In Snowdonia you can walk from Pen y Pass to the top of Yr Wyddfa on the Pyg Track's 723 m climb, then post a card from Britain's highest post box at 3,560 ft. When your legs give out, the Victorian rack railway that's been hauling visitors up from Llanberis since 1896 will do the work — and it costs nothing to simply set off on foot, since the park has no entrance fee and never closes.
Find Guided ToursEryri (Snowdonia) National Park covers 823 square miles of northwest Wales across Gwynedd and Conwy, and it's the largest National Park in the country. Nine mountain ranges sit within its borders, plus 74 miles of coastline, 11,000 hectares of native woodland, glacial lakes and river gorges. At the heart of it all is Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), 1,085 m and the highest peak in Wales and England. Nearly 4 million people visit each year, and more than 600,000 of them hike to that summit on foot.
The rock here is largely igneous and sedimentary, forged over millions of years by geological forces, then carved by glaciers that left behind cwms and corrie lakes such as Llyn Glaslyn. That violent history produced habitats ranging from mountain summits to estuary shores, and some rare residents. Yr Wyddfa is a National Nature Reserve, home to the Snowdon Lily and the Snowdon Beetle, and on a clear day its summit gives views over most of Eryri's other peaks — even as far as Ireland.
Designated on 18 October 1951 under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, Eryri was the first National Park in Wales and the third in the UK. Tourism arrived long before that: Betws-y-Coed drew Britain's first artists' colony in the 19th century, its station opened in 1868, and the Snowdon Mountain Railway has carried passengers to the summit since 1896. Slate quarrying and mining shaped the landscape too — the Miners' Track began life hauling copper from the Britannia Copper Works near Llyn Glaslyn.
The Welsh language remains central here, with 58% of the park's 26,000-plus residents speaking it daily. In 2022 the Authority adopted the Welsh names Eryri and Yr Wyddfa for English use. On the fringes, the medieval castles of Caernarfon, Harlech and Conwy form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Discover the full history and cultural significance on our About page.
The Snowdon Mountain Railway has climbed from Llanberis since 1896, a Victorian rack-and-pinion line ending at Hafod Eryri, the UK's highest visitor centre. A diesel return takes 2.5 hours with 30 minutes at 3,560 ft — enough time to post a card from the summit post box before descending.
Starting at Pen y Pass, the Pyg Track covers 3½ miles and 723 m of ascent over engineered, rugged ground — steep stepped sections near the top, some needing hands, with views down over Llyn Llydaw the whole climb. Allow 1¾–3 hours up. The gentler Miners' Track shares the same trailhead.
Sir Clough Williams-Ellis built this Italianate village on its own peninsula on the Dwyryd estuary, a short hop from Porthmadog: riotously coloured buildings, gardens and coastal walks in surreal contrast to the Eryri mountains all around. Pair it with a swim at nearby Black Rock Sands beach.
At Penrhyn Quarry near Bethesda, Zip World runs the fastest zip line in the world, strung above a vivid turquoise lagoon in the old slate workings. At Llechwedd in Blaenau Ffestiniog there are underground trampoline nets and a forest roller-coaster — a wet-weather fix for days the mountain refuses to cooperate.
Compare 10 guided tours from $72.68 — Snowdon summit hikes, castle trips and canyoning — many with free cancellation up to 24 hours.
June and September are the sweet spots: stable walking weather, all six summit routes and the railway running, and fewer people than the July–August school-holiday crush. November through February is the tough stretch.
Warming steadily toward the May–September sweet window. May adds the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways beer festival, with all summit routes and the railway running and thinner crowds than summer.
Warmest period, with June–August days averaging 17–19°C and everything fully open. But August brings both peak crowds and around 14 rainy days, so June is the month to aim for.
September and October pair stable walking weather with quiet trails and autumn colour. The railway's diesel service ends 1 November; after that, crowds drop but so does the temperature.
Snow, ice and gales arrive — gusts over 50 mph can blow walkers over — and daylight shrinks to as little as 7.6 hours. The summit railway stops running after 1 November.
Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park is free, ungated and open 24 hours a day, all year — there's no such thing as closing time for the mountains, and no permit or booking is needed simply to walk, including on Yr Wyddfa. The paid attractions and services inside the park do keep hours. The park-run Information Centres at Betws-y-Coed, Beddgelert and Aberdyfi open daily 9.30am–5.00pm, with a 30-minute lunch closure; the Aberdyfi centre opens from 28 March 2026. The Snowdon Mountain Railway runs a seasonal timetable: the first train leaves Llanberis at 9.00am, with further departures every 30 minutes subject to demand, and tickets go on sale online and at the ticket office from 8.15am. Diesel services run through to 1 November 2026, Heritage Steam Experience dates end 30 October 2026, and from 5 October some services terminate at Clogwyn rather than the summit. High winds can shorten or suspend railway journeys at any time of year.
