Overview
| Overview |
  (978m; background), Glyder Fawr (1,000m), Glyder Fach (994m), Crib Goch (923m) and Moel Siabod (872m; background). (Photo by Nanuls) The Peaks
This table lists the peaks of the Snowdon group, click on the mountains name to go to its SP page (if one exists). Okay a quick explanation about what qualities made these summits eligible to be in list - to put it simply they must qualify to be on at least one of the UK’s official mountain lists; any of them. Now I’m sure some of SummitPost’s international members, and probably a good number of British ones, will be scratching their heads and wondering what the hell some of these lists mean (Buxton & Lewis anyone!?!). Well I’m not going to tell you, there just isn’t room here to explain them all fully, however if you are wondering here are some links to some relevant pages, several of which are already here on SP – Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Buxton & Lewis and Dewey.
Geology
The main structural feature of Snowdonia is the broad belt of rugged mountains that runs diagonally across it through the mountain groups of the Carneddau, Glyderau and Snowdon, which corresponds with the complex downfold of Ordovician rocks known as the Snowdon Syncline.  The bedrock geology of Snowdonia At the end of the Cambrian Era, slight uplift exposed the erosional deposits, and a new period of submergence during the Ordovician led to more deposition and more unconformity. The Ordovician period is characterised by periods of intensive volcanic activity. Volcanism spread throughout the region and eventually culminated in eruptions of central Snowdonia giving birth to Snowdon, the Glyderau and the Carneddau. This volcanic activity coincided with the continued deposition of marine sediments and was a prelude to the later closure of the Iapetus Ocean. Though volcanic activity ceased at the end of the Ordovician, marine sedimentation continued into the Silurian. At the end of the Silurian, earth movements culminated in the Caledonian Orogeny, a major period of uplift, folding and fracturing which partly destroyed the marine trough and resulting in the closure of the Iapatus Ocean and the resultant continent-continent collision. The Devonian period is followed unconformably by strongly transgressive Carboniferous rocks and a marine transgression that covered the whole of North Wales. During the Tertiary Era, North Wales was situated at the edge of a landmass which was undergoing uplift in relation to the development of the North Atlantic Ocean. During the late Pleistocene glacial phase, a large British Ice Sheet developed in response to global cooling. This ice sheet developed by coalescence of several ice centres, one of which was centred in North Wales. Welsh ice was centred on the Migneint Plateau and the Arenig Mountains with outlet glaciers radiating from that centre. These outlet glaciers carved fairly extensive glacial trough valleys, some good examples are the valleys of Nant Ffrancon and Llanberis Pass. The freshest glacial deposits and landforms plus those found in high mountain areas were last formed/modified during the Late Glacial event (Loch Lomond Stadial or Younger Dryas) approximately 11,000 - 10,000 yrs BP. Snowdon bears the scars of the Pleistocene ice, most obviously manifesting itself in the glacial cirques of Llyn Llydaw, Glaslyn, Llyn du’r Arddu and Llyn Glâs. Even at the ice age’s maximum the summits of Snowdon, Garnedd Ugain, Crib Goch, and Y Lliwedd remained above the ice sheet as nunataks. Snowdonia is an area which once supported local glaciers during the Loch Lomond Stadial. Glaciers emerged from the cwms and were channelled down existing valleys (carved during the previous glacial phases), and in a few cases carved out new ones. First Ascents
For centuries Snowdon and the mountains of Snowdonia where ignored and avoided by the outside world, with only local Sheppards, bandits and fugitives venturing into their higher reaches. It was not until the Tudor period that outside interest began to bring intellectuals, scientists and explorers into the area, and not until the Stewart period that the first recorded ascent of Snowdon was made. Thomas Johnson was botanist from London who visited Snowdonia in 1639 in pursuit of plant specimens. Not happy with simply observing the mountain from the surrounding valleys, he along with two companions, a local guide and an interpreter climbed the mountain from Caernarfon along the Beddgelert Route. He wrote an account of their ascent in his book The Itinerary of a Botanist which was published later that year:  Crib Goch by GP Abraham  Beddgelert circa 1830  Llanberis Pass circa 1830  Castell Dolbadarn circa 1830 “…we betook ourselves to our British Alps. The highest of all these is called Snowdon by the English, and Widhfa by the Britons… The whole mass of the mountain was veiled in cloud… leaving our horse and outer garments, we began to climb the mountain. The ascent at first is difficult, but after a bit a broad open space is found, but equally sloping, great precipices on the left, and a difficult climb on the right. Having climbed three miles, we at last gained the highest ridge of the mountain, which was shrouded in thick cloud. Here the way was very narrow, and climbers are horror stricken by the rough rocky precipices on either hand of the Stydian marshes, both on this side and that… We sat down [on the summit] in the midst of the clouds, and the first of all we arranged in order the plants we had, at our peril collected among the rocks and precipices, and then we ate the food we had bought with us” The party also attempted to climb Carnedd Llywelyn but didn't make it to the summit as their guide refused to go near the cliffs, complaining that he was afraid of eagles. Unfortunately for Johnson his first mountaineering trip to Snowdonia was also his last, as 5 years later in 1644, he was killed fighting for the Royalists in the English Civil War. Johnson’s motives for climbing Snowdon were purely scientific in nature and it wasn’t until 1756 that the first