Wales's most iconic summit and a defining Eryri experience. Whether guests hike or take gentler routes, it's the big landscape day that turns a seaside break into a North Wales story.
Yr Wyddfa -- known in English as Snowdon -- is the highest mountain in Wales and the highest peak in the British Isles south of the Scottish Highlands, rising to 1,085 metres (3,560 feet) above sea level. It is the defining landmark of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, one of the most visited mountains in Britain, and from Llandudno it is an hour away by car -- close enough for a genuinely rewarding day out even for those not planning a summit attempt.
The mountain was formed from volcanic rocks laid down during the Ordovician period around 450 million years ago and subsequently sculpted by glaciation into the dramatic ridges and cwms that make it so distinctive today -- the sharp arete of Crib Goch, the deep hollow of Cwm Glaslyn, the lakes tucked into the lower flanks. In Welsh legend the summit is said to be the burial place of the giant Rhita Gawr, defeated by King Arthur; the name Yr Wyddfa translates roughly as the tumulus or burial mound. In November 2022 the Eryri National Park Authority voted to use the Welsh name as its primary name, and by 2024 it had gained wide adoption across businesses and media.
There are six main walking routes to the summit, ranging from the popular and relatively straightforward Llanberis Path to the dramatic and demanding Crib Goch ridge. The Snowdon Mountain Railway has run from Llanberis to the summit since 1896 and remains a spectacular way to reach the top for those who prefer not to walk. The summit building, Hafod Eryri, was rebuilt and reopened in 2009, replacing what Prince Charles once memorably called the highest slum in Wales.
The summit temperature is typically around 10 degrees colder than the valley below. Weather can change rapidly at any time of year -- go prepared regardless of what it looks like from Llandudno.
- ✦ Highly rated by our guests
- ✦ Easy to reach from The Rosedene
- ✦ Suitable for all guests
