The highest point in Wales and England. To stand on the summit of Yr Wyddfa — 1,085 metres above sea level, with the Irish Sea visible to the west and the mountains of Eryri spread below — is to understand why this mountain has drawn people here for millennia. This is Experience #1 of the Snowdonia 100, and it earns its place.
Six recognised routes reach the summit. The Llanberis Path is the most popular and least technical. The Pyg Track and Miners' Track approach from Pen-y-Pass through the dramatic eastern cwm, past Llyn Llydaw and Glaslyn. The Watkin Path climbs from Nantgwynant through ancient oak woodland. The Snowdon Ranger Path is the quietest from the west. And Crib Goch — the knife-edge ridge that forms the start of the Horseshoe — is the most committing approach of all.
Choosing Your Route
| Llanberis Path | 9km return, 900m ascent — the most straightforward |
| Pyg Track | 11km return, 730m ascent — outstanding views of Glaslyn |
| Miners' Track | 14km return, 730m ascent — longest and easiest start |
| Watkin Path | 14km return, 1,040m ascent — most dramatic, least visited |
| Snowdon Ranger | 13km return, 890m ascent — quietest western approach |
| Crib Goch | Grade 1 scramble — for experienced mountain walkers only |
The Summit
The summit holds Hafod Eryri — the visitor centre opened in 2009, replacing the Victorian building that Edmund Hillary memorably described as "the highest slum in Wales." The building sits low against the ridge, built from local Cambrian stone, and opens during peak season. The Snowdon Mountain Railway arrives at a station just below the true summit cairn. On a clear day, you can see Ireland, the Isle of Man, the English Lake District, and on exceptional days, the mountains of County Wicklow.
When to Go
The mountain is busiest between June and September. For solitude, visit on a weekday in May or October — the light is better too, low-angled and golden in autumn. Winter ascents in full snow and ice require crampons and an ice axe; the summit plateau in those conditions is genuinely serious terrain. Whatever the season, weather on Yr Wyddfa changes fast. Start early, carry waterproofs, and check the Mountain Weather Information Service before you leave.
Experience #1 of 100 — Summits category. See the complete Snowdon guide for full route descriptions.
Independently written — Snowdon.com