Snowdon Via Llanberis Path: A Guide For Beginners

This is our guide to walking the Llanberis Path Route up to Snowdon’s Summit…

Snowdon Mountain

Snowdon mountain has an overall height of 1,085m above sea level, making it the highest mountain in Wales and England.

There are 6 different routes up to Snowdon summit! These are Llanberis, Miners Path, Watkin Path, Rhydo and Pyg Track. There is also a train that goes up to the top of the mountain and back down again several times a day, called ‘Snowdon Mountain Railway’ you can book tickets online or buy them at the station.

Snowdon via Llanberis Path

We took the Llanberis path route, which starts just by the railway station. You will also find an information board at the start of the route, that’s worth a read, before you head up.

This route is easy underfoot. Although there are some rocky areas, but it is ideal for families and those new to hiking. The overall route there and back takes approximately 4 hours 45 minutes.

Stops along the way

The Snowdon Llanberis path route is great as there are a few stops on the way. The first one, not far from the start is a cafe called Penceunant Isaf. Further up, the next stop you will find Is ‘The half-way house’ – The clue is in the name, you’re about halfway there now! This is a great lunch stop, it is a bit pricy but, we brought our own lunch. So, we stopped here anyway and ate on the grass outside, admiring the spectacular views.

On a cooler day, you will notice it starting to get a little colder by this point! This might be a good time to add some of those layers from your hiking bag. Also, as it can be hot while walking, once it gets cooler you might find you are cold from the sweat! So, a change of t-shirt is sometimes a good idea, or a thermal layer for underneath as you get higher. We made the mistake of wearing the thermal from the start (hence the sweating!).

Unfortunately, there are no toilets at the halfway house so that is where some of those hiking bag essentials come in handy. Once lunch is done, and you are all layered up correctly its onwards and UPWARDS!

Continuing the Llanberis Path Route to Snowdon Summit…

Carrying on along Llanberis path, you will soon come towards the train track and under the train bridge. Once you cross under the bridge you will first find amazing views… next you will find a steep incline to the top! This is where you will really start to feel the cold, even on a hot sunny day, it will often be freezing at this point! Sometimes there will even be snow! So, here is a good time to get those winter hats and neck warmers out.

You will probably find it very busy around this point, people will be heading up and also heading back down. Some people walk along the side of the train track so you will see many people around this area.

Reaching the Snowdon Summit via Llanberis Path!

Once you reach the top, you will find the visitors centre at the top called ‘Hafod Eyri’ this is the highest visitors centre in the UK.

You’ll wonder where all these people have come from?! (Some come up on the train remember?)

This is where the train stops, the passengers have a 30minute stop here before the train takes them back down. It is freezing on the top and it might make you slightly wonder if there is any space on the train to get back down – usually its full so get yourself back into hiking mode! 

At the top of Snowdon Mountain

Inside the visitors centre you will find a little gift shop, selling Snowdon and Welsh themed souvenirs. As well as a café, selling hot food and drink. Again, a little pricy so we just enjoyed our peppermint tea from our trusty flasks (still hot! Yay) and some of our many snacks.

The summit of Snowdon is often very crowded so you may have to que to get to the very very top for that all-important selfie. Therefore, be careful here as the area is quite small and a lot of people will want to cram up there at once.

However, the views around the visitor’s centre are just amazing so try to spend some time taking those in. Instead of just worrying about getting up to that very top bit straight away, is our advice.

Once the selfies done, the hot drink and snacks consumed and the breath-taking views are taken in, it’s time to head back down!

We hope you enjoy this hike as much as we did.

Useful information

Parking

we parked fairly close to the start of the route at Postcode: LL55 4TD this carpark costs £4 for all day parking until 8pm. However, we got it free… If you are heading there late morning/early afternoon or later, watch out for people leaving who have been there earlier and now finished. As there are some kind people who will happily pass on their ticket once they’ve finished with it (bonus of not being early birds!)

Route map

We use Alltrails for to find the maps of the routes we take click here to go to the map.

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Thank you for reading – we hope you found this useful. Let us know if you’ve done the hike and how it went in the comments?

Lu & Ad

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