eryri.

What to see

The mountain railway

The Snowdon Mountain Railway starts from Llanberis and climbs to the summit in about an hour, on a rack line about 7.5 kilometres long. Some trains are hauled by historic steam locomotives. It runs from spring to autumn, depending on the weather; in bad weather it stops at an intermediate station. Tickets should be booked in advance.

The paths

Six main paths lead to the summit. The Llanberis Path is the longest but the easiest, partly following the railway. The Miners' Track and the Pyg Track start from the Pen-y-Pass and cross spectacular scenery, with glacial lakes such as Llyn Llydaw. The Watkin Path starts almost at sea level and is the most demanding in terms of ascent. The sharp, exposed ridge of Crib Goch is for experienced scramblers only. On average the climb takes three to four hours and the descent two to three.

The summit

At the top is Hafod Eryri, the granite and glass visitor centre opened in 2009, with a café and large windows. The true summit is marked by a stone cairn a few steps away. Clouds often cover the top, but when they part the view is immense.

Llanberis

At the foot of the mountain, the village of Llanberis has the National Slate Museum, in the workshops of the old Dinorwig quarries, the Llanberis Lake Railway and the ruins of Dolbadarn Castle.

Practical information

Walking up requires boots, waterproof clothing, water and food: it can be cold at the top even in summer and the weather changes rapidly. In winter Snowdon is an alpine mountain, to be tackled only with equipment and experience. Information on the paths is on the national park website.

Getting there

• By bus: from Bangor and Caernarfon to Llanberis; the Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses link the starting points of the paths.
• By car: along the A4086; Pen-y-Pass parking must be booked in summer.
• By air: Liverpool and Manchester airports are about two hours away.

Nearby

• Caernarfon Castle and Beaumaris Castle.
• Conwy Castle and Bodnant Garden.
• The village of Betws-y-Coed, with Swallow Falls.

Tips

• How long: a full day to walk up, half a day by train.
• When to go: May to September.
• A tip: walk up by the Pyg Track and come down by the Miners' Track: you will see the glacial lakes first from above and then up close.

Snowdon on the map

Nearby