The Llanberis Path

The Llanberis Path is the longest of the main routes up or down Snowdon offering a good 5 mile trek from the summit back to Llanberis and the Royal Victoria Hotel (our official start / finish point). The path was originally used as a pony and mule track to carry tourists up from Llanberis. Whilst the route down is well defined and maintained, you'll still need walking shoes or boots with good ankle support. Every year many people injure their ankles by attempting the stony path in trainers or even high heels!  

From the summit you first retrace your steps down to the stone marker at Bwlch Glas at the top of the famous Zigzag but instead of going back down the Zigzag you carry on straight ahead at first gently where the path cuts across the slopes of Garnedd Ugain and then quite steeply until you reach the railway bridge (Snowdon Mountain railway) close to Clogwyn station. Here you are rewarded with a magnificent view of the Llanberis pass and the Glyderau opposite.

Continue steeply downwards and as you approach the Halfway House café at 570m (1870 ft.) you will see (looking back) the steep glacial cliffs of Clogwyn Du’r Arddu with ruins of copper mines visible as dark slits in the cliffs much loved by rock climbers. Continue downwards along the well defined path until you come to the end of the “stony” section of the path and where you meet a tarmac path. Turn right here and carry on steeply downwards towards Llanberis below, passing through a gated farmyard before reaching the village houses (Victoria Terrace).

 When you reach the junction with the main Llanberis road, the Royal Victoria Hotel and the end of your Snowdon 500 Challenge will be in front of you. Cross over the road (taking care because you will be weary and tired) and back to the start point in the car park in front of the hotel where you must sign yourself back in (so that we know you are safely off the mountain) and receive your Snowdon 500 Challenge Certificate.