Is Mount Snowdon hard to climb? What to expect hiking in Snowdonia as a beginner

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If you're a newbie to hiking like me and don't know what to expect from Snowdon then this post is for you.

If you landed here via my introductory post then you know Snowdon was the second of THE three peaks in the UK that I attempted.

Snowdon finds itself located in the aptly named national park of Snowdonia.

After the trial and tribulations of the first peak, Scafell Pike (and how NOT to climb Scafell Pike) in the Lake District National Park, I was a little more prepared. That's probably because I actually brought food this time.

Mount Snowdon Trails: Pen-y-pass
The Summit: Snowdon view
Attire: What should I Wear for the Climb
Difficulty Level Hiking Mount Snowdon
Final Thoughts on Mount Snowdon

Mount Snowdon Trails

We parked our car in Nant Peris which was a mistake as it is in between trails although we did not have to pay for parking and there is a bus that goes through there. I would suggest to park in the Llanberis region, though you may have to pay for parking there. We hastily jumped on the awaiting bus (bus stop in the car park). The bus took us on a short trip to the Pen-y-Pass stop. This is a good place to start your hike up Mount Snowdon.

From there we set off on the Miners Track trail, there are quite a few trails on Snowdon, and finding a map online can help you decide which will be best for you beforehand, considering things like your hiking level, where you stay, and/or where you park your car.

Some trails are harder than others, I explored one or two of them myself starting with the...

Miners Trail & Pyg Track

At the start of this track, you'll be faced with a very slight upward gradient (think gradient level 2 or 3 on a treadmill) that goes on for about 30-45 minutes. The trail splits off into two, one of which wraps around a small lake. This is the route we chose. It was an easy choice once we saw the cows by the lake bed. Kodak moment.

No? Just me then...

lake at the bottom of mount snowdon in snowdonia, cows and people near each other and mountainous background with overcast skiesp
Cows on Snowdon Lake being admired, Miners Trail, Snowdonia, Wales

Once we had walked around the lake... and a random old abandoned mining building we came to big stone slabs that were shaped and engineered to become (very) helpful steps. This is where the hike really started.

I have to mention we set out at the end of June, the weather was warm that week and mostly overcast on the hike. This tends to be my preferred weather condition when doing something as gruelling as hiking, mainly because you can enjoy it better without being sweltering or drenched.

After the steps, you will reach another larger lake, from here the climb takes a steeper turn, to the point I was almost grappling to climb up. Exciting stuff. Also, not as hard as I'm making out.

From here the climb continues on a steeper gradient, although nothing too challenging, a few stops to catch your breath should suffice even for a beginner.

Mount Snowdon Summit:

I feel reaching the summit of a mountain is always worthwhile even if the views aren't great or the weather takes a turn for the worse. Obviously, it's better if you reach the summit and the sun comes out, for the pictures alone because at times the sites can be breathtaking. There is something to say about the sense of achievement too.  

Maybe the sense of achievement was dampened if you tend to suffer from hay fever because for me it was really quite relentless when I had got near the top. So I would suggest bringing some tissues and don't use an unworn sock from the bottom of your rucksack. That's never a good look. Even if you literally have nothing left to use.  

There is a train that reaches the summit too, for some reason, it was not working that day. It's probably a good idea to check this out before making your way if you feel you are likely to grab a trip back rather than walking.

Train tickets and more info can be found here -https://snowdonrailway.co.uk/times-prices/

There was also a random fly-by from what initially looked like an attack helicopter.

top of mount snowdon in snowdonia wales helicopter can be seen flying close by with person watching from stone steps
Surprising what you may see at the top of a mountain

After the customary pictures, some food, and a good rest, we were ready to carry on. Plus the views are always better to see than to explain...

(Click on images to expand)

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Remembering where we had parked our car, we sought to find a different route down, one that took us nearer to the car park. Lo and behold we did find a direct route down the Llanberis path. The sun had come out by now and the path was scenic. It even had a small café of sorts on the way. Of course, a slush puppy, snickers, and an extra drink were needed.

This track can really teach you how to properly go down a tricky mountain path. The first 30 minutes or so there was a lot of pressure on my legs, especially my thighs. Keeping that sort of technique up is strenuous and extremely tiresome. The solution – go faster. That's right I saw a few people trotting, jogging, even running down. So I gave it a go.

low picture overlooking stoney and gravel path with mountains in the background llanberis path tour mount snowdon snowdonia
Llanberis Path on Mount Snowdon

The way I see it, the less time and pressure you are putting on each step, the less you will be stressing those muscles out. Imagine doing a 3-hour leg workout at the gym on the same muscles, not fun. One major caveat to this 'jogging' technique is you are more likely to twist your ankle, especially on a wobbly step or stone, take great caution and wear the correct footwear whenever possible.

The other, less dangerous solution would be to just take your time, frequent breaks will ease the lactic build-up and the pressure on your thighs and legs in general. Remember it's not a race.

Here is a snippet from bodybuilding.com of what this could mean for your muscles “To increase strength and power, the best rest period is 2-5 minutes between sets. To increase hypertrophy (muscle growth), the best rest period is 30-90 seconds between sets. But to increase muscular endurance, the best rest period is 30 seconds or less between sets.”

So perhaps bear that in mind. Quicker intervals mean more endurance. Good to know right?

very old coin stump midway point on llanberis path person walking behind it green hills behind stump and mountain peaks in distance, mount snowdon snowdonia
The Llanberis path halfway point - coin stump

No, there isn't half a human stuck on the stump.

Attire, what should I wear to climb Mount Snowdon

My attire consisted of normal trainers, combat trousers (extra pockets) along sleeved top and an unspectacular Parker coat, a bag packed with some fruit, a chocolate bar or two, a packet of crisps, and three bottles of 500ml water.

Was this suitable? For me, I would say yes but after a few more hikes since then, I would definitely recommend proper footwear. Footwear does not have to be expensive, a few friends of mine hiked Ben Nevis with £30 or so trainer hiking shoes from Sports Direct and now swear by them. I opted for the slightly more expensive (but on sale) North Face hiking boots.

Most importantly a handkerchief or plenty of tissues ended up being the thing I regret not packing the most.

How difficult is Mount Snowdon to climb:

With comparisons to other hikes like Rainbow Mountain in Peru and Scafell Pike in the lake district (England's highest peak and my first of the three peaks in the UK). I can determine that Snowdon was my easiest trek. So far. That being said it seems the tracks we took were easier than some of the others, so research where you will be starting from to see if it suits your difficulty level and experience.

Difficulty: 5.8/10.

Something to consider and my final thoughts:

One of the hikers that were with me has asthma and this was his first time hiking, it's safe to say he was not able to keep up the pace, which is fine. My number rule is to pace yourself– the mountain in essence reveals you to yourself, so you have to pace yourself, I'll say it again for those more competitive folks, it isn't a race (unless you are actually racing – but then you're likely not a novice).

Snowdonia offers beautiful landscapes and amazing surrounding areas, albeit with the possibility of a runny nose. North Wales, where Snowdonia is located, tends to be quite tranquil. It could be a place that offers you introspection like it did me and a calming peace, especially if you are coming from a big city like London or are considering a major career change.

Either way good luck and happy hiking.

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