Walk Route Map gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant

The longest but prettiest route up Snowdon

Vital Statistics:

Length:	9½mls (14.5km)
Ascent:	4,517ft (1,377m)
Time:	8hrs
Grade:		(Hard)

Walk route map with easy-to-follow route instructions for walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant pdf

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

Find new companions for walks in Wales

See photos from this walk

Get Directions to the start of walk gw117

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!

Peak Bagging Statistics for 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.

This walk is on Ordnance Survey Maps:

OS Explorer Map OL17
1:25,000 scale (Orange Covers)
OS Landranger Map 115
1:50,000 scale (Pink Covers)

Some Photos and Pictures from Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant

In no particular order . . .

Jane, Holly, William and Gnasher Bishop on the top of Snowdon

Photo: Andrew Worsey (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - The PYG Track and The Miners' Track, Craig Fach, Llyn Llydaw (top) and Glaslyn (bottom) from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

The PYG Track and The Miners' Track, Craig Fach, Llyn Llydaw (top) and Glaslyn (bottom) from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Chris Player (11)

Approaching Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Summit

Photo: Charlotte Drysdale (4)

Me on the summit of Snowdon

Photo: David Bald (1)

The South Ridge of Snowdon from The Watkin Path

Photo: Don Williams (18)

Me at the top of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) as part of my 3 Peaks Challenge

Photo: Tim Williams (4)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - The final scree path up to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau

The final scree path up to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau

Photo: Gerald Murphy (3)

Me and my wife Emma at the top of Snowdon

Photo: Stuart Edwards (3)

Me on Snowdon

Photo: James Stenson (1)

Me, Paul and Andy on top of Snowdon

Photo: Paul Taylor (1)

Snowdon from The Watkin Path

Photo: Mike Smart (8)

Near the summit of Mount Snowdon

Photo: Mark Davies (10)

Friends on Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Jonathan Goddard (1)

The summit of Snowdon in the clouds from the top of the PYG Track

Photo: Rob Barklamb (52)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - View back down the South Ridge to Yr Aran from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

View back down the South Ridge to Yr Aran from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Gerald Murphy (11)

Me on the summit of Mount Snowdon

Photo: Heather Haigh (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - On the summit of Snowdon as part of a sponsored walk for Southmead Hospital, Bristol

On the summit of Snowdon as part of a sponsored walk for Southmead Hospital, Bristol

Photo: David Jefferies (2)

Falling off Snowdon with The Miners' Track and Llyn Llydaw beyond

Photo: Dade Murphy (1)

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Summit

Photo: Charlotte Drysdale (5)

At the summit of Snowdon in March 2012

Photo: Nicola James (2)

. . . load all 145 walk photos from Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant

Send us your photographs and pictures from your walks and hikes

We would love to see your walk photographs and pictures walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant. Please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:

and we shall do our best to publish them.

(Guide Resolution = 300dpi. At least = 660 pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).)