Llanberis Path up Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa): route map, distance and time

1,085 m · Snowdonia

Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is the highest mountain in Wales, with a choice of well-made paths, a mountain railway and a café on the summit.

A long, steady path beside the railway to the summit.

The Llanberis Path starts at about 126 m and gains 927 m over 6.9 km to 1,040 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 133 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 6 km, which climbs 210 m at an average of 21%, with a 500 m stretch from 5.1 km at about 28%. The final 0.9 km eases to the top. About 13% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.

Llanberis Path at a glance

Distance	6.9 km one way, to the top
Ascent	979 m
Climb on the track	927 m up, 10 m down on the way
Start and top of the track	127 m to 1,043 m (summit 1,085 m)
Steepest 500 m	About 28%, from 5.1 km
Steeper than 1 in 5	13% of the way
Time up	3h 0m by Naismith's rule
There and back	4h 25m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Llanberis, LL55 4TY
Start grid reference	SH 580 594
Summit grid reference	SH 609 543
Parking	Pay car parks in Llanberis village, a few minutes' walk from the start.
Bus	Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses link all the main starts round the mountain.

Llanberis Path map

The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start 127 m6.9 km to the top

Start grid ref SH 580 594 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

Download the Llanberis Path GPX

Ascent only: plan your way down. A planning track, not checked on the ground; it doesn't show safe scrambling moves. Track data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), heights from a terrain model.

Llanberis Path kilometre by kilometre

Height, climb and average gradient for each kilometre of the track, with a grid reference at the end of each one to check your position on the map.

At	Height	Climb	Gradient	Grid ref
1 km	259 m	+133 m	13%	SH 582 588
2 km	372 m	+113 m	11%	SH 589 581
3 km	470 m	+98 m	10%	SH 596 574
4 km	584 m	+113 m	11%	SH 602 566
5 km	762 m	+178 m	18%	SH 608 560
6 km	972 m	+210 m	21% steep	SH 607 551
6.9 km	1,040 m	+67 m	7%	SH 609 543

How long the Llanberis Path takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	2h 25m	3h 35m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	3h 0m	4h 25m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	3h 40m	5h 25m

Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.

Today: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:14. Start by 12:49 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12. Start by 12:47 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Snowdon summit weather for this route

Marginal Today Sunday 18 October

Partly cloudy, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -6°C, summit wind 27 mph gusting 33 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:14.
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October

Moderate drizzle, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 41 mph gusting 51 mph, 90% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12.

Best day of the next seven for the Llanberis Path: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 33 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 0% (Low), best around 05:00. 7-day inversion outlook.

Hour-by-hour Snowdon forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Snowdon?

Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast and hazards · Yr Wyddfa ground conditions report.

What to take today

An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -6°C on top.
A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 33 mph.
Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.

About Snowdon

Green ridge below the summit of Yr Wyddfa looking down to Llyn Llydaw, with the pointed top of Crib Goch on the left — From near the summit towards Llyn Llydaw, with Crib Goch on the left. Photo: Julian Herzog, CC BY 4.0.

Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is the highest mountain in Wales, with a choice of well-made paths, a mountain railway and a café on the summit. More about Snowdon, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Furth, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, historic county top, county top.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Crib y Ddysgl (1,065 m), 0.8 km north
Crib Goch (923 m), 1.6 km north-east
Y Lliwedd (898 m), 1.6 km south-east
Y Lliwedd East Top (893 m), 1.8 km south-east
Lliwedd Bach (819 m), 2.1 km south-east
Llechog (720 m), 2.4 km north

Challenges that include Snowdon

More walks from Llanberis

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

Llanberis Path via Bwlch Glas up Crib y Ddysgl
Llanberis via Moel Eilio up Foel Gron
Llanberis via Bwlch Maesgwm up Moel Cynghorion

Other routes up Snowdon

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Pyg Track	5.3 km one way	740 m	2h 20m	Moderate
Miners' Track	6.8 km one way	770 m	2h 40m	Moderate
Rhyd Ddu Path	5.9 km one way	900 m	2h 40m	Moderate
Snowdon Ranger Path	6.4 km one way	940 m	2h 50m	Moderate
Watkin Path	6.5 km one way	1,015 m	3h 0m	Hard
South Ridge (Allt Maenderyn)	6.5 km one way	900 m	2h 50m	Hard
Crib Goch	5.1 km one way	880 m	2h 30m	Scramble
Y Lliwedd traverse	7.0 km one way	723 m	2h 35m	Scramble
Fox's Path and Crib Goch North Ridge	6.5 km one way	723 m	2h 30m	Scramble
Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant	5.3 km one way	903 m	2h 35m	Scramble

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 580 594, the summit at SH 609 543), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.

Llanberis Path: questions and answers

How far is the Llanberis Path?

The Llanberis Path is 6.9 km one way to the summit of Snowdon, with 979 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 13.8 km.

How long does the Llanberis Path take?

About 3h 0m to the summit of Snowdon and 4h 25m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 5h 25m for the round trip.

How steep is the Llanberis Path?

The steepest 500 m averages about 28%, starting 5.1 km from the start, and 13% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Llanberis Path climbs 927 m in all on the track.

Where do you park for the Llanberis Path?

The Llanberis Path starts from Llanberis (postcode LL55 4TY). The grid reference is SH 580 594. Pay car parks in Llanberis village, a few minutes' walk from the start. Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses link all the main starts round the mountain.

Is the Llanberis Path suitable for beginners?

Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.

What time should I start the Llanberis Path today?

By 12:49 at the latest. Sunset on Snowdon today is 18:14, The Llanberis Path takes about 4h 25m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for the Llanberis Path?

Yes. Download it from this page. It is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.