12 New Ways to Experience Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)

If you have already climbed Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), you know just how spectacular the mountain is and how fantastic the experience can be. Like many others, you may also be feeling the urge to return. We have been climbing Yr Wyddfa for longer than we like to remember. And it never gets old.

While you might consider heading to the summit via one of the routes you are yet to climb, there are plenty of other ways to get a new perspective on Eryri (Snowdonia) and Yr Wyddfa. In this article, we look at four fascinating ways to experience Wales’ highest peak.

1. Yr Wyddfa by night

So, you saw the beauty of Eryri by day. But what about Yr Wyddfa at night? Have you scaled its slopes, following the full moon, beneath star-studded skies? As anyone who has ever walked, climbed or cycled at night knows, it is an entirely different kind of adventure.

Though the dark skies above are arguably even more impressive and vast, the world around you shrinks and becomes even more immediate. Unable to depend as much on sight, your other senses are heightened and you experience your surroundings in entirely new ways.

Eryri is one of only 18 International Dark Sky Reserves in the world and offers a fantastic opportunity to escape the taint of urban light pollution and enjoy a truly dark sky. Very few people spend time in this environment, so it is a pretty unique opportunity. You can also tailor the experience to suit you by choosing a full moon date for improved visibility or a new moon for a darker climb and better views of the stars.

Led by experienced guides, climbing Yr Wyddfa is perfectly safe and makes for an exhilarating experience. If you are looking for new ways to engage with the natural environment, this is an excellent choice. For those who want to give it a go, Climb Snowdon offers three types of night excursions. All three depart from Llanberis village and ascend Yr Wyddfa via Llanberis Path. The route encompasses approximately 975 metres of ascent and is 14.5 kilometres long.

2. Sunrise

This walk aims to hit the summit so attendees can watch the sunrise over Eryri. That means walking up the mountain in the dark and descending in the early morning light. The timing of the walk varies slightly throughout the year, though the group usually departs at around midnight. This is one of ClimbSnowdon’s favourite ways to see Yr Wyddfa. And, despite not being able to guarantee clear skies, we do guarantee an unforgettable experience.

3. Sunset

If sunset is more your thing, Climb Snowdon also offers a guided walk for you. Flipping the sunrise schedule on its head, this walk departs Llanberis in the afternoon to ensure the group is at the summit for sunset and then descends in the dark. It is a great option if you are not one for waking up in the middle of the night to climb a mountain but still want to see Yr Wyddfa in all its twilight glory.

4. Dark Skies

Finally, the dark skies walk is for all the stargazers and midnight marauders out there. Designed to give you as much time as possible beneath Eryri’s breathtaking black skies, it usually departs Llanberis in the late afternoon and returns around midnight. This is probably one of the best chances you will get to spot the Milky Way in the UK and is always a great night out.

5. Yr Wyddfa as a group challenge

Some people are solo climbers. They want to hike on their own, lose themselves in their thoughts and enjoy the natural landscape in isolation. Others want to share the experience and explore the great outdoors together. At Climb Snowdon, we like a bit of both. We love the time we spend in the mountains alone. But we also love the energy, camaraderie and social element of walking as a group.

If you have only ever tackled Yr Wyddfa solo, why not get some friends together and take on a group challenge? They are a fantastic way to share your love for Eryri with other people. We can tailor the experience to suit groups who want to push each other to go further and do more. But we can also have group events for people who prefer things a little more relaxed and want to enjoy a social day out. With that in mind, there are several Climb Snowdon group challenges to consider.

6. Snowdon Skyline

Snowdon Skyline takes in five peaks and provides attendees with a wonderfully diverse insight into Eryri’s remarkable landscapes. Starting in Llanberis, walkers first scale local favourite Moel Eilio, followed by Foel Gron, Foel Goch and Moel Cynghorion. This fourth summit is known as the Hill of the Councillors in English because it was used by local leaders in ancient times as a gathering place to discuss the area’s defences against intruders.

From there, we join the Ranger Path and climb to the summit of Yr Wyddfa. Having hit five peaks in a day, we descend via Llanberis Path to the village, where you can enjoy a well-earned meal or a refreshing ice cream from Georgio’s.

7. Snowdon Sea to Summit

A great one for groups who are into their history or completionists who want to climb every single one of Yr Wyddfa’s 1,085 metres, the Sea to Summit group challenge does exactly what it says on the tin. Having met your Mountain Leaders, the group will depart from Llanberis and travel by coach to Caernarfon Castle, at the mouth of the Seiont River.

From there, you cross the coastal lowlands, taking in parts of the Welsh Highland Railway and Snowdonia Slate Trail as you approach the Snowdon massif. After traversing the ridgeline and dropping into the Llanberis Valley, you make your way to Bwlch Maesgwm and join the Ranger Path, which will lead you to the summit.

The final part of your journey involves descending via the Llanberis path to the village and visiting Dolbadarn Castle. A brilliant adventure that highlights Eryri’s storied past, the Sea to Summit group challenge is approximately 30 kilometres in length and includes a total ascent of 1,370 metres.

