Llanberis Path Snowdon: Complete guide + top tips for hikers!
Llanberis path SNOWDON: Complete guide + top tips for hikers!
Snowdonia is one of Britain’s most breathtaking national parks. With its extensive network of hiking trails, tranquil lakes, craggy peaks and spectacular views, it’s a truly magical place! There are routes for varying ability levels but the Llanberis Path is the perfect trail for both seasoned climbers looking for a straightforward hike to the summit or first-time Snowdon climbers.
There is no better feeling than reaching the top of a mountain and feeling like you’re on top of the world. So, what are you waiting for? Here is your complete guide to hiking the Llanberis Path! 😉
OTHER SNOWDON POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE…
- CLIMBING SNOWDON: Ultimate kit list to ensure you reach the top!
- 15 Tips for climbing Snowdon (to ensure you reach the top!)
- Top 15 tips for climbing Snowdon at sunrise
- PYG TRACK SNOWDON: Complete guide + top tips for hikers!
- Top 10 most awesome facts about Snowdonia
What is the llanberis path?
The Llanberis Path is one of six trails you can take to the top of Snowdon. The others are: the Pyg Track, Miners Track, Watkin Path, Rhyd-Ddu Path and the Snowdon Ranger Path.
All the trails are suited for different fitness levels but the Llanberis Path is one of the most popular and accessible routes.
Why is it called the llanberis path?
This route to Snowdon is called the Llanberis Path simply because it’s the route that is walking distance from Llanberis.
The village is at the foot of the mountain and has been at the heart of the Snowdonia National Park community for almost 200 years.
Why choose to hike the llanberis path?
The Llanberis Path is one of the easiest routes up Snowdon. So if it’s your first time climbing Snowdon or you’re worried about hiking over rough terrain and want a more straightforward route – the Llanberis Path is the way to go!
It’s also a great route for if you’re staying in Llanberis, as the start of the path is literally within walking distance of the village.
It’s also super easy to navigate as you have a clear path all the way to the summit. This is one of the reasons that this route is the most popular for hikers climbing Snowdon for sunrise.
It’s a slightly longer route, but it’s the easiest to navigate in the dark. You’re pretty much hiking up one straight, level path at a steady incline – which makes it the safest too.
It’s not as scenic on the way up as the Pyg Track or Miners Track, but if you’re hiking through the night, you won’t be able to see anything anyway!
On the way back you’ll be rewarded with lovely views of Llanberis Village, Llanberis Lake and the distant peaks.
Do I need a guide?
You don’t need a guide to hike the Llanberis Path. But if you’re not a confident hiker or would prefer to go with a group for fun, I’d recommend these options below on Get Your Guide:
How do I get to the llanberis path?
If you live within a couple of hours of Snowdonia National Park and have a car, I would recommend driving up and down in a day (that’s if you don’t want to make a weekend out of the trip).
If you live more than a couple of hours’ drive away, I would advise staying somewhere local the night before. It just means you don’t have to get up too early or worry about traffic or potential blockers on the morning of your climb.
If you don’t have a car, you’ll definitely need to stay the night before. Even commuting from nearby Bangor where the nearest train station is, takes between an hour and an hour and a half on the bus to reach the start of the trail.
Buses only run every three hours as well so if you’re not on the bus by 8am from Bangor town centre, you won’t begin your climb until after lunchtime taking the next bus.
Depending on the time of year, this could be problematic if it’s already going dark by the time you’re due to descend.
Staying the night before also takes away the stress of doing so much travel in one day on top of a big mountain hike.
How long does the llanberis path take to hike?
The Llanberis Path will take you roughly between three and three and half hours. But this depends on how many breaks you take and your pacing.
When I climbed Snowdon at sunrise, it took me two and a half hours because I only took a couple of small breaks and was rushing to get to the top before the sun rose. You don’t get a do-over with sunrise!
But if you’re going at a slower pace and taking a few more breaks or stopping for lunch, it will take you a little longer. But it’s a much better approach. You want to enjoy the experience and take everything in!
It’s a lot quicker to hike down the mountain than it is to climb it (as you’d expect!). But I’d factor in two to two and a half hours for the hike down.
How do I navigate the llanberis path?
Unless you’re planning on climbing in the dark to see the sunrise from the summit (not recommended on your first hike of Snowdon without a guide!), you won’t need anything to help you navigate the trail.
The Llanberis Path starts near the village of Llanberis and as you can see from the map below, it’s a really straightforward path to follow!
Around 500,000 people reach the top of Snowdon each year so in the warmer months there will be plenty of other climbers in front of you leading the way too!
When is the best time to hike the llanberis path?
Getting to Snowdon early is a must. I arrived the morning of my first climb at 8am and two car parks were already full. This meant we needed to park further away and wait half an hour for a bus to take us to the start of the Pyg Track route we were hiking.
However, climbing Snowdon via the Llanerbis Path is a lot easier. You can park up in the village of Llanberis and walk straight up to the start of the route which only takes about 20 minutes.
I would still get there early as it’s more practical though. Your energy levels are higher in the morning and it won’t be getting dark by the time you descend.
But it’s not as critical unless you’re hiking via the Pyg Track or Miners Track. Just make sure you time your hike so that you’re on your way back before the sun starts to go down.
