 Hi, I am planning to walk up Snowdon at the end of June to celebrate my 63rd birthday. Can anyone tell me a good route which is fairly strenous. Also I am taking my wife and family down there.Can anyone recommend a B +B for us and a campsite for the family. Any help appreciated.
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 Snowdon horseshoe is good,probably trhe best views and most epic. snowdon horseshoe Pyg and Miners are good, Ranger is OK, but not that exciting.
Never done the watkin but it's supposed to be good. Avoid the Llanberis tourist track, it is shite.
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 Watkin is lovely until the last slog up the scree.
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 Avoid the Llanberis tourist track, it is shite.
I'll second that about the Llanberis Track, being sh-1-t.....
It just seems to go on for an eternity. The Miners and Pyg Tracks (probably my most favourite of all the paths) have a nice amount of variety in path and scenery. The only drawback with the Miners and Pyg Tracks, both start at Pen y Pass, where the parking can be a nightmare on busy days (which is most days). So be prepared to use the overflow car park at Nant Peris, about three miles down the road. However, there is a bus that pulls in to the Nant Peris car park, that will take you up to Pen y Pass, and obviously, there will be one on your return trip, if you're not too late back.
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| Edited: 23/05/11 12:20 |
 If you start off with the Miners' Track there's a nice (and relatively peaceful) route heading SSW, just before the Miners' crosses Llyn Llydaw. This track then takes you up via Y Lliwedd. You can scramble up the last bit to Y Wyddfa if you fancy a slightly more exhilarating way to the summit, or follow the path round towards the Summit Station. Come back via the Pyg Track to finish off an alternative horseshoe.
The photo was taken looking up towards Y Lliwedd on this route. I'll be taking a friend this way next week. Oops, nearly forgot to mention... ... I use this campsite about a mile NNE of Betws-y-Coed, on the B5106. It's a nice farm site with good (but not flashy) ammenaties, cheap rates and free hot water.
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| Edited: 23/05/11 17:50 |
 The Betws inn is agreat B&B there is also a campsite opposite. Situated on the west side of Snowdon it's within a couple of miles of the youth hostel at the Snowdon Ranger Path Here for a great B&B Some help on the route Also a campsite at Rhyd Ddu Here HTH Paul
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Hi, Thanks for the great advice.Paul the B&B you recommend isn't available formy dates.
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Hi, Thanks for the great advice.Paul the B&B you recommend isn't available formy dates.
Shame - its one of the few places of its type that we would return to. Good luck with you walk and..... an early happy birthday 
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 Although the path from Llanberis is a dull slog, a little-used but great alternative is the Llanberis RIDGE path. This is a track (intermittent at times) that stays to the left of the railway track and hugs the edge of the ridge over Derlwyn, Tryfan (no, not that one), Llechog and up to Crib y Ddysgl. The views are much better than the usual Llanberis path, particularly into Cwm Glas. However, my personal favourite way is to take the Watkin Path from Bethania as far as Cwm Llan, then head west taking in Yr Aran then the south ridge to the summit. The Watkin Path is then used to return. There's ample parking and a brilliant cafe at Bethania, and a nice campsite just a couple of miles away at the head of Llyn Gwynant.
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| Edited: 23/05/11 22:00 |
Hi Glyn, Many thanks that route sounds great.Any B&B in the area.
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Hi Footloose, I don't know if there's anything actually at Bethania but I'd imagine there's a few places in nearby Beddgelert. (if you're interested, I have a memory map (or gpx) file of the route from Bethania if you use a gps)
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Hi Glyn, I do have a GPS but wouldn't know how to download a gpx file.I also have memory map but not sure if it covers Snowdon.I will have to check
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no worries. If it's of use then just PM me your email address and I'll send it.
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To avoid parking problems and have a non circular route across ridges with views over at least three Cwms:
Park up at Bethania as said then get S97 bus [£1 ! Bus stop is a couple of yards from the cafe] to Pen Y Pass [times 9.29 and 11.29, a 10 min journey that must be one of the best bus routes in the country]. Take Pyg track or Miners Track [or Crib Goch/Ugain] up to summit and then Watkin path [or onto this via Yr Aran or Lliwedd] back down to car [do it this way around and there's no worries about being late for a bus].
A cracking day out ending at a caf [Cafe Gwynant] that does good food.
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| Edited: 22/06/11 13:41 |
Hi Mark, Thanks for the detailed advice.The bus sounds great.
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 Up the Watkins, down the South Ridge. Start a bit later in the day (give yourself 6/7h) and by the time you go down, it will just be you and the mountains. Splendid stuff.
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