Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Yr Wyddfa — Snowdon, in English — is the highest mountain in Wales at 1,085 m, the centrepiece of Eryri National Park (until 2022, called Snowdonia in English; the Welsh name is the preferred form now). Six numbered footpaths reach the summit; the Llanberis Path is the gentlest and the most popular, a 14.5 km return up the western flank that shares its ridge with the heritage rack railway that has carried tourists to the summit since 1896.

The path begins on a tarmac lane just above the village of Llanberis and climbs steadily up open hillside to Halfway House — a small café in a shepherd's hut, useful for tea on the way down. Above that the path crosses under the rack railway, climbs a long zigzag through scree, and traces the ridge to the summit. The Snowdon summit visitor centre, Hafod Eryri, is at the top — open in season when the trains are running, with views (in clear weather) across the Llŷn Peninsula, Snowdonia, and out to Ireland. The descent is the same path. Cumulative ascent is 975 m. Fit walkers take 4–5 hours round trip; many take 6 or more.

The Llanberis Path is technically walkable year-round but most hikers come May to October. The mountain holds snow most winters above 700 m, and Mountain Rescue North Wales is called to Snowdon more than any other UK mountain — often because the Llanberis Path's reputation as "the easy way" leads underdressed visitors high into changeable weather. Pack proper waterproofs and warm layers regardless of forecast; the summit averages 6°C cooler than Llanberis. Parking at the trailhead is paid and small; a park-and-ride from Nant Peris or the Sherpa bus from Pen-y-Pass are the better options in summer.