Snowdonia's Great Outdoors

Walking and Hiking in Snowdonia

This is probably the most popular pastime in the UK and it's no different in Snowdonia. There is every kind of walking or hiking trail within Snowdonia National Park itself; whether it's a nice easy riverside stroll or a strenuous hike and scramble up one of Snowdonia's mountain summits. During the holiday season you're unlikely to get the trails to yourself, but there's a camaraderie shared amongst walkers in Snowdonia whether you're red faced and out of breath on the ascent of a mountain or scrambling up a heart pumping rocky face to your next adrenaline high.

The most popular walks are probably those up to Snowdon's summit. There are several routes: the Llanberis Path - the longest and easiest and the one the mountain railway follows; The Miners' Track - the easiest of the three routes from Pen-y-Pass; the Pig or Pyg Track - a stony ascent from the western end of Pen-y-Pass car park; the Snowdon Ranger Path which visitors once tackled with the guidance of the Snowdon Ranger. It is now less popular with people preferring the Llanberis Path or the shorter, steeper ones from Pen-y-Pass. Rhydd Ddu Track with two paths - one from Pitt's Head Rock two and a half miles northwest of Beddgelert and the other from the National Park car park in Rhyd-Ddu; and finally the Watkin Path - the most spectacular southern route with the greatest height gain. Once you're up the mountain there is, of course, also the famous ridge walk the Snowdon Horseshoe.

The Snowdon Horseshoe is the best ridge walk in Wales - one of the best Britain. It is also the most dramatic and potentially the most dangerous! It's not for the faint-hearted as it's a high level, rocky walk along two knife-edge artes to Bwlch Coch and Crib Goch. High winds and winter conditions make this a dangerous place at which times it should be avoided or only to be tackled by the most experienced and appropriately equipped. There are several routes up to the Snowdon Horseshoe so make sure you know you're way before setting off. One way is from Pen-y-Pass car park, up the Pig Track that climbs diagonally across the mountain to reach the pass at Bwlch Moch. There are two paths from this point the left being the easier of the two. Once the steep and exposed summit of Crib Goch is reached, you will find outstanding views into the Llanberis Pass, Cwm Glas and into the hollow the Horseshoe encloses - that is if you can stand the height and the vertical drops either side!

Ty Nant Path is the main footpath up Cadair Idris in the south of the National Park. Alternatively you can take the Minffordd Path which is shorter but involves the greatest ascent 2,850 feet (869 metres). The easiest is Llanfihangel Path but it is also the longest at 5 miles.

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Family Leisure Walks

For fantastic views take the path up to Devil's Kitchen at Cwm Idwal. If this steep, rocky path is too much you can take the leisure walk from the Ogwen Warden Centre car park near Bethesda, around the Llyn Idwal a glacial lake where it is said no bird will fly over since the Idwal son of Owain, Prince of Gwynedd, was pushed into the lake and drowned by the son of Nefydd Hardd to whom he'd entrusted his care. Nefydd was banished from the kingdom and the lake named after his son. When there's a storm in the Cwm a wailing voice can apparently be heard.

More leisurely walks include the river walks at Dolgellau, The Torrent and Precipice Walk, several riverside walks around the Conwy Valley and Betws y Coed and Aber Falls in the north of the National Park.

Make sure you know where you re going before setting off. Check the links opposite. A very good book with the best walks in Snowdonia is Richard Sale s "Best Walks in Northern Wales".

Whatever walk you re doing make sure you've got a map to find your way and orientate yourself if you get lost. Wear appropriate clothing and boots and make sure you take enough layers to cater for any weather - it might be nice and sunny at the bottom but once you're scaling the heights of the mountains the weather is liable to be a lot cooler. The Met Office publish dedicated Mountain Area weather forecasts for Snowdonia. These are available online, via a 24 hour telephone line and most Visitor Centre pin up the day's weather on their noticeboards.

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Rock Climbing and Scrambling

With so many mountains to discover Snowdonia has some of the best and most varied rock climbing areas in the country. The northern mountain ranges are the most popular rock climbing areas. The Ogwen Valley was were climbing started in Snowdonia and it offers the visitor the best base for climbing in the lower grades. The Llanberis Pass has a good selection of routes in the middle grades. The activity centres below offer climbing courses for those who are new to the sport or can bring you on if you want to try something harder to develop your skills.