ascent was made for purely modern reasons, pleasure and exercise. This honour goes to Lord George Lyttelton of Hagley, a prominent politician and accomplished poet who toured Snowdonia during that year, “so that I may, by this ramble, preserve a stock of health that may last winter, and carry me through my parliamentary campaign”. The first recorded rock climb in Britain took place on Snowdon in 1798, impressively on ‘the most formidable rock face in Snowdonia’ – Clogwyn du’r Arddu, which lies a mile northwest of the summit. The Rev. William Bingley, accompanied by his friend Rev. Peter Williams, had made a number of mountain expeditions in Snowdonia in search for botanical specimens. On this occasion they were studying the flora at the base of Cloggy, as it is affectionately known, and decided to search the cliff for more specimens; Bingley’s description of their climb indicates that they ascended the Cloggy’s East Terrace: “I wondered to Clogwyn du’r Arddu, to search that rock for some plants which Lewyd and Ray have described as growing there. The Reverend Mr. Williams accompanied me, and he started the wild idea of attempting to climb up the precipice. I was too eager in my pursuit to object to the adventure, and we began our laborious task without once reflecting on the dangers that might attend it. For a little while we got on without much difficulty, but we were soon obliged to have recourse both to our hands and to our knees, in clambering from one crag to another. Every step now required the utmost caution, and it was necessary to try that every stone was firm in its place before the weight of the body was trusted upon it. I had once laid hold of a piece of the rock, and was in the act of raising myself upon it, when it loosened from its bed, and I should have been precipitated headlong, had I not in a moment snatched hold of a tuft of rushes, and saved myself. When we had ascended somewhat more than halfway, there seemed no chance of our being able to proceed much farther, on account of the masses of rock above us. We rested a moment from our labour to consider what was to be done. The danger of again descending was much too great, for us to think of attempting it, unless we found it absolutely impossible to proceed. On looking down the precipice, for at least three hundred feet, seemed almost perpendicular. We were eager in our botanical pursuit, and extremely desirous to be at the top, but I believe it was the prospect downwards that determined us to brave every difficulty. It happened fortunately that the steep immediately above us was the only one that presented any material danger. Mr Williams having on a pair of strong shoes with nails in them, which would hold their footing better than mine, requested to make the first attempt, and after some difficulty he succeeded. We had along with us a small basket to contain our provisions, and hold the roots of such plants we wished to transfer to his garden; this he carried behind him by means of a leathern belt fastened round his waist. When therefore, he had fixed himself securely to part of the rock he took off his belt, and holding firmly by one end, gave the other to me: I laid hold, and with a little aid from the stones, fairly pulled myself up by it. After this we got on pretty well, and in about an hour and a quarter from the commencement of our labour, found ourselves on the brow of this dreadful precipice, and in possession of all the plants we expected to find.” Despite their impressive exploit, it had almost no influence on the development of British climbing. They were not climbers in the modern sense of the word, and they did not climb for the sake of it, but for the pursuit of plants. They did not venture back onto the rock and they inspired no followers, it would be a long time before climbers returned to Snowdonia and even longer before anyone attempted to ascend Clogwyn du’r Arddu. Snowdon Café
 Snowdon Café (late 1930s)  Snowdon Café (May 2007)  The building site (May 2007)  New Snowdon Café (2010) Since the beginning of the 19th century it has been possible to buy refreshments on Snowdon’s summit. The first proper building to be constructed near the summit was erected in 1815 by the Beddgelert guide William Lloyd and was mostly used as a shelter for climbers, although some people did use it as an overnight stop. The first person to sell refreshments was a copper miner named Morris Williams who began selling tea, coffee, bread, butter and cheese from a small stall. The first proper hut wasn’t built until around 1837/38 and had stone outer walls with an inner lining of neatly planed boards. By 1847 a conglomeration of wooden huts had been constructed around the summit cairn and two hotels, ‘Roberts Hotel’ (named after the guide John Roberts, famed for summiting Snowdon over 2000 times) and the ‘Cold Club’ (run by another famous guide William Roberts, no relation) competed for the custom. The hotels were owned respectively by the Victoria Hotel and the Dolbadarn Hotel, of Llanberis, and little love was lost between the two Roberts who would do nothing to help each other out when necessity required. Conditions in the hotels were far from luxurious with as many guests as possible packed into one room, and little sleep was had by anyone. In 1896 the Snowdon Mountain Railway, then run by the Snowdon Mountain Tramroad and Hotels Company, opened and the first trains arrived at the summit. The company eventually took control of the two hotels and in 1898 started to rebuild them. Many new additions were made to the summit complex and a small hut was built on the site of the present café, which was soon replaced by a small stone station for the railway workers. The old Victorian buildings suffered greatly from the harsh weather conditions and by the 1930s they were in dire need of replacement. It was decided that a new multipurpose building housing the station, a shop and a café would built. The café, designed by the famous architect Clough Williams-Ellis, was completed in 1935. Its main architectural feature was