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

The longest but prettiest route up Snowdon


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:

hewitt
2
Welsh
Mountains
Wainwright
0
Wainwrights
 Welsh Nuttalls
2
Welsh
Nuttalls
Dewey
0
Welsh
Deweys
Wainwright Outlying Fell
0
Wainwright
Outlying Fells
marilyn
2
Welsh
Marilyns
Bridget
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)

Snowdonia National Park


1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):

OL17 Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa and Conwy Valley/Dyffryn Conwy


1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):

115 Snowdon & Caernarfon


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

In no particular order . . .

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Glaslyn (bottom), Llyn Llydaw and Y Lliwedd (right) from the top of The PYG/Miners' Track, Snowdon

Glaslyn (bottom), Llyn Llydaw and Y Lliwedd (right) from the top of The PYG/Miners' Track, Snowdon

Photo: Peter Dryden (2)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - The summit of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

The summit of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: David Wright (179)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Me at the top of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) as part of my 3 Peaks Challenge

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 Johnson-Holme Family on the summit of Mount Snowdon

The Johnson-Holme Family on the summit of Mount Snowdon

Photo: Manda Johnson-Holme (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Charlotte Drysdale (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - My boys and I on the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

My boys and I on the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Tamalyn Roberts (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Y Lliwedd, Y Lliwedd (East Top) and Y Lliwedd Bach from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau

Y Lliwedd, Y Lliwedd (East Top) and Y Lliwedd Bach from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau

Photo: Gerald Murphy (4)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - The Watkin Path, Nantgwynant and Cnicht on the horizon from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

The Watkin Path, Nantgwynant and Cnicht on the horizon from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Victoria Ashley (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Llyn Llydaw from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Llyn Llydaw from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Mick Coxon (3)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Temperature Inversion from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Temperature Inversion from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Karen Harding (6)

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

Snowdon Mountain Railway

Photo: Charlotte Drysdale (2)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Friends on Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Friends on Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Jonathan Goddard (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Cwm Llan and Yr Aran (right - in shadow) from Bwlch y Saethau on the upper slopes of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Cwm Llan and Yr Aran (right - in shadow) from Bwlch y Saethau on the upper slopes of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Tom Shaw (6)

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

Climbing Snowdon

Photo: David Atherton (3)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) - The 2nd highest mountain in England and Wales from the highest - Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Garnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddysgl) - The 2nd highest mountain in England and Wales from the highest - Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Chris Player (12)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - On the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

On the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Andy Haynes (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - On the summit of Mount Snowdon

On the summit of Mount Snowdon

Photo: John Cottle (2)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Sheep on Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) with the Snowdon Mountain Railway beyond

Sheep on Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) with the Snowdon Mountain Railway beyond

Photo: Barry Lugg (19)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - The summit of Snowdon in the clouds from the top of the PYG Track

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 - Crib Goch, Craig Fach and The PYG Track from the summit of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Crib Goch, Craig Fach and The PYG Track from the summit of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Chris Player (13)


. . . load all 147 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 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).)

Send us your walking and hiking photographs and pictures from walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant via Facebook

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.







Follow go4awalk.com on Twitter Follow go4awalk.com on Facebook






Find new Friends to go walking with

Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 Walks. Download GPS Waypoints - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge Walk - All the Latest Route Information, GPS Waypoints and Split Times to keep you on Schedule

Walk The British Three Peaks Challenge Walk - All the Latest Route Information and GPS Waypoints

See our pick of The Best Walks in The Lake District - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of the Best Lake District Ridge Walks - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of the Best Lake District Walks to do in the rain - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in Snowdonia - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Ridge Walks in Wales - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in The Brecon Beacons - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in The Yorkshire Dales - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in The Peak District - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in The Forest of Bowland - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in Shropshire - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in Cheshire - Walks you must not miss!

Walk our pick of The Best Walks in Lancashire - Walks you must not miss!

Not sure where to walk next? Try Peak Bagging - Great Walks you must not miss!

Not sure where to walk next? Walk part of a National Trail - Great Walks you must not miss!

Walks with Downloadable and Uploadable GPS Waypoint Data

Walking Kit and Gear Tested by Walkers

Full Site Search