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 - My husband on the summit of Snowdon

My husband on the summit of Snowdon

Photo: Elizabeth Kidger (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - James, James Lawton and Pete on Snowdon

James, James Lawton and Pete on Snowdon

Photo: Brian Dexter (9)

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

The summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: Gerald Murphy (9)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Andy Brown on Snowdon during the Three Peaks Challenge

Andy Brown on Snowdon during the Three Peaks Challenge

Photo: Andy Brown (7)

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)

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

Climbing Snowdon

Photo: David Atherton (2)

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

Glas Llyn from Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

Photo: George White (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - Snow on Y Lliwedd from the summit of Snowdon

Snow on Y Lliwedd from the summit of Snowdon

Photo: David Cartwright (7)

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 - My uncle on the summit of Mount Snowdon

My uncle on the summit of Mount Snowdon

Photo: Tommy Guns (1)

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 - On Snowdon with Y Lliwedd beyond

On Snowdon with Y Lliwedd beyond

Photo: David Atherton (6)

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: David Jefferies (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - On the way up Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) on the PYG track with Cribau and Y Lliwedd prominent in the background

On the way up Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) on the PYG track with Cribau and Y Lliwedd prominent in the background

Photo: Chris Jones (3)

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)

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)

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: David Cochrane (2)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - My family climbing Snowdon!

My family climbing Snowdon!

Photo: Donna Taylor (1)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - . . . round the other side of the cafe at the top of Snowdon

. . . round the other side of the cafe at the top of Snowdon

Photo: Oliver Hunter (2)

Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant - At the summit of Snowdon in March 2012

At the summit of Snowdon in March 2012

Photo: Nicola James (2)


. . . load all 146 walk photos from Walk gw117 Snowdon and Yr Aran via The Watkin Path from Bathania, Nantgwynant


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