Snowdonia Hiking Trails – A Beginner’s Guide
While Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is without a doubt Eryri’s (Snowdonia’s) biggest attraction, there’s so much more to enjoy in this beautiful national park. As the tallest peak in Wales, Yr Wyddfa will always draw the crowds, so other routes are often an opportunity to escape and find a little peace and quiet. More often than not, the natural surroundings are just as impressive as Eryri’s crowning glory.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a guide to the best hiking routes in Snowdonia. These are just our nine current favourites, so the list is by no means exhaustive and we reserve the right to change it up at a moment’s notice!
1. Yr Wyddfa – Take your pick
We’ve covered the various paths that lead to the summit of Yr Wyddfa in various other blogs, so we’re going to group them altogether and won’t go into too much detail here. However, it’s safe to say that there are plenty of routes to choose from should you want to take on Wales’ highest mountain.
From the ever-popular Llanberis Path to the more quiet and isolated Rhyd Ddu Path, you can choose a route to suit your fitness level, climbing experience and hiking preferences. There are also a few alternative trails nearby to try out if you fancy a truly epic day in the mountains. Crib Goch is regularly voted as one of the best walks in the UK but does involve scrambling, as well as hiking. Crib Goch can also be linked up to Yr Wyddfa on the iconic Snowdon Horseshoe route, a true UK mountaineering route.
2. Gelert’s Grave Walk
The tale of Gelert is one of Wales’ most famous legends and a cornerstone of the country’s fascinating mythology. Gelert was Prince Llywelyn the Great’s faithful hunting hound. One afternoon, Llywelyn returned from a day’s hunting to find his infant son’s crib overturned and Gelert stood over it with blood dripping from his mouth.
In a fit of rage, the Prince drew his sword and killed Gelert, who he blamed for his child’s death. Moments later, he heard the cries of his son sounding in the other room. On entering the room, he found his boy safe and sound next to the corpse of a wild wolf. Devastated that he had mistakenly slain his beloved hound, Llywelyn buried Gelert in a prominent grave, though the prince never forgot Gelert’s final cry and he never smiled again.
Unsurprisingly, the pretty village of Beddgelert is said to be Gelert’s final resting place and literally translates as Gerry’s Grave. The Gelert’s Grave walk takes you past the grave and along the river, introducing you to the spectacular countryside that surrounds the village along the way. At around 1.6 km long and with no challenging terrain to contend with, this is a pleasant and peaceful walk that’s great for families or anyone looking for a quick and simple stroll enjoyed with an award winning ice cream from Glaslyn Ice Cream parlour.
You can find route directions on the National Trust trail guide.
3. Dinas Emrys
Another relatively easy hiking route that incorporates a touch of mythology, the Dinas Emrys route crosses terrain that once formed part of King Vortigern’s magnificent kingdom. The story goes that the king wanted to build a castle atop Dinas Emrys but every time the sun set and night fell the walls crumbled to nothing. Angry and exasperated, the king turned to the famous magician, Merlin, for help.
Merlin explained that the reason the castle never lasted through the night was because two great dragons were fighting beneath the hill. The king ordered his men to burrow deep down into the mountain and they eventually released the two dragons – one red and one white. The dragons fought and the red dragon (which you can see today on the Welsh flag) emerged victorious. In honour of Merlin, the king named his newly constructed castle Myrddin Emrys and the Welsh people have celebrated the red dragon ever since.
The walk itself is around 3.5 km long and relatively easygoing. On it, you’ll pass small waterfalls and beautiful watering holes, as well as gorgeous woodland and the ruins of King Vortigern’s castle.
You can find directions on the National Trust website.
4. The Glyderau and Devil’s Kitchen
Compared to our previous two routes, the Glyderau via Devils Kitchen is an altogether different beast. At around 12.5 km long and tackling far more mountainous terrain, this route often takes anywhere between five and seven hours to complete. However, those who attempt it are rewarded with breathtaking scenery and a real pulse-raiser of a hike.
Usually, the hike begins at the Gwern Gof Uchaf car park. Hikers will head down the A5 (or, if you don’t mind extending the walk, along the north shore of Llyn Ogwen), before picking up the path that climbs up to Cwm Idwal. At Llyn Idwal, you can choose either way around the lake and then it’s on to Devil’s Kitchen (Twll Du in Welsh). This involves a steep climb up between two rocky crags on well established rocky steps
From there, you continue up the mighty scree slopes and then over to Glyder Fach, past the iconic cantilever rock, pictures compulsory, and down to Bwlch Tryfan via the Miners Track or steeply down the Bristley screes but do take care on these descents. The path back to the start begins steeply but soon levels out, resulting in a pretty relaxed end to a fabulous hike.
You can find a more detailed guide covering most of the route on the All Trails website.
5. Cadair Idris Minffordd Path Loop
Away from the popular hiking hub that’s established around Yr Wyddfa, the Minffordd Path is located in the southern reaches of Eryri and is often considered one of the area’s most beautiful walks. Centred on the spectacular summit of Cadair Idris, the route is approximately 10 km long and features more than 900 metres of climbing.
The hike begins at the Minffordd car park and passes through a striking, tree-lined gorge that’s fairly steep and takes you a considerable way up the mountainside. As the gorge opens up, you’ll enjoy inspiring views of the peak and start a ridge climb up to the summit of Craig Cwm Amarch. You’ll then descend a short way before tackling the final climb up to Cadair Idris. The hike follows the ridge around to Mynydd Gwerngraig, then a sharp descent takes you back to the Minffordd Path.