several huge windows along the front and sides of the building, which offered outstanding views of Snowdonia; unfortunately they were smashed in a storm 6 months after their installation and had to be replaced with much smaller ones. Many years later, Prince Charles described the building as “the highest slum in Wales”. By the late 1990 it had become clear that the Williams-Ellis building was in need of a bit of an overhaul. In 1997 it was decided that a refurbishment was impractical and that a new building should replace it. In 2001 the design was unveiled to the public and following public consultation planning permission was granted in 2004. The new building would be built out of locally sourced sustainable materials and designed to be more sympathetic with the landscape. In December 2006 a competition was held to decide the name of the new building and Hafod Eryri, which means “Upland Summer Residence of Snowdonia”, was chosen. During the autumn/winter of 2006 demolition started on the Williams-Ellis building, ready for construction to begin in summer 2007. When the Snowdon Mountain Railway re-opened in March of that year it only ran as far as the Clogwyn Station at 770m. The building was due to be completed in the summer of 2008, however, hold-ups and a couple of particularly cold winters delayed construction. The new café was finally opened on the 14th June 2009. Snowdon Mountain Railway
 Snowdon Mountain Railway (1930s) The idea of a train running from Llanberis to Snowdon’s summit had been discussed for many years, but it wasn’t until 1871 that a Bill was presented to Parliament to incorporate a company to do so. The bill was later withdrawn after the landowner of the time, George William Duff Assheton Smith of the Faenol Estate, objected to the bill and would not grant his support. He felt that the railway would be of little benefit to the village of Llanberis and that it would create an unnecessary scar on the landscape. The local townsfolk and small-holders living on Snowdon’s slopes where of a different opinion and were deeply conscious of the fact that Llanberis needed something to encourage the tourist trade in the area. In 1894 the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railway, which ran a service from Porthmadog through Beddgelert to Caernarfon, changed the name of the Rhud-Du station to the Snowdon Station (despite it being more than 3 miles from the summit) and succeeded in attracting an increased number of travellers and tourists. The villagers of Llanberis felt the pressure of the increased competition this created, as the focal point of tourism began to move away from Llanberis towards Beddgelert. A petition was bought before Assheton Smith asking for his support to build a railway, this time he eventually succumbed and in November 1894 the Snowdon Mountain Tramroad and Hotel Company was established. Building the new railway was to be a daunting task, the machinery and materials had to be dragged up the mountain by horse and sled. After two years of preparations and construction at three minutes to eleven on Thursday the 9th of January 1896 the first train to reach the summit left the Llanberis Station. Only the railways directors and staff where present on this first journey and it wasn’t until Easter Monday the 6th of April 1896 that it finally opened to the public after a total expenditure of £76,000, which is roughly equivalent to £8,000,000 today. Wildlife and Conservation
Snowdon is part of the Eryri/Snowdonia Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and is therefore strictly protected under the EC Habitats Directive. Snowdonia SAC covers an area of 19737.6 hectares (197 square km) and includes within its boundaries many of Snowdonias highest mountains including Snowdon, the Glyderau, and the Carneddau.  Eryri/Snowdonia SAC The area is rich with important habitats, according to the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), who are the statutory adviser to Government on UK and international nature conservation, Snowdonia has the best-developed and most extensive areas of Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands in Wales and is the largest example of the habitat type south of Scotland. The principal sub-type present is U10 Carex bigelowii – Racomitrium lanuginosum moss-heath, but there are also fragments of U7 Nardus stricta – Carex bigelowii grass-heath. Snowdonia SAC is also the largest site in Wales representative of siliceous scree. The site has extensive screes of igneous rocks with large stands of U21 Cryptogramma crispa – Deschampsia flexuosa vegetation; associated species include fir clubmoss Huperzia selago. Bryophyte and lichen-dominated screes are also well-represented and include important populations of rare and local montane and oceanic species, such as Marsupella adusta, Marsupella stableri and Cornicularia narmoerica. The area also contains the most extensive and diverse examples of hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities in Wales. Fragmentary stands of the habitat type occur on pumice tuff and other base-enriched igneous rocks at a range of altitudes throughout the site. The vegetation is floristically somewhat impoverished compared with Scottish examples but includes many of the species found further north, such as globe-flower Trollius europaeus, wild angelica Angelica sylvestris and holly-fern Polystichum lonchitis. It is important as a southern outlier for arctic-alpines such as alpine saw-wort Saussurea alpina and black alpine-sedge Carex atrata. There are also some southern species, which are absent further north, for example Welsh poppy Meconopsis cambrica. Snowdonia is representative of Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation at one of its most southerly outposts in the UK, and contains the most extensive and diverse examples of these communities in Wales. Crevices in base-rich igneous rocks support a characteristic assemblage of plants, with a large number of arctic-alpine species. These include a number of nationally rare species, such as alpine