Of all the different routes winding up Snowdon’s epic mountainside, the Llanberis Path continues to take the crown as most popular.
Commonly touted ‘the tourist path’, this trail is seen as the best option for beginners due to its steady ascent and well laid out footpath.
While more daring routes up the peak such as Watkin Path and Crib Goch involve some pretty intimidating scrambling and exposure, you’ll find no such thing on the Llanberis Path, making it suitable for most ages and abilities.
Despite being regarded as a starter route however, that’s not to say experienced hikers won’t find any enjoyment on this walk! The views throughout are absolutely jaw-dropping, while some of the steeper inclines closer to the summit provide a fun yet taxing climb regardless of your skill level.
Fun fact – The Llanberis Path is the only path which follows the famous mountain railway up the summit. Keep you eyes peeled for the train chugging up and down the track.
I can speak from first-hand experience after recently conquering the Llanberis Path as part of the National 3 Peaks Challenge. Arriving at the bottom of the trail Sunday morning having already summited Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike…safe to say my legs were absolutely fried!
Nevertheless, the incredible landscape along the gradual incline soon distracted me from wallowing in my fatigue and the route even ended up being my favourite climb of the whole challenge!
Interested in ascending the Llanberis Path for yourself? Then read on to discover all the info you’ll need to know 👇👇
Llanberis Path route info
Distance: 14.4 km (9 miles)
Time: 4-7 hours
Ascent: 3,199 feet (975 metres)
Starting Point: Snowdon Mountain Railway, Llanberis, LL55 4TY
Grid Reference: SH 582 598
Turning off the A4086 near the Royal Victoria Hotel, walk past the Snowdon Ticketing Office and terrace houses until you reach the cattle grid and information board. This marks the start of the Llanberis Path.
Starting with a gentle rise up a country road and past the Pen Ceunant Isaf café (a great spot for a drink on the descent), follow the snaking road until a waymarker directs you to take a left off the road and onto the proper walking trail.
Enjoy the gentle incline along the mountainside for a good few miles, taking in jaw-dropping panoramas of the Welsh valley and continue past the Half-way House to mark the halfway point of the ascent!
The walk remains rather pleasant up until you reach the final quarter of the peak where you’ll be faced with a sudden sharp rise at Allt Moses.
While this climb is relatively brief, it’s still very steep and is guaranteed to get those legs burning! The gradient does begin with some stone steps, but for the rest of this segment you’ll have to plod along the eroded and gravelly path. Take care here as the rocks can be quite loose in places and quite slippery in wet conditions.
The incline briefly relents at Clogwyn Station, where you’re treated to a short flat segment under the railway bridge. Continue the climb and don’t stray close to the edge since the drop gets incredibly steep. This is best known as the Killer Convex; a notoriously dangerous segment in winter. On a clear day with good visibility however, you should have no trouble navigating the wide path safely.
With the summit in sight, complete the last leg of the climb where the Llanberis Path joins with the Snowdon Ranger, PYG and Miner’s Track.
Once you’ve reached the peak, take a moment to recoup and take in the glorious vistas before heading back down the way you came!
How difficult is the Llanberis Path?
While the Llanberis Path is dubbed as the easiest route up Snowdon, it should be noted that any route up the formidable Welsh mountain is a demanding hike.
Standing at a whopping 1,085 metres, there’s no getting around the fact that you’re going to have a big climb on your hands!
The Snowdonia National Park Authority classifies Llanberis Path as a hard and strenuous route. Whichever route you take, a decent baseline level of fitness is required along with basic navigational skills.
For those uncertain in their ability to summit Snowdon, why not attempt a smaller peak or two beforehand to gauge your fitness level and build some confidence? Any of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks are solid preparatory walks for Snowdon.
For more information, be sure to check out Beginner Guide To Climbing Britain’s Highest Peaks.
Is the Llanberis Path safe?
Despite the Llanberis Path being seen as a safe route for hill climbing novices, did you know Snowdon is actually classed as one of the more dangerous walking spots in the UK?
Cameron McNeish (editor of The Great Outdoors magazine) even claims summiting Snowdon can be more dangerous than climbing Everest!
This is mostly due to ill-prepared tourists treating Snowdon as a casual stroll and not giving it the respect it deserves.
Climbing the peak most certainly can be an enjoyable and safe venture, just be sure to prepare accordingly, avoid climbing in poor weather conditions and take extra care on your ramble when the mountain path is at its busiest.
Is the Llanberis Path scary?
Having a mostly well-laid footpath and not much in the way of exposure since the path is very wide, the Llanberis Path is nowhere near as scary as some of the more advanced routes.
However, Snowdon’s summit is a LONG way up – for those not fond of heights this may be somewhat intimidating. You know yourself best – do your research beforehand and make a judgement as to whether you feel up to the task.
How long does it take to walk the Llanberis Path?
Most hikers should be able to complete the Llanberis Path up-and-down within roughly 5 hours. Experienced hill-climbers and relatively fit folk can probably look to finish in around 3-3.5 hours, while those not so accustomed to physical activity make take closer to 5-6 hours.
Likewise, the weather during your climb can also significantly affect hiking times. It’s generally not recommended to climb Snowdon during the winter months unless you have all the necessary equipment such as a pick axe and crampons.
Where to park for the Llanberis Path?
For those driving to Snowdon, there are numerous car parks conveniently dotted around the start of the Llanberis Path. On our last visit we opted for the Parking In Snowdon spot, but see below for all the available options:
Llanberis Path Car Park |
Address |
| Parking For Snowdon | Llanberis, Caernarfon LL55 4TU |
| Llanberis Pay & Display Car Park | Llanberis, Caernarfon LL55 4TU |
| Padarn Country Park Car Park | Unnamed Road, Caernarfon LL55 4TY |
| Ger Y Llyn Car Park | Llanberis, Caernarfon LL55 4TY |
| Village Car Park | Llanberis, Caernarfon LL55 4BY |
Where to stay in Snowdonia for the Llanberis Path?
For those tackling this particular route, finding accommodation in the village of Llanberis would be your best bet.
If you’re a fan of camping, then I couldn’t recommend the ‘Camping in Llanberis’ site enough. A rustic, back-to-basics campsite offering fantastic views of Llyn Padarn and situated right beside the Llanberis Path, you won’t find a more ideal location than this.
Secret Snowdon Infinity Pool near the Llanberis Path?
Did you know that there’s a hidden infinity pool hiding on the hills near the Llanberis Path?
Nevertheless, despite being a highly sought-after site, people in the know remain rather tight-lipped when it comes to giving away the exact location.
While we aren’t willing to completely spill the beans (half the fun is finding it for yourself!), we do have a blog post revealing some key clues that’ll surely help you in tracking it down.
For more info, head on over to ‘How To Find Snowdonia’s Secret Infinity Pool’.
More Resources
For all the info you need on Snowdon, be sure to check out our breakdown of all the different routes here
Likewise, for more outdoor adventures in the local area, why not explore our ‘12 Unmissable Things To Do In Snowdonia‘ post.
Happy walking 🚶🚶