   |
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 7¾mls (12.5km) |
| Ascent: | 3,682ft (1,122m) |
| Time: | 6½hrs |
| Grade: |  |
Route outline for walk gw105:
Nantgwynant - Bethania - Castell - Gladstone Rock - The Watkin Path - Bwlch Ciliau - Bwlch y Saethau - The Scree Path - Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) - The Scree Path - Bwlch y Saethau - Bwlch Ciliau - The Watkin Path - Gladstone Rock - Castell - Bethania - Nantgwynant
Points of Interest/Notes on this walk:
The Watkin Path was started by Sir Edward Watkin, a 19th century railway entrepreneur, to connect his summer house in Nantgwynant to the summit of Snowdon. Prime Minister William Gladstone (aged 82) officially opened the (incomplete) Watkin Path from Gladstone Rock in 1892 and the National Trust finally completed the route in 2002 - some 110 years after it was first started.
The building on the summit of Snowdon (Hafod Eryri - The Snowdon Summit Visitor Centre and Cafe) is thought to be the home of the highest house mice in England and Wales!
Peaks, Summits and Tops reached on this walk:
 1 Welsh Mountain |
 0 Wainwrights |
 1 Welsh Nuttall |
 0 Welsh Deweys |
 0 Wainwright Outlying Fells |
 1 Welsh Marilyn |
 0 Bridgets |
Peak Bagging Statistics for this walk:
The highest point of this walk is Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) at 1085m (3561ft). Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is classified as a Welsh Mountain (Hewitt) (1st highest in Wales,Highest in England & Wales)
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is also known as a Welsh Nuttall (1st highest in Wales,Highest in England & Wales) and a Welsh Marilyn (1st highest in Wales, 43rd highest in the UK).
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) means 'The Burial Place' in Welsh and is pronounced 'ur-oo-ith-va'.
The summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point. Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is the highest point in the county of Gwynedd, the highest point in Snowdonia National Park and the highest point in England and Wales.
You can find more walks near this one on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
Some Photos and Pictures from Walk gw105 Snowdon via The Watkin Path from Nantgwynant
In no particular order . . .
The view from Mount Snowdon with a touch of hoar frost on the grass making them into white ribbons
On the summit of Snowdon as part of a sponsored walk for Southmead Hospital, Bristol
My big sister Louise and my brother-in-law Dave at the top of Snowdon last September
Craig Fach, Llyn Llydaw and Carnedd Moel Siabod from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau
My oldest sons (14 and 15 years old) and some of their mates get hands on at the cairn, on top of Mount Snowdon after doing a charity walk.
It's a bit foggy but here is a photo of me and our little hiking Jack Russell at the top of Snowdon :)
My mountain dog Degla, admiring the view (near the top of the PYG/Miners' Track) off Mount Snowdon
The awe inspiring view from Snowdon's summit featuring Llyn Llydaw with Carnedd Moel Siabod beyond
Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl), Crib Goch, Craig Fach, The PYG Track, Llyn Llydaw and Y Lliwedd from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
The Watkin Path, Nantgwynant and Cnicht on the horizon from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
The last of the National 3 Peaks 24hr Challenge before descending to finish in 23 hours 45 minutes.
What a tight finish, just time for this photo!
Crib Goch (centre right) with the PYG Track (mid path) and the Miners' Track (coming up the valley) seen from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
The PYG Track and The Miners' Track, Craig Fach, Llyn Llydaw (top) and Glaslyn (bottom) from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
View back down the South Ridge to Yr Aran from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Llyn Cwellyn and Mynydd Mawr (Llyn Cwellyn) (centre left) and Moel Eilio (Llanberis) (far right) from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Crib Goch, Craig Fach and The PYG Track from the summit of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Yr Aran, Y Geuallt, Bwlch Cwm Llan, Allt Maederyn, Clogwyn Du and Bwlch Main from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau
Cwm Llan and Yr Aran (right - in shadow) from Bwlch y Saethau on the upper slopes of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Llyn Peris, Llanberis and the Snowdon Mountain Railway from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
The final scree path up to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau
A RAF Helicopter above Y Lliwedd and the Watkin Path from Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
The Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau and Y Lliwedd from the top of the Scree Path close to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Myself, Willo, Barnsey and Mark at the top of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in September!
Llyn-y-Gadar (right) beyond the Rydd Ddu Path/Lechlog ridge from the summit of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Glaslyn (front) and Llyn Llydaw with The Pyg Track (far left) and the Miners' Track (centre left) from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Bwlch Ciliau, Y Lliwedd Bach and Y Lliwedd from the Finger Post at top of Scree Path near the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
On the way up Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) on the PYG track with Cribau and Y Lliwedd prominent in the background
This is a pic of my boyfriend mounting the steps to the summit of Snowdon in rather foggy conditions!
Y Lliwedd, Y Lliwedd (East Top) and Y Lliwedd Bach from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau
Post marking the pint where the Watkin Path joins Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)'s South ridge above Bwlch Main - with Mynydd Mawrm Llyn Cwellyn and Moel Eilio in the distance
Myself in September on the final approach to Snowdon summit via the Rhyd Ddu path
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) (left), Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) & Crib Goch (centre left) and Lechlog (Snowdon) (right) from Llyn Caseg Fraith
Cefn-Du, Moel Eilio (Llanberis), Foel Gron, Foel Goch and Moel Cynghorion from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Craig Fach, Llyn Llydaw (top) and Glaslyn (bottom) from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) - The 2nd highest mountain in England and Wales from the highest - Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Glaslyn (bottom), Llyn Llydaw and Y Lliwedd (right) from the top of The PYG/Miners' Track, Snowdon
Llyn Llydaw from a gap in the crags near Bwlch y Saethau on the upper slopes of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
My son in law Mark waking up on the top of Snowdon with fabulous clouds down below
On the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) with Crib Goch (left) and Llyn Llydaw (right) in the background
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