403 Walks from Llanberris 2019

Our next walking will be on

Saturday 12th October 2019

and will be from 

Llanberris

in Snowdonia

 

Nowadays, Llanberis in Snowdonia National Park is a major tourist attraction. From the town one can catch a train up the highest mountain in England and Wales or walk along the many routes to the summit over three thousand feet high.

Nearby, the twin lakes of Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris cut through the mountain range creating the Llanberis Pass, in an area noted for its rugged beauty and scarred with numerous slate mines. Scores of visitors meet in Llanberis; it is truly an impressive place steeped in history yet still retaining an air of tranquillity.

Snowdonia Mountain Railway

Travel on Britain’s only rack and pinion railway to Hafod Eryri, the stunning new visitor centre at the Summit of Snowdon. Since 1896 people, regardless of age or fitness, have claimed the peak of Snowdon as one of their lifetime achievements.

Llanberis Railway

The Llanberis lake railway runs along the northerly shore of Llyn Padarn with the main station located in the Padarn Country Park, across the valley from the town of amidst unspoilt woodland and a range of tourist attractions related to the slate industry. ...........more

There will be three walks:

• A Walk led by; Peter Hitchcock
• B Walk led by; Mark Stanford
• C Walk led by; Patrick Parkes

Details will be added as they become available but by Saturday 5th October

A Walk from Llanberris 2019

Walk Leader: Peter Hitchcock
Total Distance: 10-11 Miles
Total Ascent/Descent: 3400ft

The treat today is to view Snowdon from as near to the summit as possible as much of our success depends on our arrival time at Llanberis.  To climb right to the summit and back is overly ambitious given our normal timescales so, the principle aim is to reach a walk junction called ‘Bwlch Glas’ which – to all intents and purposes – is the top.  [Actual summit is another 20mins climb].  This decision will save us over half-an-hour which could be invaluable.

If we arrive at Llanberis late, or if the weather is bad or our pace slow over the first 2 hrs, then we shall adopt Plan B (on the map), a 10-miler which remains demanding and will reward you with superb views nevertheless.  Most importantly, I want the day to be enjoyable and not akin to a “RM yomp”; hence, the dual options.

We leave Llanberis to the West via a lovely woodland nook trail up to moorland to then join a good hard track that winds south up a scenic valley to join the Snowdon Ranger trail.  The valley path is a steady, gentle uphill climb but the Ranger path is where the work really starts for 1:30 hrs of hard going to Bwlch Glas.  This section is a challenge – at least equal to the Old Man of Coniston but longer; after all, it is Snowdon!  We shall probably descend from this point down along the ‘main drag’ by the cog railway which is great fun to see. This is a tricky descent on stone and slate so sticks would be a godsend.  We shall tread carefully.  As befitting an ‘A’ walk, this will be an endurance 11-miler but “do-able” with amazing views given fair weather.  Do bring along plenty of water AND  a woolly hat and gloves as the winds can be unexpectedly monstrously fierce and cold.

If we adopt Plan B, we shall turn around at the top of the Maesgwm valley (just before the Snowdon Ranger track) but, at this spot the side profile of Snowdon is fantastic if we are able to see it.  Backtracking for a while, we then cross the valley eastwards till we hit the mountain railway track and the Llanberis path and my inclination then is to walk up to the halfway house to award you further experiences of Snowdons’mid-rift’!  Returning down the path again, we shall peel away from the crowds east towards Llyn Peris and walk back to the town a little way on the main road but then detour via the remains of Dolbarden Castle, built originally by Llewllyn the Great in the early 13^th century.

 

 

B Walk from Llanberris 2019

Walk Leader: Mark Stanford
Total Distance:  8 miles
Total Ascent/Descent: 2500ft

An old favourite on the B Party roster, this walk was borrowed by the A party on our last visit to Llanberis. At 8 miles it offers a good stretch with some fantastic views, and we get to bag a bona fide Moel: Moel Eilio, which stands at 2382 ft along with smaller cousins on the ridge, Foel-gron and Foel-goch. In the main we will be following clear easy footpaths with a stiff ascent at the beginning, so we’ll take plenty of puff stops.

We head south west out of Llamberis, quickly climbing before we’ve left the conurbation, following a tarmacked track leading us to Bryn Mawr, the northern ridge of Moel Eilio. After a couple of false summits we’ll make the top where there is an impressive shelter, here we stop for lunch once we’ve got our breath back. Those tempted to berate the walk leader for the amount of effort required  would do well to remember that the A party have a further 1200ft of toil to go before reaching their summit. If the sun is out, then what follows is well worth the effort with panoramic views all round as we follow the ridge (requiring a little more effort). The contours drop quickly from Foel-goch leading to the well made gentle bridleway which will return us to Llanberis with views of the railway and Llanberis path to Snowden.

 

C Walk from Llanberris 2019

Walk Leader: Patrick Parkes
Total Distance: 5.7mls app
Total ascent/descent: 750 ft

Our scenic walk takes us around the lake at Llanberris.

The distance will be approx. 5.7 miles, mostly on well made paths or tracks though for a short period the path rises and falls through a rocky area.

From the car park we follow the path along the lake to the terminus of the LLanberris Lakeside narrow gauge railway. From there we cross over a river to the other side of the lake climbing some steps and then following a more basic path which rises then falls through trees.

We should enjoy excellent elevated views of the Lake. After this gradual climb the rest of the walk is either downhill or flat.

After crossing another bridge we return to the coach park walking alongside the lake bank.