saxifrage Saxifraga nivalis, tufted saxifrage S. cespitosa, alpine meadow-grass Poa alpina and alpine woodsia Woodsia alpina. A species of particular interest is the Snowdon lily Lloydia serotina, which in the UK occurs only in Snowdonia, in rock cracks and crevices on calcareous and more siliceous substrates, and is here at its northern limit in western Europe. The site also has extensive examples of Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation right at the southern edge of the habitat types range. Acidic crevice communities occur throughout the site on igneous outcrops and include populations of stiff sedge Carex bigelowii, fir clubmoss Huperzia selago and forked spleenwort Asplenium septentrionale. Atlantic species, including Wilson’s filmy-fern Hymenophyllum wilsonii and a wide range of bryophytes, are also well-represented. Llyn Idwal, located just to the north of Glyder Fawr, represents a fine example of oligotrophic waters. It is a relatively small, shallow, upland corrie, in contrast to Llyn Cwellyn, also in Snowdonia, and complete ice cover has been recorded in winter. No overall change in the lake’s water chemistry has been found since the mid-19th century, and the water quality is considered to be high. The site has a good representation of typical plant species, including quillwort Isoetes lacustris, water lobelia Lobelia dortmanna, shoreweed Littorella uniflora, bulbous rush Juncus bulbosus, alternate water-milfoil Myriophyllum alterniflorum and intermediate water-starwort Callitriche hamulata. Bog pondweed Potamogeton polygonifolius has been recorded from stream inlets, and pillwort Pilularia globulifera is reported from this site. Emergent and floating vegetation is mainly confined to the shallow sub-basin at the south end of the site, where floating bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium forms extensive mats, alongside stands of common reed Phragmites australis, water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile and bottle sedge Carex rostrata. Wildlife in the area is in abundance with some 50 species of flower, around 50 species of fern, nearly 50 species of moss, 7 species of clubmoss, around 50species of lichen, over 70 species of fungus and fungoid, over 60 species of hornwort, quillwort, stonewort and liverwort, and nearly 30 species of conifer occupying the valleys and mountain sides of the area. Countless insects feed upon and live within this vegetation with some 40 species of butterfly, over 50 species of moth, around 50 species of beetle, around 50 species of spider, 6 species of grasshopper, 15 species of hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants), 16 species of dragonfly, as well as countless other species of insect. There area also around 50 species of molluscs, 5 species of crustacean. Within the sites lakes, streams and marshes live a plethora of amphibians and fish including 3 species of Lamprey, and 14 species of bony fish including Brown and Rainbow Trout, Atlantic Salmon, and European Eel. Of the amphibians living in the area are the Common Frog, Common Toad and Palmate Newt. Although rarely seen reptiles also live within the area including the Adder, Common Lizard, Grass Snake and Slow-worm. Among the species of mammals that can be found there are Feral Goat, Brown and Mountain Hares, Grey and Red Squirrels, European Rabbit, European Mole, Eurasian Badger, Pine Marten, Polecat, stoat, Weasel, Red Fox, European Otter, West European Hedgehog, Brown Rat, three species of mice, three species of shrew, two species of Vole and no less that thirteen species of bat.  General site character Inland water bodies (standing water, running water) (2%) Bogs. Marshes. Water fringed vegetation. Fens (15%) Heath. Scrub. Maquis and garrigue. Phygrana (19.7%) Dry grassland. Steppes (34%) Alpine and sub-alpine grassland (1%) Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (0.3%) Inland rocks. Screes. Sands. Permanent snow and ice (27%) Other land (including towns, villages, roads, waste places, mines, industrial sites) (1%) Information provided by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee Routes
Snowdon, it can be confidently said, is by far the most visited mountain in Wales. Many just come to stare at it from the car park, others to take the train to the summit for a cup of tea in the mountain’s newly re-built café. Many, many others however, visit the mountain with more ambitious plans, be they hikers, rock climbers, or that increasingly rare creature these days, the winter climber. While some come only with the megalomaniacal obsession of climbing the highest mountain in Wales, most come with the understanding that prestigious titles aside, the mountain offers a gargantuan range of high quality routes, which are often steeped in the rich history and myth of their sport. This section attempts to summarise what Snowdon has to offer the visiting mountaineer, be they aspirant or expert. In doing so, it will inevitably lean towards giving focus to what are thought to be the most popular or highest quality routes and in doing so, will sadly miss out on some of the less known, but fondly thought of lines. The author recommends therefore, that any reader planning to visit Snowdon should also consider consulting one of the many high quality guidebooks that are available for the area, a perhaps less than comprehensive list of which, can be found in the Guidebooks section of this page.  HikingAlmost all of Snowdon is designated as Open Access Land under the auspices of the Countryside Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000. What this means for the hiker is that they can pretty much take what ever route they like to the top, whether there’s a path present or not. Most will not want to thrash through bog and bracken however, and will be more interested in taking one of the more conventional routes up the mountain. The table below provides details for the mountain’s most travelled paths, which all begin at clear, well established trailheads and are easily reached via public transport.
