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

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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 . . .

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

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.

Photo: Sara Hatcha (1)

Llyn Llydaw from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: David Cochrane (2)

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)

Snowdon Mountain Railway

Photo: Charlotte Drysdale (2)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Friends on the summit of Yr Aran in the snow with Beddgelert below (left centre) and Moel Hebog on the horizon (right)

Friends on the summit of Yr Aran in the snow with Beddgelert below (left centre) and Moel Hebog on the horizon (right)

Photo: Kate Smith (2)

Yr Aran at the end of the Allt Maenderyn Ridge from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Will Caesar (10)

On the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Eric Sharp (2)

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 on top of snowdon, looking like a smurf

Photo: Christina Jones (2)

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

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

Photo: Tom Shaw (7)

This is my husband Dave on the top of Snowdon

Photo: Jennifer Turnbull (1)

My husband on the summit of Snowdon

Photo: Elizabeth Kidger (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - On the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) with Crib Goch (left) and Llyn Llydaw (right) in the background

On the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) with Crib Goch (left) and Llyn Llydaw (right) in the background

Photo: Eric Sharp (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Yr Aran, Y Geuallt, Bwlch Cwm Llan, Allt Maederyn, Clogwyn Du and Bwlch Main from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau

Yr Aran, Y Geuallt, Bwlch Cwm Llan, Allt Maederyn, Clogwyn Du and Bwlch Main from the Watkin Path on Bwlch Ciliau

Photo: Gerald Murphy (6)

Half-way up Snowdon on the Rhyd Ddu walk

Photo: Tamalyn Roberts (2)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - A RAF Helicopter above Y Lliwedd and the Watkin Path from Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

A RAF Helicopter above Y Lliwedd and the Watkin Path from Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Will Caesar (9)

Me on top of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Jenni Lynn (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Me and my dad (Dave) on Garnedd Ugain having just climbed across Crib Goch

Me and my dad (Dave) on Garnedd Ugain having just climbed across Crib Goch

Photo: Paul Hancock (6)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Cefn-Du, Moel Eilio (Llanberis), Foel Gron, Foel Goch and Moel Cynghorion from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Cefn-Du, Moel Eilio (Llanberis), Foel Gron, Foel Goch and Moel Cynghorion from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Chris Clarke (1)

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)

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

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