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| National Park entry (walking, all areas including Yr Wyddfa) | Free |
| Snowdon Mountain Railway — diesel return to summit, adult | £45 off-peak / £48 peak |
| Snowdon Mountain Railway — diesel return to summit, child (ages 3–15) | £35 off-peak / £38 peak |
| Snowdon Mountain Railway — diesel return to Clogwyn, adult | £36 off-peak / £39 peak |
| Snowdon Mountain Railway — single up, adult | £26–£29 |
| Snowdon Mountain Railway — single up, child (ages 3–15) | £16–£19 |
| Snowdon Mountain Railway — Heritage Steam Experience return to summit, adult | £62 |
| Snowdon Mountain Railway — Heritage Steam Experience return to Clogwyn, adult / child (from 5 October) | £53 adult / £43 child |
| Snowdon Mountain Railway — children under 2 | Free |
| Snowdon Mountain Railway — advance booking administration fee | £4.00 per booking |
| Pen y Pass car park (pre-booked via JustPark) | £25 up to 8 hours / £35 for 8–12 hours / £45 full day |
| Nant Peris Park & Ride | £5 per day (card only) |
| Snowdon Mountain Railway car park, Llanberis | Free for 30 minutes, then £6 (4 additional hours) / £12 (8) / £18 (12) |
| Sherpa'r Wyddfa bus — adult single to Pen y Pass from any location | £3 |
| Sherpa'r Wyddfa bus — adult day ticket | £5.50 |
| Sherpa'r Wyddfa bus — children aged 5–15 | £1 |
| Caernarfon Castle (Cadw, at the park's edge) — adult / family (2 adults + up to 3 children) | £14.90 adult / £47.70 family; disabled visitors and companions free |
Two bookings need advance planning. Pen y Pass parking must be pre-booked via JustPark until 1 November 2026, at least an hour ahead, and there are only 68 spaces — the £5/day Nant Peris Park & Ride with the Sherpa shuttle is the fallback. Railway tickets can sell out weeks ahead in school holidays and fine weather, and the £4 online booking fee applies to every advance reservation; groups of 25+ should email [email protected]. A return ticket is only valid boarding at Llanberis — you can't hike up and ride down on it — and single down-tickets are sold first-come at the summit only. Carry cash as a backup: the railway doesn't accept American Express and its card machines occasionally fail. No student or senior discounts appear in the official pricing.
For complete schedules and ticket prices, visit our Hours & Fees page.
There's no single address to aim for: Eryri spans 823 square miles of Gwynedd and Conwy, so you pick a gateway first. Direct Avanti West Coast trains run from London Euston to Bangor in about 3h 19m (from £85.20 off-peak), with Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses covering the final ~10 miles to Llanberis. Driving from Manchester or Liverpool takes under two hours, typically via the A5 through Betws-y-Coed or the A55/A4086 towards Llanberis.
📍 No street address exists — Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park covers 823 square miles (2,130 km²) across Gwynedd and Conwy in north-west Wales. Useful reference points: the Information Centre in Betws-y-Coed (gateway village) or the Snowdon Mountain Railway station in Llanberis.
Direct trains leave London Euston for Bangor, the nearest mainline station, about 10 miles from Llanberis. The trip averages 3h 19m, with the fastest at 3h 05m. From Bangor, Sherpa'r Wyddfa and local buses run into the park. Book Advance singles early — they come in substantially cheaper than the off-peak walk-up fare.
Transport for Wales runs this line 30 miles from the North Wales coast through the Conwy Valley, over ancient bridges and past waterfalls — often called Wales' most visually arresting railway journey. It ends at Betws-y-Coed, the park's gateway village, where Sherpa'r Wyddfa S1/S4 buses connect to Llanberis, Pen-y-Pass and Beddgelert. Sit on the valley side for the waterfalls.
Eryri is under two hours' drive from Manchester and Liverpool, and about 2.5 hours from Birmingham, usually via the A5 through Betws-y-Coed or the A55/A4086 towards Llanberis. Driving is the easiest way to reach trailheads. Pen y Pass parking (£25–£45) must be pre-booked via JustPark and only has 68 spaces; the Nant Peris Park & Ride at £5/day, card only, is the sensible fallback.
Routes S1–S4 (plus regional T2/T10/T22) link Bangor, Betws-y-Coed, Llanberis, Pen-y-Pass, Beddgelert, Porthmadog and Caernarfon — a car-free way to do a summit day, and dogs are welcome. A single to Pen y Pass costs £3 from any location; children 5–15 pay £1. Group day tickets (2 adults £10, 3 adults £12.50) make it cheaper still. All buses take contactless.
For detailed transport options and routes, visit our Directions page.
Pen y Pass has just 68 pre-bookable spaces at £25 for up to 8 hours, and they sell out fast — especially weekends. You must reserve via JustPark at least an hour ahead. If it's full, park at Nant Peris (£5/day, card only) and catch the Sherpa bus up the pass for a few pounds. Never turn up hoping for a space.
A Snowdon Mountain Railway return is only valid boarding at Llanberis — you can't hike up and ride down on it. Down-singles are sold first-come at the summit only. Want the one-way plan? Buy a single up online and be ready to walk down if high winds stop the trains. Book early; fine-weather weeks sell out well ahead.