ScramblingSnowdon’s numerous faces are home to many scrambles and low end technical climbs, only a few of which are listed below. Some of these routes can easily claim to be some of the best for their grade in the country and are extremely worthwhile objectives for anyone visiting the area. To aid the reader with identifying these routes, the table below has been split into buttresses and subsidiary summits. For full descriptions of most of these routes see Steve Ashton’s excellent guide, Scrambles in Snowdonia. The following section is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to the mountains scrambles, but more of a way of pointing the reader in the right direction.
Rock ClimbingAs has been described in an earlier chapter, Snowdon is said to be the scene of Britain’s first rock climb (one of many as it happens!), and has played an important role in the development of the sport. Its various cliffs, crags and outcrops bristle with quality routes, and while fashions in climbing may change, Snowdon has always had something on offer for those looking for a bit of adventure. Snowdon’s cliffs vary from small and intimate valley crags to towering, Alpinesque mountain buttresses. Given the sheer number and diversity of Snowdon’s climbing venues, it is inevitable that the mountain should be covered by not one dedicated guidebook, but many, the tally currently reaching five. To aid the reader, the relevant guidebook for each cliff has been given alongside each description. Of course these are not the only guidebooks to contain details of climbs on Snowdon; there are a number of general guidebooks covering North Wales available too, these are, in order of date published: Rock Climbing in North Wales by Paul Williams (Constable) North Wales Rock by Simon Panton (Ground Up) North Wales Classics by Jack Geldard (Rockfax)  For those interested in such things, the first guidebook to North Wales rock, Rock Climbing in the British Isles, Volume 2 Wales and Ireland, was published way back in 1895 by W.P. Haskett Smith. This was followed by a more ‘modern’ incarnation of the guidebook in 1906 in the form of G.D. and A.P. Abraham’s Rock Climbing in North Wales. Then in 1909 J.M. Archer-Thompson and A.W. Andrews produced the Climbers’ Club’s first guide, and the first guidebook dedicated to a specific cliff in Wales, The Climbs on Lliwedd, and so marked the dominance of the Club over detailed guidebooks in Snowdonia. As is the case throughout the UK, rock climbs on Snowdon are graded using the combined adjectival and technical grading systems. To get an idea of what this means, Rockfax have a frankly excellent table plus explanation on their website.
Winter ClimbingUnfortunately the close proximity of Snowdon to the sea and the frequent arrival of Atlantic depressions pushing warm, moist air over the area, even in the middle of winter climbing conditions are infrequent and unreliable. Having said that, the last couple of winter’s (2009 and 2010) have been pretty damn good and if you’re lucky enough to be in the area when conditions are right, then Snowdon offers winter routes for climbers of all abilities. Winter routes in Snowdonia are graded using the Scottish Winter Grading system, which uses increasing Roman numerals to rate the difficulty of climbs. The system can be difficult to get to grips with for those unfamiliar with it, since it makes no distinction between snow ice, water ice and mixed routes, therefore when choosing a route, reading the description is critical. For full descriptions of most of the routes on the mountain see Malcom Campbell and Andy Newton’s Welsh Winter Climbs, which is now supplamented by Mark 'Baggy' Richard's North Wales Winter Climbing. For the very occasional visitor, Jack Geldard’s North Wales Classics also has a short section on winter climbing, complete with sparkly colour topos.
