Mount Snowdon via the Watkin Path, Wales
Hike details
Total distance: 9.1 miles / 14.7 km
Total ascent: 4657 feet / 1419m
Walking time: 4 hours 51 minutes
Total duration: 6 hours 11 minutes
The road less travelled
Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa in Welsh) is the busiest mountain in the UK, so it is understandable if the prospect of sharing it with thousands of other hikers fills you with trepidation. However, Sarah and I went up via the Watkin Path, which was not too crowded and is a great alternative to the popular Pyg Track and Miners’ Track.
Getting there
The night before climbing the mountain, we stayed in the cosy Bryn Dinas Camping Pods, which are located very close to the start of the Watkin Path. This meant that we were able to walk straight from our cabin, up the mountain and back to our accommodation without having to use transport or find a parking spot. This definitely reduced the stress levels which can be involved in organising a hike up a very busy mountain. If you’re not able to stay so close to the mountain, try to arrive as early as possible to get a spot at the Pont Bethania car park.
The route
The Watkin Path starts very close to sea level, so there is a lot more ascent than if you use some of the other popular tracks. The trail is a pretty steady climb, which starts steep and gets steeper as you near the top. Our walk began through a small wooded area in the Nant Gwynant valley, then wound alongside a stream for much of the way up, offering outstanding views of the surrounding Snowdonia National Park. The path was mostly easy underfoot (it was a dry day), but became very difficult and required some scrambling towards the top. This was a little bit scary, and it could be dangerous in wet weather, but we took it slow and were absolutely fine.
Fail to prepare…
Always remember that you need to be adequately prepared for any walk in a mountainous area. True, Snowdon is not Everest, but you still need a map (I usually use AllTrails on my phone), sensible clothing, and plenty of food and water. We saw one guy who was wearing a t-shirt, shorts and trainers, and he wasn’t carrying a bag at all. He was clutching a strawberry Yazoo and a packet of Monster Munch, which seemed to be his only sustenance. Already looking completely shattered after just a few kilometres, he wisely turned back while his mates continued up the mountain. Don’t be that guy.
On a clear day…
After the scramble, we joined the other hikers who had come from other routes for the final few hundred metres to the summit. We were blessed with beautiful September weather, so we were able to see for miles from the top. But, fair warning: this isn’t always the case! This was the third time I’d climbed Snowdon, and on the second occasion a few years before, it was an extremely grey and cloudy day. I couldn’t see a thing from the top. For me, though, that’s part of the beauty of hiking — you can’t control everything, and you have to accept whatever Mother Nature serves up on the day.
Queue for the cairn
As this was during the first summer of Covid-19, Snowdon was even busier than usual, with most people staying in the UK for their holidays. There was a queue to get to the cairn at the very top of the mountain, which we didn’t join. Instead, we strolled around the top, and said hello to the sheep perching perilously close to the edge. Then we sat and had our lunch, enjoying the lakes, peaks and greenery of Snowdonia National Park below.
Walking in Wales
I would say that climbing Snowdon is well worth it, firstly for the challenge in itself, secondly for the (potential!) views, and thirdly just to be able to say that you have done it. However, there are so many other great walks to do in Wales too, in Snowdonia but also in the Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire. Follow the Google Map link below to see the routes of other walks Sarah and I did during our holiday.
