The Llanberis path is the longest, most gradual, and easiest route to Snowdons summit, consequently it's also the busiest. It pretty much follows the line of the Snowdon Mountain Railway 7km up the turfier rather than rocky northwest ridge, and in fact crosses the tack on several occasions. Because the route doesn't follow the crest of the ridge the views are somewhat restricted with only Clogwyn Ddu'r Arddu providing any real interest, this coupled with the fact that the path is often overflowing with tourists makes for a highly unsatisfactory excursion. It's difficult to recommend the Llanberis Path to anyone, however if you want to run (it is the same route as the Snowdon race) or cycle to the summit then the gradual nature of the slope is much better suited to these sports. If you are intending to cycle then be sure to get up and down before 9am as there is a voluntary ban on bikes after this time.

The path is probably better suited as a descent route, the shallow gradient being easy on the knees, taking the walker straight into Llanberis.

The Llanberis path from the summit

Getting There

Llanberis (SH 582 597) is a town on the A4086 and can be reached from the north via the A487 by turning off at Caernarfon (SH 482 627); or from the south via the A498 which runs from Tremadog (SH 562 400) through Beddgelert (SH 590 481) to Pen-y-Gwryd where it meets the A4086.

Route Description

The route starts on the Road opposite the Royal Victoria Hotel in Llanberis and follows the tarmac road around Coed Victoria and past a small cottage where it leaves the road and becomes a broad stony path. The path is well trodden and hard to miss even in low visibility and if your not sure your going the right way the long line of walkers should give the game away.

The path rises gradually becoming steeper as it gets closer to the railway track. The path then crosses under the railway just before Halfway Station (SH 597 574) and continues on the right side of the track, getting steeper towards Clogwyn Station (SH 607 560). Some of the best views of the mountain can had from here so be sure to take some photos of the famous Clogwyn Ddu'r Arddu.

Just after Clogwyn Station the path crosses back over and follows the left-hand side of the track with some 200m between them. After about 1km the path joins the PYG track and the Snowdon Horseshoe route on Garnedd Ugain and the path closely follows the railway track the rest of the way to the summit.

Clogwyn Ddu'r Arddu (Photo by JoeHarris)

Essential Gear

Just a good pair of good boots, waterproofs and some lunch. If walking in winter make sure you also carry ice axe and crampons.

Maps

Extract form the Ordnance Survey 1:50k map of Snowdon

Navigation Maps

OS 1:25k Explorer Series OL 17 Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa
OS 1:50k Landranger Series 115 Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa
Harvey Map Services 1:25k Snowdonia: Snowdon and the Moelwynion
Harvey Map Services/BMC 1: 40k British Mountain Map: Snowdonia

Road Maps

OS Road Map 9 Wales/Cymru & West Midlands

Guidebooks

Snowdonia (Official National Park Guide) by Merfyn Williams
The Mountains of England and Wales: Volume 1 Wales (Cicerone Guide) by John and Anne Nuttall
Hillwalking in Wales Vol 1 (Cicerone Guide) by Peter Hermon
Hillwalking in Wales Vol 2(Cicerone Guide) by Peter Hermon
Hillwalking in Snowdonia (Cicerone Guide) by Steve Ashton

External Links

Photo by markradford

General

Snowdonia National Park Authority
Gwynedd County Council
Local Information from Gwynedd.com
Local Information from Snowdonia Wales Net
North Wales Index
Snowdonia-Active.com
Countryside Council for Wales
The National Trust
CADW
Royal Commission on Ancient & Historical Monuments in Wales
Gwynedd Archeological Trust
British Mountaineering Council
The Climbers Club
Snowdon Summit Blog
Hightreck Snowdonia

Weather

Mountain Weather Wales
Weather from the Met Office
Weather Channel UK

Travel

Welsh Public Transport Information
Uk Train Timetable
Welsh Highland Railway
Snowdon Sherpa

Accommodation

Youth Hostel Association in Wales
Beddgelert Forest Campsite
Cae Du campsite near Beddgelert

Maps and Guide Books

Ordnance Survey
Harvey Map Services
Cicerone Guide Books
Climbers Club Guide Books