walking up Snowdon with a toddler

kissgoodnightsam · 2020-07-25T10:30:58+00:00

We have two teens and a 38lb toddler and the teens are keen to walk up Snowdon this summer. I have a good toddler sling and we walk a lot. The train only goes 3/4 of the way up in August. We could walk up 3/4 of the way up with toddler and get the train back down while teens and dh walk to the summit. Does this sound doable? Crazy? Any good/bad experiences?

BlackPetunia · 25/07/2020 11:34

That route is the busy one. Paths are narrow,steep,more so from a quarter of the way up

I wouldn’t

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 25/07/2020 11:36

Check carefully... It's been a few years since I went, but you could easily (prebooking) get a one way ticket up, but not down.
Are teens old enough to walk themselves up, and meet you?

christinarossetti19 · 25/07/2020 11:37

I wouldn't be keen on going up Snowden with a toddler in a sling tbh. It's an easy climb up steps and around rocks, but it would be easy to lose your footing, slip and turn your ankle or have another similar minor yet highly painful and inconvenient injury with an extra weight on your back.

It would be a better day out if one adult went with teens tbh. I've never taken the train, but I think it can be hard getting tickets just to come down as people tend to buy returns.

IamNotDarling · 25/07/2020 11:43

I don’t think you can get the train down this year, up and down only.

It’s doable on the Llanberis path but better to hire or borrow a proper back frame carrier rather than use a sling. I wouldn’t attempt Miners with either as there are scrambling sections.

There are lots of nice lower level walks you can do - Ogwen Water, Aber Falls (gorgeous) so whilst Snowdon is the top walk it’s perhaps one to do without the toddler.

DD was 5 when she did it for the first time. Proper pair of boots, powered by mini eggs and the promise of a paddle in the lake at the bottom.

HavelockVetinari · 25/07/2020 11:46

I'd do it. I'm strong/fit, assuming you are too you'll be fine.

ElsieBeard · 25/07/2020 11:49

with a toddler I would say no way.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 25/07/2020 11:54

To add to my above post about the train... We went with 3yo and 1yo. We climbed Miners,with intention of me getting the train down with 3yo. Couldnt get the train down (she climbed all the way up!) So she en into the carter and baby went into sling. Quarter way down the 'easy' path, DH slipped with her on his back... Whereupon she insisted on walking.

We hoped for a lie in the next day.... No chance!

AldiAisleofCrap · 25/07/2020 11:56

walking up Snowdon with a toddler is a bad idea do not do it.

WishUponAStar88 · 25/07/2020 11:58

I would with a proper carrier on the llanberis path if you’re used to long hikes.

InTheWings · 25/07/2020 12:02

How old is the child, and how long will they want to be squashed in a sling?

I would say one parent do the train with the toddler and the other do the walk with the teens.

Scarby9 · 25/07/2020 12:06

Yes, you can't guarantee just getting the train down. Even in normal times you can only do this if there is a space because someone has not arrived in time for their down journey and you have made it to the front of the 'on spec' queue.
And these are not normal times. As I was writing this, it has been on the radio news that police were turning cars away from.Snowden carpark before 8am today to keep the numbers on the mountain lower.

Doveyouknow · 25/07/2020 12:13

You can get standby tickets for the train down occasionally but you can't bank on it and the are extortionately expensive. You would need to be fairly strong and surefooted to do the miners or pyg track as there are a few steep parts and scrambles on the miners. The slog up from llanberis is more straightforward but longer.

Katinthedoghouse · 25/07/2020 12:15

How competent a walker are you ?

penelopeplums · 25/07/2020 12:30

The summit building is completely closed and the train only goes 3/4 of the way up, you will have to wait there 1/2 an hour for the return train and there are no facilities and no shelter. I wouldn't walk with a toddler, there is too much chance of slipping over if you end up having to walk down and with them in a carrier that can be pretty bad, I think it's worse walking down than up in that respect.

OhMsBeliever · 25/07/2020 13:06

I did it years ago when my youngest was 3. My now ex-h carried him up in a sling and I carried him down. We used the Llanberis path. I slipped once but landed on my arse but neither of us was hurt.

