   |
Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9½mls (14.5km) |
| Ascent: | 4,517ft (1,377m) |
| Time: | 8hrs |
| Grade: |  |
Route outline for walk gw117:
Nantgwynant - Bethania - Castell - Gladstone Rock - The Watkin Path - Bwlch Ciliau - Bwlch y Saethau - The Scree Path - Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) - Rydd Ddu Path - Clogwyn Du - Allt Maenderyn - Yr Aran - Clogwyn Birth - 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:
 2 Welsh Mountains |
 0 Wainwrights |
 2 Welsh Nuttalls |
 0 Welsh Deweys |
 0 Wainwright Outlying Fells |
 2 Welsh Marilyns |
 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.
Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Yr Aran at 747m (2452ft). Yr Aran is classified as a Welsh Mountain (Hewitt) (53rd highest in Wales, 124th highest in England & Wales)
Yr Aran is also known as a Welsh Nuttall (65th highest in Wales, 151st highest in England & Wales) and a Welsh Marilyn (24th highest in Wales, 489th highest in the UK).
Yr Aran means 'The Mountain' in Welsh and is pronounced 'ur-a-ran'.
The summit of Yr Aran is marked by a cairn.
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 gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant
In no particular order . . .
Craig Fach, Llyn Llydaw (top) and Glaslyn (bottom) from 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)
Craig Fach, Llyn Llydaw and Carnedd Moel Siabod from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau
The Watkin Path, Nantgwynant and Cnicht on the horizon from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
My big sister Louise and my brother-in-law Dave at the top of Snowdon last September
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) (left), Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) & Crib Goch (centre left) and Lechlog (Snowdon) (right) from Llyn Caseg Fraith
It's a bit foggy but here is a photo of me and our little hiking Jack Russell at the top of Snowdon :)
Cefn-Du, Moel Eilio (Llanberis), Foel Gron, Foel Goch and Moel Cynghorion from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
On the way up Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) on the PYG track with Cribau and Y Lliwedd prominent in the background
Bwlch Ciliau, Y Lliwedd Bach and Y Lliwedd from the Finger Post at top of Scree Path near the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Cwm Llan and Yr Aran (right - in shadow) from Bwlch y Saethau on the upper slopes of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
A RAF Helicopter above Y Lliwedd and the Watkin Path from Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
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 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, Craig Fach and The PYG Track from the summit of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Llyn-y-Gadar (right) beyond the Rydd Ddu Path/Lechlog ridge from the summit of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
My dad on the summit of Yr Aran in the snow with Cnicht & Moelwyn Mawr on the horizon (left centre) and Lyn Dinas in the Nantgwynant valley below (right)
On the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) with Crib Goch (left) and Llyn Llydaw (right) in the background
The awe inspiring view from Snowdon's summit featuring Llyn Llydaw with Carnedd Moel Siabod beyond
Llyn Cwellyn and Mynydd Mawr (Llyn Cwellyn) (centre left) and Moel Eilio (Llanberis) (far right) from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
The PYG Track and The Miners' Track, Craig Fach, Llyn Llydaw (top) and Glaslyn (bottom) from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
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.
View back down the South Ridge to Yr Aran from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
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)
My son in law Mark waking up on the top of Snowdon with fabulous clouds down below
On the summit of Snowdon as part of a sponsored walk for Southmead Hospital, Bristol
Llyn Peris, Llanberis and the Snowdon Mountain Railway from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Glaslyn (front) and Llyn Llydaw with The Pyg Track (far left) and the Miners' Track (centre left) from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
The final scree path up to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau
Myself, Willo, Barnsey and Mark at the top of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in September!
Llyn Llydaw from a gap in the crags near Bwlch y Saethau on the upper slopes of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) - The 2nd highest mountain in England and Wales from the highest - 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
Y Lliwedd, Y Lliwedd (East Top) and Y Lliwedd Bach from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau
The view from Mount Snowdon with a touch of hoar frost on the grass making them into white ribbons
Myself in September on the final approach to Snowdon summit via the Rhyd Ddu path
Glaslyn (bottom), Llyn Llydaw and Y Lliwedd (right) from the top of The PYG/Miners' Track, Snowdon
This is a pic of my boyfriend mounting the steps to the summit of Snowdon in rather foggy conditions!
My mountain dog Degla, admiring the view (near the top of the PYG/Miners' Track) off Mount Snowdon
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
Friends on the summit of Yr Aran in the snow with Beddgelert below (left centre) and Moel Hebog on the horizon (right)
Send us your photographs and pictures from your walks and hikes
We would love to see your photographs and pictures from walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant. Send them in to us as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name and where the picture was taken to:
and we shall do our best to publish them.
(Guide Resolution = 300dpi. At least = 660 pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).)
You can also submit photos from walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant via our Facebook Page.
NB. Please indicate where each photo was taken.
To contribute to go4awalk.com or to contact us about anything at all - see Talk To Us. For help see Help.
go4awalk.com and go4awalk.co.uk are registered trademarks of TMDH Limited.
Copyright © 2000-2025 TMDH Limited. All rights reserved.
Copyright Terms & Conditions Privacy Statement
A - Z Walks Home Log On/Accounts Photo Gallery Walk Ideas and Collections Fell Facts Hill Skills Walking Questions and Answers Your Stories News Competitions Product Reviews/Gear Tests Walking Gear Guides Peaks and Mountains Peak Bagging Find New Walking Friends Camping GPS Waypoints for Walking Contents Walk Search Talk To Us go4awalk.com Help Free Example Walks Newsletter
