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The Snowdonia Way

A walking route through Eryri from Machynlleth to Conwy

ISBN

9781852848569

Availability

Published

2 Feb 2017

Reprinted

12 Sept 2023

Edition

First

Pages

176

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.10cm

Weight

230g

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Guidebook to walking the Snowdonia Way in Wales, a long-distance route through Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park from Machynlleth to Conwy. The low-level route of 97 miles (6 to 8 stages) includes the Pass of Aberglaslyn, the Ogwen Valley and Aber Falls. The mountain route is 122 miles in 9 stages, including Cadair Idris, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and the Glyders.

Seasons

Both the main route and mountain route can be walked throughout the year, though in winter conditions the mountain route requires full winter mountaineering equipment.

Centres

Machynlleth, Abergynolwyn, Dolgellau, Trawsfynydd, Penrhyndeudraeth, Beddgelert, Pen-y-Pass, Dolwyddelan, Capel Curig, Bethesda, Llanfairfechan, Conwy

Difficulty

Though the walking days are long, the main route is mostly easy to navigate and stays at a low level, only crossing passes when necessary. Walkers should be used to full days out. The mountain route requires good navigation and includes a considerable amount of ascent, sometimes with no path.

Must See

Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), Cadair Idris, the Glyders, Llyn Trawsfynydd, the Ogwen Valley, the Vale of Ffestiniog, Aber Falls, the Pass of Aberglaslyn, Llyn Gwynant, Llyn Ogwen, Nantgwynant, Coed y Brenin, the Moelwyns, Moel Siabod, the Carneddau, Machynlleth.

ISBN

9781852848569

Availability

Published

2 Feb 2017

Reprinted

12 Sept 2023

Edition

First

Pages

176

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.10cm

Weight

230g

Overview

Guidebook to walking the Snowdonia Way through Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in Wales, from Machynlleth to Conwy, with low and high-level mountain options.

The 97 mile (156km) low-level route is described over 6 stages of between 13 and 21 miles (21–34km) whereas the mountain route covers 122 miles in 9 stages of 12 to 18 miles (19–29km).

Route description illustrated with 1:50,000 OS mapping
Crosses the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia) via Dolgellau, Trawsfynydd, Beddgelert, Dolwyddelan, Capel Curig and Bethesda
Mountain route takes in Cadair Idris, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and the Glyders
The low-level route involves long days but mainly easy walking; the high-level route includes more challenging navigation, considerable ascent and some pathless terrain
Since they intersect regularly, it is possible to mix and match between the low and high-level routes
Information on facilities and selective accommodation listings
Notes on geology, history, plants, wildlife and folklore

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map key

Transport map

Overview map

Route summary table

Introduction

The Snowdonia Way

Landscape

Plants and wildlife

Geology

History

Understanding Welsh

When to go

Getting there

Accommodation

Planning your itinerary

Route difficulty

What to take

Maps and GPS

Safety

Using this guide

The Snowdonia Way

Stage 1 Machynlleth to Dolgellau

Stage 1A Machynlleth to Abergynolwyn (mountain route)

Stage 1B Abergynolwyn to Dolgellau (mountain route)

Stage 2 Dolgellau to Trawsfynydd

Stage 2A Dolgellau to Trawsfynydd (mountain route)

Stage 3 Trawsfynydd to Beddgelert

Stage 3A Trawsfynydd to Penrhyndeudraeth (mountain route)

Stage 3B Penrhyndeudraeth to Beddgelert (mountain route)

Stage 4 Beddgelert to Dolwyddelan

Stage 4A Beddgelert to Pen-y-Pass (mountain route)

Stage 4B Pen-y-Pass to Capel Curig (mountain route)

Stage 5 Dolwyddelan to Bethesda

Stage 5A Capel Curig to Bethesda (mountain route)

Stage 6 Bethesda to Conwy

Stage 6A Bethesda to Conwy (mountain route)

Appendix A Accommodation

Appendix B Facilities tables

Appendix C Useful contacts

Appendix D Further reading

Updates

February 2024

Trawsfynydd bridge closed

The bridge at Trawsfynydd (start of section 3) is closed due to being dangerous. The alternative is to walk around the southern side of the lake on road and paths.
Thanks to Sally Mayne for the update

November 2019

Route updates included in 2020 reprint

856 Reprint 2019 (5.257 MB)

October 2019

Route corrections and Updates

Note there is no longer an outdoor shop in Beddgelert or food shop in Capel Curig.