BoulderingBouldering on Snowdon is very much focused around Llanberis Pass, with areas such as the Cromlech Boulders and Wavelength offering almost limitless problems for those who seek them. The quality and quantity of what’s on offer is so vast that the Pass has become well known to British climbers as one of the best bouldering venues in the country, and is consequently, extremely popular with those visiting the area. For those looking for something a bit quieter, outlying areas such as Cwm Dyli and Clogwyn y Bustach make excellent alternatives to The Pass’ hustle and bustle and, in all fairness, are home to some excellent problems in their own right. Snowdon is fortunate in having a growing number of excellent guidebooks that describe, in various degrees of detail, the bouldering problems on the mountain. For the climber who is more interested in trad and sport routes than bouldering, both the Climbers’ Club’s Llanberis guide and Ground Up’s North Wales Rock have sections on bouldering, the former being the better of the two because it covers a far smaller area. Those after something a bit more comprehensive should look no further than Simon Panton’s North Wales Bouldering / Bowldro Gogledd Cymru, an excellent bilingual guide that is entirely dedicated to the art of bouldering. 
Mountain Conditions
ForecastThis section displays the weather forecast for Beddgelert, which is located just to the south and is one of the nearest major towns to the mountains summit area. Remember that Beddgelert is only around 70m above sea level whereas the Pen y Pass carpark (where most walks start) is over 350m above sea level, and Snowdon itself reaches 1085m. This means that when looking at temperature the adiabatic lapse rate must be taken into account which in Wales is a drop in temperature of between 0.5 and 1°C per 100m in altitude. Exposure and wind speed can also significantly lower temperatures. Web CamerasWebcams are a graet way of getting up-to-date weather information. Currently there are quite a few webcams in Snowdonia, only a few cameras located in the Snowdon area - even fewer are actually reliable. The section below provides links to the very best. These feeds are hosted by external sites, so obviously we can’t be held responsible if a camera happens to be malfunctioning. First Hydro www.DeformedWeb.co.uk Snow Gliders BBC Wales When To Climb and Essential Gear
Most ascents are made in the spring and summer and during the high season many of the popular routes can feel more like a bus queue than a mountain ascent. However, if one avoids weekends and public holidays, or employs some cunning route choices, a quiet day can be had e.g. through Cwm Glas or over Y Lliwedd. The area is often cloudy and showers are frequent so full waterproofs are always essential no matter what the weather forecast. A good pare of boots, a map, a compass and a hat are also a necessity. Most scrambles can be done with no more extra gear than one might carry for a hike, but for the harder routes, some may choose to carry a helmet, rope, harness and a small rack of slings, crabs and nuts; if attempting the West Peak of Y Lliwedd via Bilberry Terrace for example, to carry all of these items is highly recommended. The best time for rock climbing is from late spring to early autumn, when there is little chance of snow and ice and the crags dry out much faster. For the long, multi-pitch routes, a reasonable sized rack will probably be necessary. Most routes will require half ropes of 50 metres length, though on the longer, easier routes, a single rope will probably suffice. It’s worth emphasising that the crags on Snowdon are big, serious and vulnerable to the area’s fickle climate so be sure to carry enough food, water and warm, waterproof clothing. On the longer and/or less accessible routes, a headtorch may prove to be a very handy piece of kit; this is even truer in winter. The Snowdon Mountain Railway stops running at the beginning of October, therefore, in winter, the mountain is much quieter. When snow and ice is likely, walkers should carry an ice axe and wear crampons. For true winter routes, specialist winter and ice climbing equipment is necessary and owing to the unpredictable nature of the mountain’s snow and ice, these lines should only be attempted by those with experience of winter mountaineering techniques. Despite Snowdon’s comparatively low altitude winters can be very cold, with temperatures dropping to near Arctic levels; many inexperienced walkers and climbers have been caught out in these conditions, most are rescued by mountain rescue teams however, on occasion, the consequences are much more serious.  Red Tape and Access
No red tape or access issues here! Although unlikely it's worth checking the countryside access map provided by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) regarding whether or not any restrictions on movement in the area are in place. Countryside Access Map For climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers, the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) runs a Regional Access Database, which holds mountain/crag specific information on matters of conservation and access, including issues such as nesting restrictions, nature designations and preferred parking. Regional Access Database If you are in any doubt about any particular access arrangement, or need to report an incident, you should contact your local BMC Access Representative or the BMC Access Officers for Wales: Elfyn Jones. Getting There
