Snowdon, located in Snowdonia National Park, is the highest mountain in Wales and England, at a height of 1,085 metre (3,560 feet) above sea level. If you are lucky enough to climb it on a clear day, you will be blown away by the views!
There are many different routes up Snowdon, suitable for different abilities, including a train! If you have a good head for heights and love a quieter route, then this one is for you. It is one of my favourite routes up Snowdon and what makes it even better, the route is circular, meaning you don’t have to go back down the same way you went up!
Before attempting this route, please make sure you have the correct gear, check the weather conditions before you set off, know your abilities, and know how to read a map!
The route is just over 9 miles long. Most of it is on a well-marked path. However, there are times coming down off the summit, when the path isn’t always visible. Be prepared to do a short section of ridge walking, on a slightly exposed ridge, and a bit of scrambling too.
The summit of Snowdon can get very congested with people, especially during peak season. We decided to set off at 6.30 am to beat the queues at the summit. By 9.30 am we had summited. It was brilliant, there was hardly anyone around! Not only that, but we also caught a lovely sunrise at the beginning of the walk, which made the early start even more worthwhile.
Location
Snowdon is located in Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. This route starts from the village of Rhyd Ddu, 9-miles southeast of Caernarfon.
Parking
There is a car park at the start of the walk, in the village of Rhyd Ddu. At the time I visited, it cost ÂŖ6 for an all-day ticket.
The Route
Follow this map, as you walk the route, you shouldnât get lost! Make sure your location is turned on and you should be able to see exactly where you are, on this map. Or if you prefer, download the GPX file and use it on your choice of route tracker.
1.
Starting at the car park, head north through the car park, to the signpost, making the start of the Rhyd Ddu Path. Cross over the railway line, looking out for the famous steam train. We were lucky enough to see it, coming back down off Snowdon. Walk along the path, leading up through the pasture fields, until you reach a path junction.
2.
Take the path going off to your left-hand side, marked the Rhyd Ddu Path. Follow the path up the mountainside and onto Bwlch Main Ridge. Continue along the path up the ridge to the summit of Snowdon.
3.
Once you’ve finished at the summit, taking selfies at the trig, start to make your way down off the summit, retracing your steps along the Bwlch Main Ridge. Instead of taking the path going off down to your right-hand side (the one you came up on), carry along the ridge. Make sure you keep an eye on the map, as the path isn’t well-marked.
4.
As you follow the path along the ridge, you will slowly descend down to Bwlch Cwm Llan. From here, take the path going off to your right-hand side, through the disused quarry. Take care, as the path isn’t very marked.
5.
Eventually, we will reach a well-marked path, which will lead you back to the original path you were on at the beginning of the walk. Follow it back to the car park, where you started the walk from.
Enjoyed this walk and would like to do another walk in the Snowdonia National Park, please check out some of my other walk guides:
For more information about the Snowdonia National Park, where to stay and eat, please check out their website:
https://www.visitsnowdonia.info/
https://www.snowdonia.gov.wales/visiting
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