Plan your trip to Snowdonia National Park in Wales with this beginner’s guide.
Known as Eryri to its Welsh-speaking friends, Snowdonia National Park is the largest national park in Wales and is home to the UK’s highest peaks outside of the Scottish Highlands.
Each year almost 4 million visitors come to this land of craggy peaks and legends with good reason. If you haven’t already, keep reading this Snowdonia National Park Guide and I’m sure you’ll find yourself booking a trip very soon.
This post was contributed by Mike McLeish. Mike is the head hiker, chief boot cleaner, and master sandwich maker at HikerHero.com, a blog dedicated to inspiring you to lace up your hiking boots and explore the world. He is based in the UK. When he’s not halfway up a muddy hill, you’ll find him on his laptop working on his website.
A Brief History of Snowdon
The first recorded climb of Yr Wyffda was by botanist Thomas Johnson way back in 1639 on his hunt for new plants. Although he almost certainly wasn’t the first to the top, as he was accompanied by an unnamed but experienced local guide.
Next up came members of the 18th Century Romantic Movement who arrived with their easels and notebooks drawn by the awe-inspiring vistas Snowdonia offered, these were followed by those adventurous Victorians who are credited with developing mountain climbing as a sport in general.
Its fame was further enhanced when Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing used Snowdon as a base for training before the first successful summit of Mt Everest in 1958.
But Snowdonia isn’t just Snowdon, the National Park gets 4 million visitors meaning ¾ never attempt the climb meaning the draw of Snowdonia is so much more than that one mountain, albeit a very famous one.
Things to do in Snowdonia National Park
Mount Snowdon: The UK’s Favourite Mountain
It might not be the country’s highest peak but Mt Snowdon is the UK’s most enduringly popular. Over half a million people lace up their boots each year and climb to the Roof of Wales. This makes it one of the most climbed mountains in the world.
And it’s easy to see why, Yr Wyffda as the mountain is known in Welsh is an accessible climb but still an adventurous one. You don’t need special equipment, just strong legs and a little bit of puff in your lungs.
There are six main routes to the summit, some such as Llanberis Path are fine for most ages and fitness levels (if they take it slow enough). Others like the Rhhy Ddu are scramblefests that should be left to experienced hikers.
Whichever route you take the views of the Snowdonia Massif are sublime and from the top, 1,085 metres (3,560 ft) above sea level, on a fine blue sky day you get an awe-inspiring view across Northern Wales and with good eyes all the way across to the east coast of Ireland.
Snowdonia’s Other Mountain Ranges
Snowdonia National Park derives its name from the Snowdon Massif but within the 823 square miles that make up Erryi, there’s not just one celebrated mountain range but nine, including the Glyderau, the Carneddau, the Moelwynion and the Moel Hebog amongst others.
These ranges are home to all 15 Welsh peaks above 3,000 metres and amongst them are some of the country’s finest hiking and climbing. Such as Tryfan (918m) in the Glyderau range for instance, with its triangular peak, offers adventurers some of the best scrambling, and views, in the entire country.
Snowdonia’s Rivers, Waterfalls and Coastline
It’s not just rocky peaks that draw millions of nature worshippers to Erryi annually, the National Park is home to 11,000 hectares of native woodland, 74 miles of coastline, 434 miles of river and over 100 lakes. It’s one hell of a green and pleasant place to spend your holiday.
Llyn Tegid is the largest natural lake in Wales. Aber Falls and Swallow Falls are two of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country.
Llyn yr Afanc and the River Conway were once home (according to legend anyway) of the fearsome monster known as the Afanc. Reports are it was beaver-like in appearance but gigantic enough to cause entire valleys to flood.
The salt marshes and estuaries of Mawddach and Dyfi are part of the UNESCO-protected biosphere reserve.
So, as you can see there’s a lot to see that doesn’t involve climbing a hill.
When to Visit Snowdonia
Snowdonia gets extremely popular in the Summer months. Most visitors arrive between April and September so it’s essential to book accommodation, especially campsites, in advance of arriving to avoid disappointment.
Or better yet time your visit to avoid school holidays and weekends.
In the peak climbing months, many car parks will fill up, Some such as the Miner’s Path and Pyg Path car park on Snowdon require pre-booking, and others just require you to get up and start the day early.
Accomodation in Snowdonia National Park
There are guesthouses and hotels galore in Snowdonia. With a bit of research and planning, finding somewhere to stay for any budget is achievable.
Campsites in Snowdonia
To camp in Snowdonia, book an official campsite ahead of time. Check out this list of unique campsites on Hipcamp.
Wild Camping and Wild Parking: Some friendly warnings
The Snowdonia scenery is so inviting that it can be tempting to just pull your car over and pop up your tent. While the temptation is there please don’t do it, wild camping is not allowed within the National Park unless you have specific permission from the landowner.
And when it comes to wild camping, be warned parking officials take their job seriously in this part of the world, illegally parked cars can get towed away while their owners are up a hill enjoying a nice walk.
Getting to and around Snowdonia National Park
Snowdonia is well connected by road and driving into the National Park is always breathtaking but the roads can get busy in the peak months. Fortunately, the Park is also well connected by train to the rest of the UK by the Conwy Valley Line and the Cambrian Line.
Once within the Park, there are two fabulous steam train services, the Welsh Highland Railway and the Ffestiniog Railway that travel around the northwest area of the National Park. Then there is the ever-popular Snowdon Mountain Railway can take you to the top of Snowdon itself.
The park has a great bus service allowing easy access to tourist favourite spots. This includes the wonderful Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus service that connects all the main trailheads of Snowdon.
Snowdonia in Myth and Legend
Even if you don’t like hiking and aren’t particularly fond of hills, Snowdonia still has something for you. Snowdonia is steeped in myth and legend. Much of it has to do with everyone’s favourite royal, King Arthur.
The Lady in the Lake
King Arthur and Snowdonia and intertwined. Llyn Llydaw, the lake that lies at the foot of Snowdon’s northern slopes is home to the Lady in the Lake of Arthurian legend. The very same lady who rises out of the water to bestow the young king with his mighty sword Excalibur.
Arthur is even responsible for the name of Snowdon. Or at least the Welsh name.
Yr Wyddfa: What’s in a Name?
The Welsh name for Snowdon is Yr Wyddfa, pronounced Uhr With Fa.
Yr Wyddfa roughly translates as “tomb”. A pretty big tomb right? Well, it’s supposedly the tomb of Rhitta Gawr, a fearsome giant.
Back in the day, this oversized brute went on a killing spree of local Welsh kings. Slaying them one by one for the sole purpose of collecting their beards to make himself a macabre beard cloak. Urgh!
It took King Arthur himself hiking up to the giant’s lair which just so happened to be perched at the top of Snowdon to put a stop to Rhitta, permanently. Once slain, the giant was buried under a pile of stones that now makes a cairn at the very peak of Snowdon.
So the Roof of Wales is the roof of a big mean giant’s grave. Now you know
Final Thoughts: Snowdonia: Embracing the Welsh Wonderland
If the allure of mountains steeped in myth and legend hasn’t already captured your imagination, then here’s one final compelling reason to book your trip to Snowdonia: its people.
With a population of 26,000 residing within the Eryri National Park, many are deeply intertwined with the region’s tourism industry. What’s more, an impressive 58% of them proudly converse in the lyrical Welsh language, adding to the unique experience a visit to the Park delivers.
Prepare to be greeted with warm hospitality as you venture into the heart of Snowdonia. And if you’re fortunate enough to catch a local singing on the mountain breeze, you’ll instantly feel that this trip was well worth it.