Staying over the night before in Llanberis is also a great option as there is lots of fun things to do, including an ancient castle, watersports and a slate museum. Combined with climbing Snowdon, it makes for a lovely weekend break!
When is the best time of year to hike the llanberis path?
April to October are considered the best months to climb Snowdon. However, as with most climbing (especially if this is your first time to Snowdon), I would recommend climbing it during the summer months.
It may be busier but the days are longer, the weather conditions are better and it’s just more enjoyable.
I once climbed Snowdon in late September to watch the sunrise and the weather was already starting to turn.
We never made it to the top because the rocks at the final ascent were too slippery from the ice and the wind was too volatile to even stand up straight on top of the summit.
So the lesson is, don’t risk the disappointment of not being able to summit at the last stretch and just plan your climb during the summer!
Is the llanberis path difficult to hike?
The Llanberis Path is one of the easiest routes up Snowdon as it’s pretty much a straight path. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very, very steep path (as you would expect hiking the tallest mountain in Wales!), but you won’t be scrabbling or scaling over rocks.
The Llanberis Path is nine miles long with an ascent of 3,199 feet. It’s classified as a hard/ strenuous route, however I must say as someone who didn’t hike at the time and was below average fitness after a year sat at home in and out of lockdown – I thought it was fine!
It is challenging in places with some rockier and steeper patches but you can just take more breaks if you need to.
The hardest part of the track is actually the start! The road that you take to get to the start of the Llanberis Path is the most vertical path I’ve ever walked on in my life!
But luckily this only lasts for about 20 minutes before you get onto the main path.
If the kids I saw climbing in trainers can reach the summit of Snowdon (not recommended though!), anyone who is able bodied and has the right kit can.
What do I need to pack to hike the Llanberis path?
Even though I say the Llanberis Path is one of the easiest routes up Snowdon, you’ll still be out hiking for a large part of the day (there and back) and will need to make sure you take enough food, water and spare/ additional clothes for every weather inevitability.
I recommend packing the following when taking the Llanberis Path during the summer months.
CLIMBING SNOWDON SHOPPING LIST:
- Hiking boots
- Hiking socks (these will protect your feet from friction and decrease your chances of getting blisters. As well as keep your feet dry and cool with more breathable and comfortable material)
- Lightweight, waterproof jacket
- Waterproof hiking backpack
- Water-resistant sports leggings and waterproof over trousers (this is my personal preference as I just like having the movement and breathability that sports leggings provide with the insurance of having waterproof over-trousers to put over the top if the weather turns or I start to get cold)
- Nylon/ polyester t-shirt (avoid cotton as it absorbs moisture so it’ll trap against your skin, making you feel damp and hot as you sweat. This can also cause rubbing which gets super uncomfortable the longer you hike)
- Mid-layer fleece jacket (or jumper)
- Baseball cap and bobble hat
- First aid pouch and Compeed blister plasters
- Mini portable charger
- Suncream sachets (to avoid the bulk of full bottles)
- High-carb packed lunch and protein bar snacks (Graze and Deliciously Ella are my faves!)
- At least two litres of water (depending on how hot it is on the day)
- Spare cash
If you’re driving straight home after your hike, I’d also recommend packing a spare change of clothes in your car. It’s not essential but will make you feel more comfortable on the way home.
Especially if you’ve been caught out in a rain storm or are super sweaty and don’t want to sit in dirty clothes on the way back. Just keep a separate bag in your car with spare clothes and snacks and it’ll save you carrying it.
What food do I need to prepare to hike the Llanberis Path?
I recommend preparing a carb-rich lunch and lots of snacks to keep your energy levels up. Start with a slow-energy release breakfast like porridge with oat milk, banana and some nut butter for protein.
For lunch, pack high-carb meals such as pasta, sandwiches, fruit and some energy bars. My favourite vegan protein bars are by Graze and Deliciously Ella but any are fine!
What is the descent like?
The Llanberis Path is of course a lot easier on the way down! But because it’s pretty much a straight incline on the way up, it’s a steep DE-cline on the way down, so you’ll need to be careful that you don’t lose your footing.
The views on the way down from the summit are far more scenic than on the way up too! When coming down from the summit, you’ll get a gorgeous view of Llanberis village, Llanberis Lake and other distant peaks.
Final thoughts
One of my top tips for climbing Snowdon no matter what route you take is to make sure you have fun!
Yes, it’s challenging, yes, it’s tiring…yes you may think you can’t do it at several points during the climb.
But embrace all those highs and lows because it’s all about the journey (don’t vom it’s true!). And there is no greater feeling than sitting your knackered bum on the edge of that peak and enjoying that breathtaking view.
It’s an unforgettable experience!
OTHER SNOWDON POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE…
- CLIMBING SNOWDON: Ultimate kit list to ensure you reach the top!
- 15 Tips for climbing Snowdon (to ensure you reach the top!)
- Top 15 tips for climbing Snowdon at sunrise
- PYG TRACK SNOWDON: Complete guide + top tips for hikers!
- Top 10 most awesome facts about Snowdonia
Have you hiked Snowdon before? What’s your favourite route? 😄
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