There are numerous starting points dotted around the base of the mountain, all in close proximity to good roads that are serviced by regular bus routes. Probably the most common starting point for Snowdon is the Pen-y-Pass car park (SH 647 555), at the zenith of the Llanberis Pass, which can be reached easily by road on the A4086 that runs between Llanberis (SH 582 598) and Capel Curig (SH 719 580). Both the Miner’s Track and the PYG Track begin here, as does one of the Cwm Glas Routes. Owing to its spectacular position and the popularity of the routes that start there, the Pen-y-Pass car park often fills up quickly, so if you want to park there, a very early start is recommended. If the car park is full there is some parking around 1.5km to the east along the roadside near the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel (SH 660 558). These parking options are both pay and display with a full day’s parking costing £10 (up-to-date as of September 2010). If you cannot find parking in this area, then there is a Park and Ride just down the road in Nant Perris (SH 607 582), see below for further details. Pen-y-Pass is an ideal starting point for those wanting to climb on Clogwyn y Garnedd, Y Lliwedd, Crib Goch and Clogwyn y Ddysgl. Do not park in the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel car park - this is for guests only. The alternate start for the Cwm Glas Routes starts a little further down The Pass, at a small bridge over Afon Nant Peris near Blaen-y-Nant (SH 622 568). While there is very limited parking here there is a scheduled bus stop, so it is advised that the local bus service is used to reach this one. The Llanberis Path starts in Llanberis (SH 582 598), which has plenty of parking. The town is 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 (SH 660 558) where it meets the A4086. The Watkin Path starts at the Nant Gwynant car park (SH 627 506) near Bethenia, which is on the A498 between Beddgelert (SH 590 481) and Pen-y-Gwryd (SH 660 558). Though not as busy as Pen-y-Pass, parking is limited, so again an early start is recommended. This is a good starting point for those looking to climb in Cwm Llan. The Snowdon Ranger Path starts at The Snowdon Ranger Station car park (SH 565 551) on the Welsh Highland Railway, and is located on the A4085 between Beddgelert (SH 590 481) and Caernarfon (SH 482 625). This is an ideal starting point for those wanting to climb on Clogwyn Du'r Arddu (SH 602 554). The Rhyd-Ddu Path starts at the car park nest to the railway station in the village of Rhyd-Ddu (SH 571 525), which is also located on the A4085 between Beddgelert (SH 590 481) and Caernarfon (SH 482 625). Use this path to reach the routes on Llechog. All car parks are serviced by the park and ride in Nant Perris (SH 607 582) which runs regularly all day, every day, throughout the summer (including weekends and bank holidays). They are also serviced by the Snowdon Sherpa bus service which has various stops around the mountain and runs from Llanberis, Bettws y Coed, Caernarfon, Beddgelert, Bethesda, and Porthmadog. Be sure to check timetables first as you don't want to end up missing the last bus and find yourself stuck. The Rhyd-Ddu and Snowdon Ranger paths can also be reached on the Welsh Highland Railway, which runs steam trains between Caernarfon and Porthmadog. Camping and Accommodation
Way back in 1895, in the first rock climbing guidebook to be written for Snowdonia, the grandfather of British rock climbing W.P. Haskett Smith wrote, “Llanberis… is the most accessible of all the mountain resorts in Wales. As a consequence… the place is often intolerably overrun, especially during the late summer and autumn. The true lover of the mountains flees the spot, for the day-tripper is a burden and desire fails.”, and the same can be said to this day. It does however, have a plentiful supply of tourist accommodation, including a Youth Hostel Association hostel. The real draw of Llanberis is however, the café/bunkhouse/institution that is Pete’s Eats; if you’re a climber, then this is a must do destination. Haskett Smith was more complimentary of Beddgelert, which he describes as “one of the gates of Snowdonia, and it is the gate by which the judicious will enter. It is, moreover, perhaps the prettiest mountain resort in Wales”. Many will agree, but it is perhaps more touristy today, than it was in 1895. The village has a handful of shops, pubs, campsites, B&Bs, hotels and other facilities and is a good alternative to Llanberis’ weary facades. See the links below for some suitable recommendations: Camping The following links are for campsites within a reasonable distance from Llanberis: Snowdonia Park, Camping in Llanberis and Llwyn Celyn Bach. Those looking for something a bit might want to try some sites around Capel Curig, which include Garth Farm, Gwern Gof