This loop is quite popular amongst those looking for a good hike away from Yr Wyddfa, so don’t be surprised if you’re not the only ones on the mountainside. However, the unparalleled views more than make up for the fact that you’re not completely alone.
You can find the vast majority of the route on the official Snowdonia National Park website.
6. The Welsh 3000s
If you’re all about the peak-bagging, the Welsh 3000 may be the hike for you. It takes in all 15 of Wales’ 3000+ feet peaks in one incredible route that winds its way around Eryri. There’s more than 50 km of hiking to be done and you can choose to race through and attempt it all in one day (a mega challenge!) or spread it across a few days which feels far more civilised!
While we understand that some people love the physical challenge of attempting such a long hike in a single day, we reckon you get a lot more from the experience if you take it a little bit slower. Over two or three days, the hike is still tough but you have more opportunities to stop, soak it all up and appreciate just how special Yr Wyddfa and Eryri are.
The Welsh 3000s is also a route that benefits from the experience of an expert guide. Nothing is stopping you from going it alone, but we honestly believe that the route covers so much ground and allows you to see so much that it would be a shame to miss anything. Also, from a practical viewpoint, organising a Welsh 3000s trip is so much easier with the assistance of someone who’s done it all before.
You can find a map of the route on the Fat Map website.
7. Tryfan’s Heather Terrace Path
Though it contains a considerable amount of elevation gain over a relatively short distance, the climb up the Heather Terrace Path is certainly worth the effort thanks to the remarkable views you’ll enjoy from the top. Tryfan is one of Eryri’s most famous peaks thanks to its distinctive look. At times, it seems as if there’s no realistic way up the mountain but, rest assured, there are plenty of paths to the top.
The Heather Terrace Path is generally considered the most straightforward of the routes to the summit. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, though. Approximately 8 km in length and with an elevation increase of around 700 metres, it’s by no means an easy climb. You should have reasonable navigation skills and be comfortable with scrambling if you’re to take it on.
The hike begins from the Gwern Gof Campsite, where you can pick up a trail that passes to the right of Tryfan Bach. Fork left to join the Heather Terrace Path and continue up the eastern face of the mountain. There is an option to join the North Ridge, though this should only be attempted by experienced hikers who are comfortable with scrambling. As you reach Tryfan Far South Peak, you’ll turn north and begin the scramble up to the summit. To come down, head back around to the south side of the mountain and carefully descend to Bwlch Tryfan, followed by Cwm Tryfan.
You can find a more detailed route map on the All Trails website.
8. Snowdonia Slate Trail
If you like a little history with your hiking, there’s no better route than the Snowdonia Slate Trail. A whopping 134 km long, the trail requires a good level of fitness and a fair amount of free time if you’re going to tackle it in one go. Fortunately, it can also be taken on piece by piece. Over the course of the circular route, you’ll climb more than 3,500 metres. Considering the distance, that’s not too huge an elevation figure. Rather than being a summit-fest, the Slate Trail is designed to take you to many of Eryri’s lesser-known highlights and, as such, you’ll pass through some of the park’s most breathtaking landscapes and historic sites.
The route technically begins in Bangor but you can pick it up anywhere you like. It’s broken into distinct sections – a brief overview of each can be found on the Snowdonia Slate Trail website. There’s also a free, downloadable Slate Trail passport that’s used to collect stamps from local checkpoints. Once you’ve completed the entire route, the passport can be exchanged for a commemorative medal to prove that you made it the whole way around.
If you feel like a fast-paced alternative adventure we offer a 3 day Slate Trail Luxe run where we stay in comfortable local hotels on the route and enjoy cafe lunches.
You can find a map of the route on the Komoot website.
9. The Nantlle Ridge
If you’re interested in hiking around Yr Wyddfa without actually climbing it, the Nantlle Ridge route may be your best option. It offers fantastic views of Wales’ most recognisable peak but a drastically different experience. At 11 km in length and with almost 800 metres of climbing, the Nantlle Ridge is a testing hike.
However, it’s also one you can adapt to your skill level. While the most famous route contains a Grade One scramble, that part can also be bypassed. It is important to note that the route is one-way, so unless you’re willing to do an out-and-back, you’ll need to organise a way home from the finish point.
The Nantlle Ridge route starts from the Rhyd Ddu car park. Rather than heading up Yr Wyddfa, cross over the road and take the path heading west through the fields. Carry on the path until you reach Y Garn, where you’ll come across a wall. If you want to attempt the scramble, clamber over the wall and start to make your way up the spine of the crest. If you prefer to take it easy, follow the wall without crossing it. Once you reach Mynydd Tal-y-mignedd, continue downhill on the southern ridgeline and then use the path to climb up to Craig Pennant. At Garnedd Goch, begin the descent, keeping Llyn Cwm Dulyn on your left.
You can find a map of the route on the Komoot website.
What next?
Eryri is a natural paradise that provides visitors with an almost endless array of hiking routes to enjoy. You would need more than a few lifetimes to walk all the paths and exhaust all your hiking options. The sheer variety on offer means that it often pays to make use of the expertise of professional guides.
At Climb Snowdon, we benefit from decades of experience hiking and climbing on Yr Wyddfa and around Eryri. You may even have seen some of Kate’s routes in Trail magazine as she regularly contributes to the publication. If you would like advice on a walking holiday or would like to employ the service of a qualified mountain guide, we’re here to help. We’re friendly, approachable and able to tailor your mountain experience to your needs and experience levels. Just pick up the phone and give us a ring. We look forward to hearing from you!