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Original poster

Anyone walked the Llanberis path up Snowdon?

47 replies

RubyFowler · 26/05/2021 16:04

How much navigation is needed to walk up the Llanberis path up Snowdon?
It seems to be like it is mainly footpath all the way up or am I mistaken?

OP posts:
Hillsareyourfriends · 26/05/2021 16:10

No navigation required. Just follow the path.

Timperleybell · 26/05/2021 16:11

The path from Llanberis is fairly straightforward except in spring / summer conditions its much used and while its a long time since I walked it was a pretty obvious route. It also mostly follows the railway track which also gives a guide.

midgedude · 26/05/2021 16:11

I walked up snowdon one bank holiday

At the top people got confused , we turned one group around and ended up driving another couple around snodwon back to llanberis as they cane down the wrong way

There is an arrow painted on the side of the cafe pointing to llanberis but if it's obscured through cloud or bodies ...

KonTikki · 26/05/2021 16:11

Or catch the train Grin

BarbaraofSeville · 26/05/2021 16:12

And the queue, if you're planning on doing it this weekend Smile.

DonttouchthatLarry · 26/05/2021 16:12

Dead easy - you won't get lost.

P1ainJanine · 26/05/2021 16:12

Towards the top, the paths can be confusing when you come back down. I haven't actually come that way up, but have met a lot of people who had started on the Rhdd Ddu path down, when they wanted the Llanberis one. So don't be afraid to ask, and try to make a note on the way up of which one you are going to want later.

BarbaraofSeville · 26/05/2021 16:16

@midgedude

I walked up snowdon one bank holiday

At the top people got confused , we turned one group around and ended up driving another couple around snodwon back to llanberis as they cane down the wrong way

There is an arrow painted on the side of the cafe pointing to llanberis but if it's obscured through cloud or bodies ...

How on earth is it possible to go down the wrong path if you came up Llanberis?

All the others are quite different and don't have a railway line next to them.

Original poster
RubyFowler · 26/05/2021 16:18

Great news! I am planning on going in half term but not this weekend!
Just me and 13 year old DS, both fairly fit but not mountaineers.
Official advise is take a map and compass etc, but honestly I don't even think I'd know how to navigate using a map! So I wasn't sure if I should be booking a guided walk but it seems not.

OP posts:
tanstaafl · 26/05/2021 16:21

Be warned that it’s usually impossible to get train tickets just to go down
(If you were thinking of walking up and training it back).
Also, Llanberis path is the longest route up.
I’d say 4 hours up depending on average fitness.

Alternatively, get an S bus from Betsy-y-Coed to the Pen yr Pass car park stop and take the Pyg Track up, Miners track back down (to the same place) and bus back. Bus is 15minutes each way.

midgedude · 26/05/2021 16:23

It's clearly possible and it was the Rhd Dhu path that the other poster also mentioned that was causing the trouble

Original poster
RubyFowler · 26/05/2021 16:26

Its the navigation that is worrying me, rather than distance etc, so I'd rather take the easiest route in terms of least likely to get lost!

OP posts:
midgedude · 26/05/2021 16:27

You should be heading on a path going north when you leave the top

GirlCrush · 26/05/2021 16:29

yes there are a few paths at the top that go different ways....if the train track is obscured it would be easy to take wrong path

tourist path up and down will be BUSY!!

Testarossa44 · 26/05/2021 16:34

We walked it 2 years back in July. I would say near on impossible to get lost, very obvious path. Take waterproofs, a warm jumper and a woolly hat. We started off in shorts and t-shirts, at the top we had jumpers, hats and our waterproofs on. He prepared to queue to get up the steps to the summit point. Also take a picnic, the queue for food is ridiculous!

Original poster
RubyFowler · 26/05/2021 16:43

Taking all advice on board, thanks!

OP posts:
beryltheperilrocks · 26/05/2021 16:49

We went up in august lovely day...it was freezing fog at the top.

murbblurb · 26/05/2021 16:59

Snowdon is a rain and cloud magnet for obvious reasons, don't expect views.

And using a map really isnt hard. Please don't rely on a fragile phone that is likely to run out of battery. Better uses for the weight.

bigbluebus · 26/05/2021 17:04

As far as I'm aware, the train isn't currently running right to the top and the cafe/visitor centre isn't opening again until 2022.

Cowbells · 26/05/2021 17:05

Other paths are prettier and easy to navigate. Miners and Pyg tracks are both lovely.

Original poster
RubyFowler · 26/05/2021 17:06

@bigbluebus

As far as I'm aware, the train isn't currently running right to the top and the cafe/visitor centre isn't opening again until 2022.
Yes this is what I've heard too.
OP posts:
Hodgedodge · 26/05/2021 17:18

The Pyg track sounds nice - is it hard to do with average fitness? Apparently there’s some scrambling involved!

MayYouLiveInInterestingTimes · 26/05/2021 18:10

It’s a while since I went, but from memory Llanberis is the easiest path - ? In which case you really are fretting unnecessarily, it’s a very clear path and there are always lots of other people around.
As a pp said, it does get cloudy up there. Take advantage of clear breaks to enjoy the surroundings and take photos, because if you leave it til later the clouds might come down. The weather turns very quickly. Enjoy Wales, wish I was going!

MayYouLiveInInterestingTimes · 26/05/2021 18:14

But a map is always a good thing to take, and map reading isn’t hard. 2nd turn on the left, 3rd on the right. Also make sure you both have good shoes, I hate it when you see people out in flip flops on hills. They must get really sore.

Original poster
RubyFowler · 26/05/2021 18:15

Yes it is the easiest one.
Do you know the embarrassing thing is I grew up in North Wales and I regularly visit and have never been up!
Really hoping the weather is good so we can do it this time, but if not now we'll go another day.
Think I might have roped my brother in too now.

OP posts: