Discover the unique scenery of Snowdonia, on this day climb to the summit of Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, with MIC mountaineering instructor Richard.
Private
1 Day
All year
Intermediate
Intermediate
I invite you to join me on a wonderful adventure and climb Snowdon peak (1085 m), the highest mountain in Wales. Yr Wyddfa, as it is called in Welsh, is one of the most popular attractions in the country. Located in a unique environment, it was designated as a national nature reserve, for its rare flora and fauna.
And although Snowdon is a small mountain by world standards, its unique landscape and a cafe in the summit make it a very special place to visit. And there’s also a railway terminal on top of the mountain!
Snowdon lies in Snowdonia National Park, in Gwynedd. Thousands of visitors come to Snowdonia each year to enjoy its amazing landscapes and the exciting outdoor activities on offer. With a wide variety of terrain, there’s something for everybody here!
I will guide you on a great climb that will take us about 8 hours. We will enjoy beautiful scenery on our way to the summit. The climb doesn’t offer any particular technical difficulties: you just need to be able to walk over rough ground and deal with the elements while we climb.
There are 6 classic walking routes to the summit, although Miners and Pig Track converge after a couple of hours of walking. Also, we don’t need to go down through the same way we went up! We will choose the best one for you.
The routes to the summit are the following:
The Llanberis Track. This is the longest and easiest gradient route overall, and arguably the least interesting. Return trip: around 7 hours
The Pyg Track. It’s the shortest route to the summit and by far the most popular. Therefore, it can be very busy, so it’s better to avoid it in holiday periods.
The Miners Track. This route starts and finishes at the same point and can be used to vary the ascent/descent. Return trip: about 6 hours.
The Watkin Path. It starts from Nant Gwynant, to the south of Snowdon. It’s steep in places and offers lots of height gain. However, as it’s harder than other routes, it’s less popular and crowded. Allow 7 hours for the return trip.
The Rhydd Ddu Path. It’s a much quieter way when other routes are busy. It offers a reasonable gradient most of the way, with a fine airy finish. Return trip: 6/7 hours.
The Snowdon Ranger Path. Handy if you are staying in the Snowdon Ranger Youth Hostel. Return trip: 6/7 hours.
So contact me if you want to join me on this climb to Snowdon summit. You can send me a request and we can start planning right away! I would love to guide you up there.
You can also take a look at other scrambling days that I also guide: Snowdon Horseshoe and Crib Goch and North Ridge of Tryfan.
More info
Personal warm and wet weather gear are a must. Bring comfortable mountain boots (approach shoes) which offer good ankle support and a decent grip. Training shoes do not generally offer this. During the winter months it may be necessary to hire extra equipment such as ice axes and crampons, which can be hired locally. There may be a minimal charge for these.
Meeting point
How can I get to the trailhead/meeting point?
We will meet up in Llanberis. You can either get a public transportation bus to the start or a taxi.
Will I need to bring any technical equipment of my own?
You will need your own hiking clothing - including waterproof jacket with hood and waterproof trousers, warm layers, warm hat and thick gloves. You would need your own walking boots. If ice axe and crampons are needed then we will borrow them (included in price).
I’ve already gone up Snowdon via the Miners and Pyg. Are there different routes?
There are several other routes up, the Watkin path is excellent and little bit more challenging than the others.
Are you offering other outdoor/ adventure activities in the area of Snowdonia?
Yes sure! Please have a look at this page - https://www.explore-share.com/mountain-guide/richard-bale/ - which lists the different activities I offer in the area of Snowdonia
Is this program suitable for children?
Snowdon is achievable by the children, but it is a 12-kilometer round trip. The weather could also be pretty rough but if you are equipped for it then you should be ok. The route I would recommend would be the PyG Track.
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
4.9
(44)
Mountain Guide
I hold a Mountaineering Instructor Certificate (MIC). I am fully qualified to guide and instruct all aspects of mountaineering and climbing in the UK throughout the year. Also, I am a full member of the Mountain Training Association (MTA) and the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI).
I love climbing and this passion has taken me all over the world, even to the summit of Mount Everest. I have also climbed in the Andes, as well as in the Alps, Norway and Canada. I reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 2001, as a member of the RAF Mountain Rescue Service Everest North Ridge expedition.
I first started mountaineering in Scotland with the RAF Mountain Rescue Service, over 20 years ago. Since then, I haven't stopped climbing and exploring new mountains in the UK and abroad. I have been a RAF Mountain Rescue Team Leader and also the Chief Instructor for 5 years. I have also climbed all the Munros, the Scottish peaks above 3000 feet.
I love climbing around North Wales and the rest of the UK. We have so many amazing climbing and scrambling spots to discover in this area! I enjoy taking my clients there for rock climbing, scrambling and mountain skills courses or for a guided day out.
We can set up a program according to your level and wishes. Contact me and we can start planning your next mountain adventure right away!
Languages
English
Certificates
AMI MIC
Charlotte
5
Great friendly guides with plenty of knowledge. They offered extra clothing and water, asked and organised several stops, we had several different types of climbers - those who are experiences and those who's this was a first experience, different fitness levels etc so they was able to separate and support the group accordingly. I would highly recommend Derry and Conor to anyone who was asking for a guide.
Eleasha
5
My partner and I had Gareth as our guide and he was brilliant. His knowledge and history of the mountains made for good conversations and his endurance and patience was greatly appreciated on our climb. We didn't know what to expect but Gareth guided us on the path we were taking going up and the other path we would take descending down. I found it challenging at times but Gareth was always patient and truthfully reassuring on the types of steepness we faced and was able to put time/kilometres on it too, which encouraged me to push myself. He was very welcoming to small breaks and also kindly captured pictures and videos of me and my partner as we climbed, which is nice to look back on. Overall, I highly recommend this service. As first time climbers, the Rhyd Ddu path was challenging but so worth it as it was a beautiful, quieter path to climb. I specifically booked this service as a birthday surprise for my partner and loved the fact we were not part of a group and were able to enjoy the experience together. Keep up the great work and I'll be sure to pass on these details to anyone interested in climbing. Regards, Eleasha.
Lisa
5
Climbing Snowdon as a single parent with my 16yr old son was never going to end well without a guide. I needed to make sure we got up & down safely without getting lost. Richard provided so much more than that, with interesting facts about the plant & wildlife, not to mention his background climbing Everest and as an RAF Engineer. I felt in very safe hands and our comfort & enjoyment was clearly his top priority. If you're looking for a guide, look no further! Thanks Richard for a great experience.
Denise
5
We received great information and advice prior to the trip and on the day our guide made it a really enjoyable and valuable experience. He was supportive, encouraging and extremely knowledgeable. Thank you Jamie and dog Gwen.
Cheron
5
Lovely, friendly, knowledgable, engaging. Extremely helpful and also very engaging with kids. Will highly recommend.
Stay up-to-date on the best adventures.