Llanberis Path

This is the most popular of the tourist routes up Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), and at five miles, is also the longest. In summer conditions, it is one of the easiest paths; but in winter, the upper reaches of the path can be very treacherous. Before the main road was built from the coast to Llanberis, climbers used to have to walk all the way from Caernarfon before they even started on the climb up Snowdon itself. George Borrow and his daughter, in 1854, travelled by pony and trap from Bangor to Caernarfon, walked from there to the summit, and returned to Bangor, all in one day!

When you are walking in the mountains, it is essential that you wear boots or strong shoes with a good tread pattern, and that you take with you adequate protective clothing, a spare sweater, map, compass, whistle, torch, spare food and a first aid kit.

Make sure you know the weather forecast before you leave (Tel: 09068 500449 60p/min Fax: 09060 100408 £1/min Internet site: www.met-office.gov.uk) and remember, coming down can be more difficult than going up. If you are tired, or think the weather might change for the worse, turn back in good time. Do not carry on regardless. In the event of an emergency, call 999/112 and ask for the North Wales Police.

In the high season you may descend by another of the Snowdon paths and catch the Sherpa bus back to your vehicle.

Section One
The path starts at a gate and cattle grid (SH 581594) at the end of the first side road above the Snowdon Railway Station just outside Llanberis. The junction of this side road and the main A4086 is clearly marked with a signpost “Footpath up Snowdon”.

At first, the path winds steeply up the metalled track, with Coed Victoria, a small partly felled conifer plantation, on your left. On your right you can see the 14 arch viaduct which carries the Snowdon Mountain Railway past the nearby 60ft. Ceunant Mawr waterfall. The Railway, which opened in 1896, works on a rack and pinion principle, and is steam driven.

At the gate (please close), look behind you at the fine view of the Llanberis Pass, Llyn Padarn, the Padarn Country Park and the old slate quarry, now the site of a huge underground pumped storage scheme.

After passing under some telegraph wires, the path turns to the left, off the metalled track, and through a small gate (please close) - it is signposted “To Snowdon”. The path is in good condition and climbs gently, but becomes bouldery and uneven in a short while. After passing a ruined cottage on your left and Hebron Station below you on the right, the path reaches the top of a rise. From this point on, you will notice many short barrier fences to the right of the footpath. They have been put up to limit erosion damage.

Soon the path reaches a gate and a stile. The large cliff you can see on the horizon in front of you is Clogwyn Du’r Arddu. The peak to the immediate right of it is Moel Cynghorion, followed by Foel Goch, Foel Gron and Moel Elidir.

Section Two
The path now climbs gently, parallel with the railway track on the right. Eventually you come to a gate and a stile where the railway crosses the path over a bridge. Up the valley you can see Moel Hebog in the distance over Bwlch Cwmbrwynog, the pass between Clogwyn Du’r Arddu and Moel Cynghorion.

Further on you will see a huge rock, Maen Du’r Arddu, in the valley to the right of Clogwyn Du’r Arddu. Local legend has it that if a person should spend a night under the rock, the morning will find him either a poet or a madman. It is now a short walk to the Half Way House at 1,700ft., where in summer, when the train is running, you can buy refreshments.

Section Three
After passing some more barrier fences on your right, you will see Y Garn (towards Nantlle) through Bwlch Cwmbrwynog. You then come to a cairn where the path forks. The right-hand path is the old miners’ road to the now disused copper mines on the slopes of Clogwyn Coch, to the left of Clogwyn Du’r Arddu. It is used nowadays by climbers on their way to the cliffs of Clogwyn Du’r Arddu, probably the most difficult rock-climbing crag in Wales. Behind you, on a clear day, is a fine view of Anglesey and the Irish Sea and beyond. To the right lies Yr Eifl and the Lleyn Peninsula beyond the Nantlle Valley.

The climbing now begins in earnest, for the left-hand path is the one you must take. It is known locally as “Allt Moses” (Moses’ Hill). The ground is loose and bouldery and very slippery in wet weather. Good boots are essential from here on. Whilst resting during the steep ascent, look down to your right and you will see the sinister green waters of Llyn Du’r Arddu, where the miners used to wash the copper ore.

Soon you pass under the railway track once more, close to Clogwyn Station, where you are rewarded by a fine view of the Llanberis Pass and the Glyderau opposite. The cwm below you is Cwm Glas Bach, also known locally as Cwm Hetiau (the Cwm of Hats). In the days of open trains the wind used to blow off travellers’ hats, and if a local person needed a new hat he had only to look about in the cwm to find one!

Section Four
The path becomes even steeper from now on, and it can be slippery when it is wet, or in snow and ice. Please do not be tempted to walk along the railway track. Not only is access onto the track forbidden; it can also be very dangerous, particularly in winter. It is easier to keep to the main footpath, although this route can be as treacherous in winter conditions. The lake you can see over the top of Clogwyn Du’r Arddu is Llyn Cwellyn, which supplies Caernarfon with its water.

The path soon levels out and on your right, you will see the Snowdon Ranger Path. From now on, the path is well defined. Shortly you will be able to see a monolith marker stone, where the Snowdon Ranger Path, that used to be on your right, meets the railway track. A few yards further on, you come to another, larger, monolith at Bwlch Glas, which marks the top of the famous zigzag on the Pyg Track to your left. It is now only about 15 minutes to the top. Do not follow the railway to the summit, as this can result in serious erosion of the track bed. Please keep to the path, which follows a line along the edge of the ridge, well to the left of the track.

In winter do not follow the railway track down. It is extremely slippery, and many fatal accidents have happened, particularly when there has been snow on the track. Instead, retrace your steps to the monolith at Bwlch Glas and continue until the path divides. Take the left-hand fork. The right-hand fork is part of the Snowdon Horseshoe route and should only be attempted by experienced mountaineers, particularly in winter. This junction can be confusing and is not easily seen on the way up. The small map on this leaflet shows the different paths which meet at the summit.

Remember
Though you are in the Snowdonia National Park, please remember that the path crosses the privately owned farm and grazing lands of Hafodty Newydd, Clogwyn y Gwin and Ffridd Uchaf, where dogs are not welcomed unless under close control or on a lead.

On your way to the summit you will see evidence of essential footpath restoration work carried out by the National Park Authoriy. Please keep to the footpath to prevent further erosion.

Click on the map to view a larger version.

Click on the graph to view a larger version.