Walking up snowdon with young teens

[madeyemoodysmum]

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!!!!!!

Just take your time. I first walked it aged 10 with the brownies. Even the 8yr olds made it up! (My mother and aunt ran the brownie pack). We did the pyg track.

Dress appropriately, take it at your own pace, have a map and a phone and know which route you want to take by researching thoroughly first.

While I have taken very young children up there, it's been perfect weather and conditions. People do die up there every year, albeit almost entirely in bad conditions or doing something not recommended.

Of course you can do it! Ive seen kds younger than 10 walk it. Older folk too.

Take the Llanberis path, much easier on the legs. 1st mile is a real climb, then it levels out till after half way. Then you have Allt Moses which is a killer, then immediately after that its Allt Goch. Just take your time, wear decent clothing and tell your teens not to wear earphones. Ive seen that regularly whilst running on Snowdon (yes, i run up and down it), and it seriously pisses people off.

Embrace the mountain, scenery and where you are!

Ok. I think you have convinced me.

I will take plenty of choc and biscuits. Water

Decent clothing. We have walking type coats
And shoes. I’m going to buy some poles too as I think they will help me with the descent Excited now.

Agree with others - walking poles are a must if you haven't tried them already. They're like holding onto handrails.

Do some research about heights of poles before you go. From memory I think hip height is recommended so adjust them on the way down so they're a bit longer.

We did it last year with our 8 year old. No problem at all!

Definitely do it. If possible go up the Pyg or Miners Path, and either back on one of those or the Llanberis path (which is easier, longer but so so dull). The scenery going up the other two is breathtaking. There's a bit of a scrambly bit but that will be more fun for the teens and you will be fine. Someone in our party was your age with a bad back and he found it fine. It's crowded at the summit and often visibility is poor so the walk and the achievement are the best bits not the summit! Allow the full day then you don't need to worry about time.

My youngest son walked it at 6 years old and so did my grandson. Plenty of young kids walk it. There are about 8 routes up, of various levels of difficulty, so research the routes and pick wisely. The Llanberis Path is probably the easiest because it is a straightforward steady climb all the way up but is the longest route. The Ranger Path is also straightforward but has a steep climb in the middle. Be aware the weather at the top can be drastically different from the bottom so pack plenty of layers. It’s a great walk and if the weather is on your side the views are unbelievable.

I’m a keen hiker and climber and have done most hills in Loch Lomond and a number of Munro’s. I climb typically once a week. Which hill did you climb in Loch Lomond? Was it conic hill or earls seat maybe? Trying to give you a realistic idea of the type of climb you are planning

My daughter went with school. They took the whole of Y5 and Y6, and got everyone up and down again. They all loved it.

Im rather 🙄 at those saying the Llanberis path is dull. There is breathtaking scenery there.

It's really fine if you do the main path (Pyg? Miners? The one from the main car park anyway). Stay off Crib Goch and don't do the Llanberis path as its kind of long and dull.

One time DH and I did it, he made me come down this other completely different path the other side, which involved climbing up again in places and took forever. I was not a happy bunny!

If you want to get the train back down, my advice is make sure you book. A group of 12 of us made it to the top, some of the group wanted to get the train down but it was fully booked for the rest of the day.

And take lots and lots of water. I needed a change of clothing at the top as I was so sweaty on the way up which then made me incredibly cold when I got to the top

I would suggest going up the Pyg track and down the miners track. As you go up the pyg be aware that there is a right turn off called crib goch - DO NOT go that way, it is a very narrow ridge and can be scary and dangerous for experienced walkers.

Make sure you are safe, with the crowds it is easy to dismiss Snowdon as a walk in a rather hilly park but it deserves respect. Accidents happen, weather changes rapidly, so be prepared. Make sure you have sturdy footwear and a pole if you have bad knees.

You NEED an OS map, full waterproofs, food and drink (including extra emergency rations) a torch and whistle, and an extra jumper. Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back. Do not rely upon a mobile phone.

Have lots of fun but be safe

Did it 3 times before I was 9 years old.

We walked up.
The cafe visit for hot chocolate and chips (as promised by parents) was shut.
The train ride down (as promised by parents) was shut.
There was snow and blizzards.

Did I mention we were conned into walking it THREE times?

Bitter memories!

You can't just buy a ticket at the top to come down. We walked it with our 9 and 12 yr olds. They were fine, like mountain goats coming down unlike me who found the turn bit much worse than the up bit!!

I've done it twice, and I'm not the fittest person! I much prefer flat walks.

The second time we did it with the kids - aged 11, 8, 6 & 3. 3 year old was in a sling though! The others managed perfectly fine, loved it! We took the Llanberis path, didn't find it boring at all. But then we come from Sussex, not exactly known for its picturesque mountains.

It’s honestly not difficult on the long windy path. Just takes forever. I saw people in August walking it in Birkenstock’s and flip flops!

Prison break. It was Ben a’arn and I’ve just looked and that was only 4km 😩

The cafe was closed last time I did it too. We rationed water on the way up as we hadn’t taken enough - thinking we’d buy more in the cafe. So had none for the way down!

The cafe was minging I thought. It absolutely stank. That was in August so peak season I should imagine. I wouldn’t rely on that for much nourishment.

Yeah Ben Aan is an easy climb. If you fancy Snowdon at least do some level of training to ensure you are ready for it

Omg prison don’t say that!!!

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

I made this very mistake! No they do not sell one way tickets. If you haven't got one to get you up there you can't take the train back.

I did the walk up a few years back with a group of friends and I am far from the fittest person in the world but I was fine. I can't remember what the routes are but we took the harder one up. Then, after the train disappointment, took an easier one back down.