Anyone walked the Llanberis path up Snowdon?

[RubyFowler]

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?

Pyg track is good. There’s a little bit of scrambling but not much. It’s a much more interesting walk.

When I did it we parked at Llanberis, then got the bus to the start of the Pyg track and took that route up.

Then took the Llanberis path down back to car.

(I find going down harder than going up for some weird balance reason so didn’t want to do Pyg back down).

Agree with others it can be beautiful weather at bottom and freezing fog that you can hardly see through at top. Take gloves! I forgot mine.

@MayYouLiveInInterestingTimes

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.

We've got all the right gear, walking boots, waterproofs, layers etc.

I can do that sort of map reading!

I'm not so sure i could navigate my way back down a mountain if lost, using a compass. How do you know where you are if you haven't been tracking you're route as you go??

Anyway, it sounds like I'm more likely to be following the crowds.

Up Pyg and down miners is my favourite way.
Of all the main ways they are all pretty easy, except Crib Goch which is vile.
The llanberis path is like following a motorway. Literally impossible to get lost.

Literally impossible to get lost

These are the words I was hoping to hear.

the easiest thing to do is go back to a recognised landmark, on land and map, and go from there. Otherwise create A recognised landmark - or landscape - from all parts of the map, a stream here, forest there, the contour lines showing one hill on the left and a bigger on the right with a gully in the middle. You want to try navigating through the New Forest. “If we’re here and head north we’ll hit that road, if we’re there and head north we’ll hit that stream and then the road, and if were anywhere else and head north, well, we’ll find something eventually!”

@MayYouLiveInInterestingTimes

the easiest thing to do is go back to a recognised landmark, on land and map, and go from there. Otherwise create A recognised landmark - or landscape - from all parts of the map, a stream here, forest there, the contour lines showing one hill on the left and a bigger on the right with a gully in the middle. You want to try navigating through the New Forest. “If we’re here and head north we’ll hit that road, if we’re there and head north we’ll hit that stream and then the road, and if were anywhere else and head north, well, we’ll find something eventually!”

You're making me want to give it a try! Tbh DS would be better than me, he's done this sort of thing in scouts.

We did it with ds when he was 7, we camped and walked straight from the campsite, we had beautiful weather and it was wonderful! Compass definitely not required!

All the paths get busy. I tend to go up Bwlch Maesgwm and join the rangers then back to llanberis. But i do avoid them in the day during the summer and go in the evening.

But you’ll be fine on the llanberis path. Treat yourself to chips from Allports in the village and sit by the lake to enjoy them.

You're making me want to give it a try! Tbh DS would be better than me, he's done this sort of thing in scouts

Really I should keep the land of Britain to myself. But you could start by getting a map and compass and tracking the route over Snowdon. The New Forest and the southern Peak District (white peak) are good places to practice further too, as both have good clear paths - we were being unnecessarily adventurous in the New Forest. The Peaks are of course fairly surrounded and even in the distant areas, if you sit down and wait for an hour someone will be along. Derbyshire people in the peaks are friendly sorts who’ll not send the innumerable lost D-of-Eers the wrong way however mischievous we’re feeling. Not too far off-route anyway. . You need to be more careful of the northern fells and highlands, especially in bad weather.

You cannot get lost...you just follow the people in front of you....we do the llanberis route once a year ...its like a family pilgrimage! even when the mists come down low at the top , I can’t see how anyone could get lost.... you will be fine.... definately check the weather before you go up..its often lovely In Llanberis and Baltic at the summit.
Enjoy!

Take gloves too. It was warm and sunny when I set off but very cold at the top. I think walking poles are useful too. It takes just as long to get down as it does to get to the top which I wasn't expecting.

Apparently lots of YouTube videos to check out.

@MrsDThomas

All the paths get busy. I tend to go up Bwlch Maesgwm and join the rangers then back to llanberis. But i do avoid them in the day during the summer and go in the evening.

But you’ll be fine on the llanberis path. Treat yourself to chips from Allports in the village and sit by the lake to enjoy them.

Chips sound yummy!

I really hope we can go, I'm really looking forward to it now.
It was DS idea (and I jumped at the chance to do something with him that he'd suggested!!), who knows maybe it's the start of a new hobby.

**

Oh god yes, I totally agree!

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

they are, if you are an experienced walker, but OP says she is not, so Llanberis is the one to take. It is the longest route but needs the least navigation and there will be plenty of other people around in the unlikely event you need assistance.

I totally agree with all the advice about remembering it is a high mountain and weather on the top is likely to be very different from weather in Llanberis.

We walked that path the first time we went. I found the bloody tarmac hill but at the bottom worse than most of the mountain

That time, we got half way up and it was knee deep snow and zero view at the top. Stupidly went up in the colder months for that climb and it felt like it went on forever because we could see bugger all from about half way up. As long as you follow the train track you shouldn't get lost.

The second time we went, we took a different path and went in the summer. I can't remember if it was the miners path (it joined another path after a scramble up a lot of rocks). This time the view was incredible, honestly so beautiful. Of course the trade off for the view was that it was rammed at the top. Ached like hell the next day and have never been more thankful for a long soak and my bed.

I'd say take plenty of water and snacks because hell would freeze over before I set foot in the cafe in those crowds. And take layers, it might be lovely sun at the bottom but the weather can change quickly.

I'd love to do a sunrise one!

F

The tarmac is worse than the mountain. There is a way to avoid it if you wish. Take the path from opposite the Royal Victoria Hotel. Just climb over the gate and follow the path and you will reach the cafe. Totally avoids that hill.

Photo attached. Start at 1, end up at 2. I tend to use that when running up the mountain.

@MrsDThomas excellent! I'm glad someone else agrees thanks for the tip.