Gusts over 30–40 mph upset your balance on the exposed upper mountain, and above 50 mph walking becomes near impossible — the Met Office mountain forecast and the park's Yr Wyddfa Ground Conditions Reports tell you before you set out. The railway may also curtail journeys in high winds. Turn back early rather than pushing on; the summit will still be there next time.
The summit paths aren't wheelchair accessible, but the Park Authority hires Tramper all-terrain mobility scooters and maintains rated routes — the flat 15 km Mawddach Trail and Lôn Gwyrfai among them. If you want the summit itself, the railway's diesel carriages can carry one wheelchair; call +44 (0)1286 870 223 before booking to secure it.
The railway doesn't accept American Express and its card machines occasionally fail in such a remote spot, so keep cash as backup. There are no bins anywhere on Yr Wyddfa — you carry out everything, including orange peel and banana skins. Over 600,000 people climb this mountain each year; the no-trace rule is what keeps it walkable.
The Sherpa'r Wyddfa network (routes S1–S4) links Bangor, Betws-y-Coed, Llanberis, Pen-y-Pass and Porthmadog, takes dogs, and costs £5.50 for a day ticket — children 5–15 pay just £1. Ride the Conwy Valley Line from Llandudno Junction to Betws-y-Coed (day return from £8.80) and connect from there. One warning: only assistance animals board the summit railway.
A UNESCO-listed 13th-century fortress of polygonal towers and the Eagle Tower, dominating the Menai Strait at the park's north-western edge. Entry is £14.90 adult, £47.70 family, and disabled visitors plus companions get in free. Allow 1.5–2.5 hours for the walls.
Sir Clough Williams-Ellis's Italianate village of riotously coloured buildings sits on its own peninsula on the Dwyryd estuary — a surreal contrast to the mountains behind it. Pair it with nearby Black Rock Sands beach. Go on a wet afternoon when the paths lose their appeal.
The fastest zip line in the world races you over Penrhyn Quarry's turquoise lagoon; the Llechwedd site adds underground trampoline nets and a forest roller-coaster. It's the obvious pick for adrenaline or a rain day. Book ahead in school holidays.
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Nothing — the park is open 24/7 with no entrance fee, no permit and no booking needed to walk Yr Wyddfa or anywhere else. You only pay for parking (£5–£45 per day), the Snowdon Mountain Railway (£26–£62 adult) and attractions like Caernarfon Castle (£14.90 adult).
Allow 6–8 hours return on any of the six routes. The Llanberis Path, the gentlest option at 9 miles round trip, takes 2½–4 hours up; the Pyg Track covers 3½ miles one way with 723 m of ascent and needs 1¾–3 hours each leg. If that sounds like a slog, the railway does the round trip in 2.5 hours.
Yes — until 1 November 2026 you must pre-book via JustPark at least an hour in advance, and there are only 68 spaces, so they sell out fast. It costs £25 for up to 8 hours, £35 for 8–12 hours, or £45 for a full day. The fallback is Nant Peris Park & Ride at £5/day (card only) with the Sherpa bus up to Pen y Pass for £3.
Yes, the Snowdon Mountain Railway has run from Llanberis to the summit since 1896. A diesel return costs £45 adult off-peak (£48 peak) and takes 2.5 hours including a 30-minute stop at Hafod Eryri, with the first train at 9.00am and departures every 30 minutes. Book online early — it sells out weeks ahead in school holidays, and there's a £4.00 fee per booking.
Take a direct Avanti West Coast train from London Euston to Bangor (about 3h 19m, from £85.20 off-peak), then a Sherpa'r Wyddfa bus the last 10 miles — a single to Pen y Pass is £3, a day ticket £5.50. From the North Wales coast, the scenic Conwy Valley Line runs from Llandudno Junction to Betws-y-Coed in 1h 25m (day return from £8.80). Sherpa buses (S1–S4) link Llanberis, Pen-y-Pass, Beddgelert, Porthmadog and Caernarfon, and they take dogs.
Warm layers, a waterproof and boots with good grip and ankle support — twisted ankles are among the most common injuries in the park, and it gets markedly colder the higher you climb. Gusts over 30–40 mph upset your balance on the exposed upper mountain and over 50 mph make walking near impossible, so check the Met Office mountain forecast before setting out.
The mountain paths aren't wheelchair accessible, but the Park Authority hires Tramper all-terrain mobility scooters and maintains accessible routes like the flat, 15 km Mawddach Trail. The railway's diesel carriages can carry one wheelchair — call +44 (0)1286 870 223 before booking — and older walkers usually manage the Llanberis Path, the gentlest route at 2½–4 hours up.
Children can walk it free, but Visit Wales classes all six summit routes as hard/strenuous, so families with young kids usually pick valley walks like the Beddgelert and Gelert's Grave circular instead. On the railway, children aged 3–15 pay child fares (£35–£38 diesel return) and under-2s go free; Sherpa buses charge kids aged 5–15 just £1.
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