8. Snowdon 360

Do you want to see all of Yr Wyddfa? Enjoy its striking beauty from every possible angle? Well, the Snowdon 360 is for you. It involves a summit and complete circumnavigation of the mountain, clocking up 2,250 metres of climbing and 48 kilometres of distance in the process. Sound like a lot? It is. This is definitely for groups with a good fitness level and experience of long days in the mountains.

Starting from Llanberis, the group will start by scaling Yr Wyddfa. For most walkers, that is the day done. But your adventure is just beginning. Next, it is on to Pen Y Pass, where we will refuel and recover from the first big climb. From there, we circumnavigate the mountain in a clockwise direction, passing copper mines and the historic village of Beddgelert. You will have one more opportunity to fuel before the final leg of the day, which will see you follow the Snowdonia Slate Trail towards Rhyd Ddu. Then, it is back to Llanberis to rest your weary legs.

9. Yr Wyddfa on a longer route

If you want to do something a little different or more difficult, you can incorporate Yr Wyddfa into a longer route or challenge. Though it is certainly possible to design your own challenge (the ClimbSnowdon team is more than willing to help if you want to take advantage of our mountain leaders’ expertise and experience), there are several existing long-distance routes and events that include Yr Wyddfa.

10. Snowdon 6

When it comes to Yr Wyddfa, one route is never enough. But what about six? The Snowdon 6 challenge sees your group climb to the summit a whopping three times in one day, taking in six of the mountain’s most famous routes as you go. It is certainly not one for the faint-hearted. And it requires considerable fitness. However, the sheer scale of the feat means it is a fantastic option for charity events or as preparation for other trail running, ultra, or mountain events.

As with our other challenges, the event begins in Llanberis, where you will be greeted by your Mountain Leaders and transported to the Watkins Path trailhead by coach. Then the madness begins! Heading up Watkins Path, you will reach the summit for the first time and descend via the Miner’s Track. After a refuel at Pen Y Pass, it is up for a second time via the ever-popular PYG Track and down on the less busy Rhyd Ddu Path. Having refuelled and recovered for the final time, you will head to the summit via the gorgeous Ranger Path and descend on Llanberis Path. Not bad for a day’s hiking!

The Snowdon 6 is a great alternative to anyone who is considering the National Three Peaks Challenge but wants to minimise their environmental impact or doesn’t fancy a load of driving. Snowdon 6 is cheaper, more eco-friendly and there is only a 30-minute drive between the start and finish, rather than the mammoth seven and a half hours you get with the Three Peaks.

11. Dragon’s Back Race

If you want to take things to the next level and push yourself to the absolute limits, check out the Dragon’s Back Race. Billed as the world’s toughest mountain race, it is a six-day, 380-kilometre epic that follows a breathtaking route between Conwy Castle and Cardiff and includes a Crib Goch scramble and a full traverse of the Snowdon Horseshoe along the way.

While this is a remarkable way to see Yr Wyddfa (and much of the rest of Wales while you’re at it), we must stress that this is a serious mountain event that requires plenty of experience and preparation. People spend a lot of time building up to the Dragon’s Back Race and it is not to be undertaken lightly. If you are considering entering but are unsure whether you are up to the challenge, head over to our sister site, RAW Adventures, and talk to the team. They offer official recce events and skills-based courses for those looking to participate.

Our very own Kate has helped organise the event for several years and ran the race in 2021. She leads most of RAW Adventures Dragon’s Back courses and events and will hopefully return to the start line in 2023 for another crack at the race.

12. Yr Wyddfa for a good cause

Many walkers climb Yr Wyddfa for a good cause, raising awareness and funds for a wide range of charities. It can be a really positive way to put a spin on your next Yr Wyddfa ascent and help those in need while you are at it. The ClimbSnowdon team gets involved in charity events throughout the year and helps people plan, organise and complete their charity challenges.

In 2022, we helped participants raise over £200,000 for more than 25 different charities. We donate £1 for every walker who joins a Climb Snowdon event to the Snowdonia Society. It goes towards protecting our beloved Eryri and the flora, fauna and communities that coexist there.

While many people raise money by climbing Yr Wyddfa the once, you may want to up the difficulty in the hope of raising a little more money or pushing yourself further. If so, we recommend looking at the group challenges listed above or getting in touch with the team to discuss a bespoke event.

Discover Yr Wyddfa all over again

Eryri is a truly special place. And you can experience that magic in so many different ways. We often find that first-time climbers quickly get hooked on Yr Wyddfa and want to return as soon as possible. Then they start exploring their relationship with the mountain and try to work out why they keep coming back.

Some people enjoy the nature. Others, the history. Some use the landscape to test their physical limits. Many enjoy the thrill of adventure. One person will use the environment to seek isolation, another to foster connections with like-minded people. For him, it’s an escape. But for her, it’s a homecoming.

We all engage with the mountain environment (and Yr Wyddfa, in particular) for different reasons. And the great thing about Eryri is that it allows for all these possible relationships.

The Climb Snowdon team is here to help you discover and explore your relationship with Eryri, Yr Wyddfa and the wider natural environment. To learn more about the opportunities available, head to our Yr Wyddfa experiences page or get in touch with our friendly and approachable team.