Original poster

kissgoodnightsam · 25/07/2020 13:53

How competent a walker are you ?

I'm pretty strong, fit and competent walker as I walk regularly with dog and toddler in sling. Will do a practice 10 mile walk across the Malvern Hills next week and see how we go. I'm not concerned about fitness levels, more the safety in terms of how rocky, steep it might be.

Lots of different op

OP posts:

mccavitythethird · 26/07/2020 03:59

@kissgoodnightsam

How competent a walker are you ?

I'm pretty strong, fit and competent walker as I walk regularly with dog and toddler in sling. Will do a practice 10 mile walk across the Malvern Hills next week and see how we go. I'm not concerned about fitness levels, more the safety in terms of how rocky, steep it might be.

Lots of different op

That sounds like a plan though the Malvern Hills are very different to Snowdon in terms of terrain.

christinarossetti19 · 26/07/2020 09:01

Most of Snowden is rocky and steep. Even with limited numbers allowed to climb, the paths are narrow and involve a lot of passing people. As you know, accidents and injuries tend to occur on the way down.

When we did it with our children, 8 and 10 years old, good walkers, it was a 7 or 8 hour round trip, although that included a hot chocolate at the summit, which isn't possible at the moment.

Would your toddler tolerate being in a sling for that length of time? Can you easily split the stuff that you'll need - water, food, warm clothing for all of you, sun protective clothing for all of you - between your teens and the adult not carrying your toddler?

capercaillie · 26/07/2020 09:24

Would recommend a structured child carrier than a sling as they offer more protection to child if you do slip/fall. I did carry older toddler in a good back sling on occasion For short distances but used walking poles for extra stability - plus it was always me who carried child and not husband as I’m more sure footed.
It’s a long walk up from llanberis. Shorter is up pyg track and then walk down to llanberis.

Rainbowshine · 26/07/2020 09:42

It is very different terrain between the Malverns and Snowden!

Snowden gets very slippery from being made from slate, and the more scrabbly parts where it’s broken up is like climbing on gravel.

It’s also really busy on the easier paths. People were being turned away by police before 8am this week.

Why not let DH take the teenagers and there’s some good places nearby that might be more entertaining for your toddler meaning you have an easier day. I can’t imagine having to entertain a toddler for that time when they’re stuck in a sling or carrier. And you’d need to take warm clothes for them and you too as it’s cold at the top!

midnightstar66 · 26/07/2020 09:49

I don't know how the ticketing system works but can you buy the return ticket to ensure you have the down one but walk up anyway or would they sell the space on if you don't turn up for the first part?

EndoplasmicReticulum · 26/07/2020 09:53

I wouldn't take a toddler because I'd be worried they'd toddle off an edge. Also it's really busy up there at the moment.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53536557

PeanutButterKid · 26/07/2020 09:58

We climbed Ben Nevis with 16m old DS. From Ft. William In July. DH mostly carried DS bc I was 7m pregnant. DS was probably only about 28 lbs, though. DS walked abt 1 mile.

I wouldn't dream of doing it in a sling but I never got on with slings. We had a common brand non-hiking toddler backpack for DS.

Original poster

kissgoodnightsam · 26/07/2020 13:30

Hmmm, really not sure what to do. Am still tempted to give it a try, though we haven't even found any accommodation in Snowdonia yet so might not even end up being able to do it anyway!

OP posts:

mccavitythethird · 26/07/2020 13:38

@Rainbowshine

It is very different terrain between the Malverns and Snowden!

Snowden gets very slippery from being made from slate, and the more scrabbly parts where it’s broken up is like climbing on gravel.

It’s also really busy on the easier paths. People were being turned away by police before 8am this week.

Why not let DH take the teenagers and there’s some good places nearby that might be more entertaining for your toddler meaning you have an easier day. I can’t imagine having to entertain a toddler for that time when they’re stuck in a sling or carrier. And you’d need to take warm clothes for them and you too as it’s cold at the top!

If the weather's good then paddling in Llyn Padarn, there's a lovely shallow spot where I often see families paddling; we did it ourselves one afternoon when DH and DD were walking down Snowdon, DS and I got the train and so had time to fill.