Feb 2019

Stage 1A Machynlleth to Abergynolwyn (Mountain Route): Access through Rhos-farch now seems to be restricted. From SH 6995 0142 you now need to go N to SH 69847 01850 and then follow the newly way-marked RoW SSW to Rhos-farch and then NNW onto Ffridd Rhos-farch.

April 2018

Stage 3 page 83 after leaving Penrhyndeudraeth there are ongoing forestry operations which have caused some changes to the landscape as described in the book, specifically one or two of the paths to Rhyd. The route is still open and is a public right of way, and people have managed to find their way through. The major change is that what was once a path is now a large forestry vehicle track. Please use your intuition to find the right way through.

Reviews

Crisp text, graphic images and a catalogue of facts

Contained within the tried, tested and popular framework of a Cicerone user guide comes Walking the Snowdonia Way, a captivating south-north route through the National Park from Machynlleth to Conway. The route is presented in two forms, a 94-mile low-level version (main) and a 122-mile high-level approach (mountain). The low level route includes the Ogwen Valley and takes in hillside paths, forested slopes and Roman roads. The mountain route intersects with the main route but also includes Snowdon, Cadair ldris, Cnicht and the Glyders, as well as some less well-known peaks.

The usual Cicerone formatting provides information, advice and sets the scene in leading up to the bulk of this publication, which is justifiably dedicated to the route description. Photographs are in abundance and provide constant, mouthwatering insights of the journey, while the strip maps amply support the text and make for a committed and reassuring literary guide, whether attempting the route in its entirety, over sections, or simply using the book to sample parts of the area.

There are six stages, some split into (a) and (b), each one opening up with all the essential, basic details, such as start, end, distance, ascent, terrain, availability of supplies and a brief outline of the route, before describing the walk. This route hardly requires it, as inspiration comes naturally, but the quality and brightness of the Cicerone publication only enhance a walk of this magnitude, backing up the basic concept with crisp text, graphic images and a catalogue of facts, while the classic size of the book, in Alfred Wainwright tradition, is compact, light and pocket size, but still able to open effectively when put in a map case.

Tim Glenn, Strider magazine

"An essential guide for anyone contemplating this north Wales challenge"

Trail magazine

With Cicerone you’re always guaranteed the kind of detailed walking guide that brings fresh life to a trail, and this new Snowdonia Way handbook is no exception. Following a spectacular route through the national park from Machynlleth to Conwy, the 176-page guide will appeal to all Eryri-lovers.

YHA Magazine

The descriptions and depictions by the author Alex Kendall are tantamount to experiencing the highs of hiking across the Welsh Wonders of Snowdonia. As you are guided through the eyes of expert mountaineers, the realistic perspective of what to expect with detailed trails means that a large part of the planning has been done for you. Now the time has come to embrace Snowdonia’s scenic sights.

B-C-Ing U Magazine

Inside Walking the Snowdonia Way you'll find all of the necessary information to get you prepared for the walk, while it also provides detail on the mountain route, a 122-mile walk that takes in the likes of Cadair Idris, Snowdon and The Glyders.

Adventure Travel Magazine

Downloads

The Snowdonia Way - GPX File

By Alex Kendall

Alex Kendall is an international mountain leader, both in the UK and abroad, and has led overseas expeditions to various places including Svalbard, Oman and India, but always looks forward to a walk in the mountains of the UK. Alex writes infrequently for a few different online publications, and developed the Snowdonia Way, a new long-distance trail, his guidebook to which was published in 2017 by Cicerone. He enjoys walking, mountaineering and fellrunning and lives in Cumbria, in the western reaches of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

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