Has anyone else been up Snowdon on the train?

Raaaadley · 2021-06-14T17:46:08+00:00

This year the train will only go 3/4 of the way to the top. Due to the pandemic, they have closed the visitor centre at the top of Snowdon and the trains will not be going to top for the whole of 2021. Will it still be worth it going just 3/4 way up? I am not fit enough to go up Snowdon entirely on foot and could not manage without having access to toilet facilities for hours either. If you go 3/4 way up on train, there isn't time to go to summit on foot as you would miss your return train back down to the bottom. Is the watered down experience of going 3/4 way up still worth it?

newnortherner111 · 14/06/2021 18:53

Worth it for the views. Though if you need the toilet at frequent intervals it may stop you sadly.

Bagelsandbrie · 14/06/2021 18:56

We went half way up and had to come down due to bad weather. Being honest I wouldn’t bother. There’s one good waterfall to see on the way up and the rest is just a very slow, meandering slope of endless hills. The kids really wanted to get to the top and found the whole thing a huge disappointment! Wasn’t worth the money at all.

They enjoyed the llama trekking we did far more!

www.blackrockllamas.co.uk/

I know it’s not what you’re asking but close to the area sort of so worth a mention!

Huginamugg · 14/06/2021 18:57

Good question OP.
We were considering booking this too. It's not cheap, so hopefully you'll get some more replies.

Michaelangelo467 · 14/06/2021 19:00

I’m thinking about this too, I hope others can tell us their experiences of using the train!

DancesWithTortoises · 14/06/2021 19:06

Been up on the steam twice and diesel once. The steam is a joy but the best views are from the top. I'd wait a year. Worth the money to go all the way.

Sn0tnose · 14/06/2021 19:19

I’d be willing to bet that someone with a go pro will have done the journey and popped it on You Tube.

Original poster

Raaaadley · 14/06/2021 19:33

@Bagelsandbrie

We went half way up and had to come down due to bad weather. Being honest I wouldn’t bother. There’s one good waterfall to see on the way up and the rest is just a very slow, meandering slope of endless hills. The kids really wanted to get to the top and found the whole thing a huge disappointment! Wasn’t worth the money at all.

They enjoyed the llama trekking we did far more!

www.blackrockllamas.co.uk/

I know it’s not what you’re asking but close to the area sort of so worth a mention!

Lama trekking looks seriously cool!

OP posts:

Orangeteddy · 14/06/2021 20:06

We booked the train a couple of years ago and on the day the weather was horrendous and we couldn’t see anything (no option for refund or to rearrange). We were also massively squashed up in the carriage with water dripping in on us.
It was expensive for what it was anyway and ended up being quite a miserable experience.
I wouldn’t recommend it to be honest, especially if you don’t get to even go to the top.

SummerWhisper · 14/06/2021 20:17

There is a cafe half way up and the views are lovely anyway from anywhere on Snowdon, but obviously best at the top. Perhaps the cafe is closed too, which would be a shame. Also there's a fantastic cafe / restaurant at the bottom.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 14/06/2021 20:21

We booked the train a couple of years ago and on the day the weather was horrendous and we couldn’t see anything (no option for refund or to rearrange). We were also massively squashed up in the carriage with water dripping in on us.

This was our experience too. It was so foggy, couldn't see a thing. Was terrifying at the top.

Cheermonger · 14/06/2021 20:24

We went last week! It was good and where it stops now isn’t that far under the summit and you get out and have a wander round for 30 mins. It was wonderful to be up there, go for it!

Original poster

Raaaadley · 15/06/2021 05:39

@Cheermonger

We went last week! It was good and where it stops now isn’t that far under the summit and you get out and have a wander round for 30 mins. It was wonderful to be up there, go for it!

@Cheermonger Thank you. I am encouraged by this!

OP posts:

Original poster

Raaaadley · 15/06/2021 05:42

@Orangeteddy

We booked the train a couple of years ago and on the day the weather was horrendous and we couldn’t see anything (no option for refund or to rearrange). We were also massively squashed up in the carriage with water dripping in on us. It was expensive for what it was anyway and ended up being quite a miserable experience. I wouldn’t recommend it to be honest, especially if you don’t get to even go to the top.

Sounds horrendous

OP posts:

Naggety · 15/06/2021 05:51

Does anyone know how long it takes to walk up Snowdon and also how long it takes from where the train stops? (Is that the 30 minutes that @Cheermonger mentions?) Thanks.

BentBastard · 15/06/2021 06:22

@Naggety

Does anyone know how long it takes to walk up Snowdon and also how long it takes from where the train stops? (Is that the 30 minutes that *@Cheermonger* mentions?) Thanks.

I did the Llanberis path (the route the train goes) with a 4 and 6 year old in about 3.5 hours if I recall correctly.

It's pretty easy if you're able bodied and not completely out of shape.

Naggety · 15/06/2021 06:32

Thanks!

UCOinSteveArnottsPants · 15/06/2021 06:52

@Dinosauratemydaffodils

We booked the train a couple of years ago and on the day the weather was horrendous and we couldn’t see anything (no option for refund or to rearrange). We were also massively squashed up in the carriage with water dripping in on us.

This was our experience too. It was so foggy, couldn't see a thing. Was terrifying at the top.

This was also my experience. It was like a train ride through a cloud.

The train was really rickety and uncomfortable as well, although this was some years ago so this may not be the case now.

StacysMomMandyJessiesEx · 15/06/2021 07:23

The last quarter is the steepest part

We did it for 3 peaks challenge but ran up most of it and then ran down again! Wish I was still that fit!

Took dc and we managed in 3 hours

You have to reach the summit! The views!