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Mountain Biking and Cycling

There's been a lot of effort put into providing mountain biking and cycling trails in Wales. Many of the Forestry Commission's horrid conifer plantations are now providing a useful purpose with custom-made trails that have been designed to offer a variety of riding surfaces and seem to be hugely successful so far. In Snowdonia there are two big forests that have been converted for this purpose.

The Gwydyr Forest that towers above Betws-y-Coed and is renowned for its range of mountain bike trails for all skill levels from forest roads and tracks to steep downhills and rocky terrain. The Marin trail - (named after a co-sponsor) has been constructed as the principal mountain biking trail through the forest. It's 25 kilometres long and incorporates "long challenging climbs up to miles of technical single-track weaving through trees and boulders, across streams and down snaking ridge lines to get your heart and brakes pumping". For more leisurely cycle routes the forest tracks are open for you to explore at leisure. There are also nine graded walks which are pinpointed in the map-brochure produced by the Forestry Commission available from the Tourist Information Centre.

Coed y Brenin is now internationally rated as one of the world's best mountain biking destinations with nearly 100 kilometres of all weather riding. The handcrafted tracks are suitable for all skill levels from complete novice to expert. Trails include "Fun", "Sport", "Red Bull", "MBR" and "Karrimor" ranging from easy novice level 2 hour rides up to 38 kilometre 2-4 hour routes with serious climbing and descending. You can find it slap bang in the middle of the southern part of Snowdonia National Park, north of Dolgellau. This is a huge conifer plantation includes all weather single-track and even dual slalom courses for mountain biking. A new family route has just been opened and there are also a number of waymarked all-ability and family walking trails and two running trails. Next to the brand new Visitor Centre at Dolgefeilliau is a tiered children's play area. The visitor centre also houses bike hire at Beics Brenin under the cafe, toilets, showers and a cafe.

Beddgelert is another conifer forest area with biking possibilities but not quite on the scale of these two. The terrain is ideal for all ages and abilities from children and families through to adrenaline junkies. Flat routes encompass disused railway lines and the Welsh Highland Railway line is being reinstalled so that it will pass through the forest in the future.

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Family Leisure Cycling

There are more leisurely cycle routes along the beautiful Mawddach Estuary. The Mawddach Trail follows the estuary for 15 kilometres (9 miles) from Abermaw to Dolgellau. It follows the former railway track and has now been converted into a leisure route for walkers and cyclists giving you fantastic views of the estuary. It is part of the Sustrans Cross-Wales Cycling Route - No 8. The surface is largely tarmacked so is smooth and flat so pushchairs and wheelchairs won't find problems.

Check the website links for more information. There are downloadable leaflets on the Forestry Commission's website with the routes for Gwydyr and Coed y Brenin. A useful guide to mountain biking in Wales is available from Tourist Information Centres or the same info is on the website links right. Bike hire is available in Betws y Coed, Beddgelert and Dolgellau. Check the links right.

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Watersports - Canolfan Tryweryn - The National Whitewater Centre

The National Whitewater Centre at Bala is entirely man-made and was developed as the first commercial whitewater rafting operation in the UK in 1986. Since then it has grown to become the largest rafting organisation in the UK.

The main centre has a reception, cafe and, more importantly, free hot showers! The man-made River Tryweryn is 8 kilometres of white water whose level can be altered by dam release from Llyn Celyn. However, you do need to check on the latest water release information on their website or the contact details below as the centre does not have control over this. The lower river can be used recreational kayaking/canoeing anytime the centre is open except when competitions are on.

There is a whole host of events throughout the year including canoeing/kayaking competitions that are held on the white water downstream from its dam and whitewater rafting on the two kilometre stretch of rocky steep rapids classed as a grade 3/4 (Grade 1 being gentle flowing water). You can book kayaking, canoeing and coaching courses or adventure breaks for weekends.

Lake Bala is the best place in Snowdonia for watersports as the winds howling down the mountain valley makes it great for sailing and windsurfing. Activities or equipment hire can be arranged from Bala Adventure and Watersports Centre.

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Adrenaline Sports

Snowdonia can be as challenging as you make it. There are centres within the National Park where you can book yourself onto activities, take courses to develop your skills or book activity holidays. You can even book stag and hen weekends with a difference.

The majority of the activities are rock climbing, abseiling, hill walking, mountain biking, canoeing, whitewater rafting, navigation skills, gorge walking and canyoning and near the coast - windsurfing and surfing.

Plas y Brenin is probably the biggest, based in Capel Curig, but there are many more places offering activity holidays throughout Snowdonia National Park. Check the links to the activity centres direct for more information.

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