Uchaf, Gwern Gôf Isaf Farm and Dolgam. The latter is an excellent base if you plan to walk/climb Snowdon from Pen-y-Pass. The Beddgelert area also offers an array of beautiful locations to camp including Beddgelert Forest, Cae Du and the Cwellyn Arms. Hostelling There is an almost unprecedented number of hostels surrounding the mountain that are located wonderfully close to Snowdon’s main trailheads. YHA Pen y Pass is the best placed of these and is located right at the start of the PYG Track, Miner’s Track and Snowdon Horseshoe routes. YHA Capel Curig is a little further away but has the advantage of being close to a number of shops and pubs. YHA Snowdon Ranger is, funnily enough, very close to the start of the Snowdon Ranger Path, and YHA Bryn Gwynant is very close to the start of the Watkin Path. The Plas y Brenin National Mountain Centre in Capel Curig also has a bunk house, and has its own indoor climbing wall if you’re still feeling energetic after your day on the mountain. My personal recommendation is the bunkhouse above the aforementioned Pete's Eats in Llanberis, a café that is a true icon of Snowdonia’s climbing scene. Other Accommodation It wouldn’t be appropriate to list hotels or B&Bs here, but if your looking for a hotel with a strong mountain heritage then the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel, located just above Llanberis Pass is for you. The hotel was established 1810 and was the base for much of Snowdonia's early climbing scene, and has been host to many of Britain’s pioneering climbers including George Mallory, George and Ashley Abraham, Owen Glynne Jones, Sir Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay, Chris Bonnington, Joe Brown, Don Whillans, Menlove Edwards, Wilfred Noyce and many, many more. Maps
Guidebooks
Snowdonia: The Official National Park Guide Hiking Cicerone Guide: The Mountains of England and Wales: Volume 1 Wales Cicerone Guide: Hillwalking in Wales Vol 1 Cicerone Guide: Hillwalking in Wales Vol 2 Cicerone Guide: Hillwalking in Snowdonia Scrambling Cicerone Guide: Ridges of Snowdonia (Also includes hiking routes) Cicerone Guide: Scrambles in Snowdonia Cicerone Guide: The Ridges of England, Wales and Ireland (Also includes rock climbs) Scrambles and Easy Climbs in Snowdonia (Also includes rock climbs) Rock and Winter Climbing Climbers' Club Guide to Wales: Clogwyn Du’r Arddu Climbers' Club Guide to Wales: Cwm Silyn & Cwellyn (Eifionydd) (Also includes winter climbs) Climbers' Club Guide to Wales: Llanberis (Also includes scrambles and bouldering problems) Climbers' Club Guide to Wales: Lliwedd Rockfax Guide: North Wales Classics (Also includes winter climbs) Ground Up Guide: North Wales Rock (Also includes bouldering problems) Constable Guide: Rock Climbing in Snowdonia The Long Routes: Mountaineering Rock Climbs in Snowdonia and the Lake District Cicerone Guide: Welsh Winter Climbs Ground Up Guide: North Wales Winter Climbing n-soul Guide: North Wales Bouldering/Bowldro Gogledd Cymru Beta Sites North Wales Bouldering North Wales Limestone Wiki Rockfax Route Database UkClimbing.com Welsh Winter Climbs External LinksGovernment Bodies and Official Organisations Snowdonia National Park Authority Council for National Parks Association of National Park Authorities Conwy County Council Gwynedd County Council Powys County Council Countryside Council for Wales Forestry Commission Wales Environment Agency CADW Royal Commission on Ancient & Historical Monuments in Wales Gwynedd Archaeological Trust Snowdonia Society The National Trust Hiking, Climbing and Mountaineering Organisations and Companies British Mountaineering Council The Climbers Club UKClimbing Plas y Brenin National Mountain Centre Snowdonia-Active.com Hightreck Snowdonia Weather Mountain Weather Wales Weather from the Met Office BBC Weather Weather Channel UK Tourist Information Visit Wales North Wales Tourism Partnership Local Information from Gwynedd.com Local Information from Snowdonia Wales Net North Wales Index Travel Welsh Public Transport Information Uk Train Timetable Accommodation Youth Hostel Association in Wales Beddgelert Forest Campsite Cae Du campsite near Beddgelert Llwyn Celyn Bach Snowdonia Park Camping in Llanberis Garth Farm Gwern Gof Uchaf Gwern Gôf Isaf Farm Dolgam Campsite and B&B Cwellyn Arms Ynys Ettws YHA Pen y Pass YHA Capel Curig YHA Snowdon Ranger YHA Bryn Gwynant Pete's Eats Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel Maps and Guidebooks Ordnance Survey Harvey Map Services Cicerone Guidebooks Climbers Club Guidebooks North Wales Bouldering Mid Wales Climbing Cordee Travel and Adventure Sports Bookshop Wildlife and Conservation Joint Nature Conservation Committee Natur Gwynedd North Wales Wildlife Trust Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Welsh Language Welsh Language Board Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg Welsh language pressure group Yr Urdd (Welsh Youth Association) Welsh-English / English-Welsh online translator Welsh-English / English-Welsh Online Dictionary Welsh-English / English-Welsh Online Lexicon Additions and Corrections[ Post an Addition or Correction ]
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