Welcome to my Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Expedition page.
On 23 June 2013, after participating in the Stone St. Michael's 10k road race, I headed off into North Wales. Having bagged Ben Nevis last year, it seemed like a good idea to bag Snowdon Next.
After briefly considering the various routes to the summit, I settled on the Watkin Path, indicated by the Snowdonia National Park Authority as 'thought to be one of the most hard going paths up Snowdon, as it starts only a little above sea level'.
I'd chosen Llyn Gwynant Campsite in the valley of Nant Gwynant for its surroundings, good facilities and proximity to the start of the Watkin Path. As I arrived in the valley, low rain clouds had just passed and the sky was starting to lighten again, so it was a good time to pitch the tent.
The Met. Office forecast for Snowdonia indicated that the weather would improve for the next day (Monday), although there was likely to be limited visibility on the summit, and would further improve for Tuesday. So Tuesday would be a better day for the ascent.
On Monday, I drove up out of Nant Gwynant for a trip to Betws-y-Coed.
The sky above the campsite on Tuesday morning was clear, so it was off down to Bethania for the start of the Watkin Path and the ascent of Snowdon.
For most of the ascent, the summit of Snowdon was shrouded in cloud, but for the final sections of the ascent the cloud cleared, allowing good and then excellent visibility from the Snowdon summit.
It had been quite tricky to see the path during the steepest parts of the ascent, particularly zig-zag section, but for the descent the Watkin Path was clearly visible below and offered new perspectives on the landscape.
Afterwards, refreshments and an excellent steak and ale pie at the Tanronnen Inn in Beddgelert were most welcome.
So, that's Ben Nevis and now Snowdon bagged. Scafell Pike next!
Llyn Gwynant Campsite
Llyn Gwynant
Gallt y Wenallt (619m) looming over my little green tent
360° panorama at Llyn Gwynant Campsite
Click to open this panorama in a new window
Note: swipe the image left or right to rotate the view
360° panorama from the Nant Gwynant viewpoint
Click to open this panorama in a new window
Note: swipe the image left or right to rotate the view
Views from the Nant Gwynant viewpoint on the A498
Looking down the valley to Llyn Gwynant
Visitor information at the Nant Gwynant viewpoint
Cwm Dyli hydro-electric power station in the valley below
Looking up the valley to Moel Berfdd
You can see the A4086 looping around it
Some views around Betws-y-Coed
The River Llugwy near Pont-y-Pair
The suspension footbridge over the River Conwy
Reflection on the River Conwy
View through the trees from the A5 near Betws-y-Coed
The Watkin Path and the ascent of Snowdon
View from Pont Bethania car park toward Snowdon shrouded in cloud
The start of the Watkin Path at Bethania
A sylvan scene on the Watkin Path
Llyn Gwynant from the Watkin Path
Waterfalls on the River Cwm Llan
Y Lliwedd (898m) and the waterfalls on the River Cwm Llan
View back down to Nant Gwynant
Approaching Gladstone Rock
The plaque on Gladstone Rock commemorating the opening of the path to the summit
The path above the old works of the South Snowdon Slate Quarry
Yr Aran (747m) and the old works of the South Snowdon Slate Quarry
The path up to Bwlch Ciliau, the ridge between Snowdon and Y Lliwedd
The cloud clears briefly from the Snowdon summit
You can see the path heading to the left of the summit
Llyn Llydaw seen from Bwlch Ciliau
Llyn Llydaw and Carnedd y Cribau (591m)
The path gets steep with lots of loose rock
The standing stone at the top of Bwlch Main and the path to the summit
Here the Watkin Path meets the Rhyd Ddu Path
The summit of Snowdon
Approaching the summit: the train of the Snowdon Mountain Railway
approaches its destination
Approaching the summit: Hafod Eryri, the Summit Visitor Centre
The Snowdon summit (1085m), cairn and triangulation station
Pirie on the Snowdon summit (1085m)
Innis & Gunn Original on the Snowdon summit (1085m)
Looking down the Snowdon Mountain Railway toward Llanberis and Llyn Padarn
(Looking northwest)
The Pyg Track, the Miners' Track, Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw
(Looking northeast)
The Pyg Track is the upper track and the Miners' Track leads down to Glaslyn
Y Lliwedd (898m)
(Looking southeast)
Yr Aran (747m) and Cardigan Bay on the right horizon
(Looking south)
Mynydd Mawr (698m), Llyn Cwellyn and Moel Eilio (726m)
Mynydd Mawr on the left and Moel Eilio on the right
(Looking west-northwest)
Inscriptions on the wall of Hafod Eryri, the Summit Visitor Centre
Copa'r Wyddfa: Yr ydych chwi, yma, Yn nes at y nefoedd.
The summit of Snowdon: Here, you are nearer To heaven.
The World at my Feet
View down on to the Watkin Path
Mynydd Mawr (698m), Llyn Cwellyn and Moel Eilio (726m)
Mynydd Mawr on the left and Moel Eilio on the right
(Looking west-northwest)
The descent
Y Lliwedd (898m) and the Watkin Path ahead
Zig-zagging down the steep slope to Bwlch Ciliau
It was much easier to see the path from above!
Bwlch Ciliau and Y Lliwedd (898m)
Cwm Tregalan and Yr Aran (747m)
A clear view of Snowdon (1085m)
A close up of the steep section of the Watkin Path
It's the diagonal line up from the right to the middle and the not so distinct zig-zag section above
The quarrymen's barracks and old works of the South Snowdon Slate Quarry
Cotton Grass in Cwm Llan
360° panorama from the Snowdon summit
Click to open this panorama in a new window
Note: swipe the image left or right to rotate the view
This page was last updated on 2 February 2020.
