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Original poster

Walking up snowdon with young teens

53 replies

madeyemoodysmum · 20/02/2019 19:50

I have booked a little cottage in north wales in May and I love to try Snowdon.

We ha e walked up a small mountain (hill in Scotland) near loch Lomond and that was hard going on my knees. Everyone else coped We also walked a long walk in Peak District last year.

I wouldn’t say we walk a lot in between though But I like the challenge.

Would snowdon be too much
I’m 50. Go to gym or swim 2/3 times a week but I’m a teeny bit arthritic and I also think the kids might find it hard.

Any tips or realistic walk times in the easy routes.

I’ve looked at train but it will cost us nearly £90 to get up there!!!!!!

OP posts:
ElloBrian · 20/02/2019 19:54

Why not make plans to do a couple of smaller hills first and then play it by ear. If you find those hard then perhaps give it a miss or do it by the train if you’ve got the cash. A day or two of walking-in is always useful at the start of a walking holiday anyway - doing smaller hills and so on, to get your legs limbered up.

MrsFionaCharming · 20/02/2019 19:55

Can you justify paying for the train down? Downhill can be mich harder on your knees, and that way you still get the accomplishment of having walked up.

Prometheus · 20/02/2019 19:56

I did it when I was aged 11 and my little sister was aged 8. We were used to walking up hills in North Wales though & so didn't find it particularly difficult.

LuluBellaBlue · 20/02/2019 19:56

Place marking as it’s on my bucket list Grin

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 20/02/2019 19:58

There are lots of different routes, some easier than others. I did the Ranger route, wasn't particularly fit. Can't pretend to be an expert, hopefully one will come along and advise

Wearywithteens · 20/02/2019 20:00

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 20/02/2019 20:03

We did it when our dses were 8 and 10. I won't lie, it took a lot of encouragement and sweets to get ds2 up there but ds1 was like a mountain goat😃

We did walk quite a lot back then but not mountains. It's very doable, the paths are well marked and there will be lots of people doing the same.

We took the PYG path, nicer that the Llanberis route but more challenging.

I have now got really dodgy knees but I still do mountains when I can. Downhill is definitely harder and I find, you pay for it the next day!

All in all, it's a brilliant thing to do.

Wearywithteens · 20/02/2019 20:03

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Heulog · 20/02/2019 20:03

I did it without any real level of fitness, we walked the Llanberis route which is known as the easiest. There's a little cafe half way, take lots of water, dress sensibly, and take your time. Coming down was hard on my knees but I was fine going up.

Rubusfruticosus · 20/02/2019 20:05

It shouldn't be a problem for teens, it wasn't for my 12 year old, and many younger children climb it. I can't comment or whether a 50 year old would find it difficult as I'm in my thirties.

Original poster
madeyemoodysmum · 20/02/2019 20:06

Ok this seems encouraging

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 20/02/2019 20:21

I'm not outstandingly fit, small, and walked up the llanberis walk without any real difficulty a couple of years ago when I was 56. I do a reasonable amount of walking. DH same age has a bit of knee problems but he was ok. We both use a walking pole apiece, use 2 if you're worried. Teens should be absolutely fine.

As well as the cafe at the half way point, there's one at the top - tea and a pasty, perfect.

Main thing is to check the weather as the top seems to be in cloud more often than not. we'd had two previous trips to Snowdonia (when DD was younger) when it wasn't good enough - but there's loads of other things to do in that area. The met office forecast turned out to be pretty accurate, fortunately.

Karigan195 · 20/02/2019 20:23

No you will be fine so long as you stick to the easier tracks (I recommend pyg). I did it with a 8 year old part year

Sortingfinances · 20/02/2019 20:24

We did it with kids aged 5, 7 and 10. Me almost 40. It's hard work but worth it.
Take plenty of layers. Beautiful sunny day but v cold in top.
We went up pyg track and down minors - not as long as llanberis route. Get there early to get space in the car park. Was £10 for the day I seem to remember.

About 7 hrs round trip.
We're in Essex so rarely climb hills never mind mountains!

Karigan195 · 20/02/2019 20:24

Please remember to take a coat no matter how warm you think it is as the weather at the top will be totally different and sensible footwear

LucheroTena · 20/02/2019 20:26

It’s an easy walk on the gentle route but a bit long and boring to do both ways to be honest. I would get train one way.

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 20/02/2019 20:27

Park in Llanberis, take the Sherpa bus up to Pen-y-pass, do the Pyg track, then descend via the Llanberis path. We did it some years ago with 4 teens, two active women, and two fat men with three working knee joints, a steel tibial pin, and two heart attacks between them. Worth doing, took 8 hours.

Karigan195 · 20/02/2019 20:31

Trains expensive. Very busy that time of year so if you do go for train book ahead and you need to get to parking early or it fills up too

PepeLePew · 20/02/2019 20:32

Steep up, gentle down is good for dodgy knees. And definitely walking poles but practise using them before - they can take an enormous amount of pressure off.

ScafellPoke · 20/02/2019 20:35

I second what disgrace says. Bit more variety. I grew up in Llanberis and know the area well

ErrolTheDragon · 20/02/2019 20:39

I would get train one way.

I'm not sure they sell one way tickets. You certainly can't walk up on the assumption you can get the train back.

Bohbell · 20/02/2019 20:40

We did it, DS10, DD14, dog, me and Dh. We all thought it easy but we are all quite fit. Make sure cafe open just in case and prepare for bad weather as can be v cold at top. You’ll probably be fine. We thought scaffel pike harder.

Bohbell · 20/02/2019 20:42

We did the rangers route up and down and it was great. Took us about 5 hours in all with short break up top.

itsbritneybiatches · 20/02/2019 20:52

I've done it twice. I did the Rhyd Dhu path both times with different people.

We didn't train or anything and we didn't really know how long it would actually take the first time it was a spur of the moment thing. We were very lucky the weather was ideal.

First time was in August and it was cold at the top. Weather was amazing though.

Second time we did it end if September and the weather was atrocious. Rain, sleet, wind, people were turning back neAr the top without going the full way up it was so bad.
It was really slippy on the ridges. Way down was treacherous. Even in walking boots we slipped all the way down.

There is a decent cafe at the top and We had the best sausage roll and hot chocolate once we got their.

christinarossetti19 · 20/02/2019 20:52

We did Snowden with our then 10 and 8 year olds a couple of years ago. It was fine as other say. Well marked paths, lots of other people and a cafe at the top!

Do take lots of snacks and water, and hat and gloves for the top.

If you're going to drive to the Pen-y-pass, either get there very early, or be prepared to park a bit down the road and walk up.

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