If you don’t do anything, you don’t do anything. Kind of obvious but I was tired of doing the same thing every day every weekend and not really feeling fulfilled or satisfied with the way things were.
My go-to place was a café, with laptop and attempted to get things done, research things, feel busy, make my millions. None of things were happening, so I needed a change.
Table of Contents
Earlier In The Week
I now had a Whiteboard with a list of hikes I found on the MS-Society and MS-Trust websites. Each year they organise sponsored events to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis and their charities. And it was from this list that I got to thinking about Hiking Snowdon this articular weekend.
The list looks something like this:
- Ben Nevis (including Night Time) : 7 – 9th July 2023
- 10 in 10
- Peak District (Ultra)
- Lake District
- Snowdon (including at Night) 5 – 6th August 2023
- Three Peaks Challenge
- West Highland Way
- North Coast 500
- Kilimanjaro
The North Coast 500 (Scotland’s Route 66) is typically cycled and not hiked, but there are many more challenges available.
Groundhog Brain
Do you have discussions with yourself, go round in circles for a while and then let the brain win? This blog project that you are reading (yes thousands of you – haha! don’t forget to subscribe!) wasn’t really going anywhere as, I, wasn’t going anywhere. My brain, possibly like your brain, starts questioning:
- “How long will it take to get there?”
- “Can I afford to do this?”
- “I can’t stay for too long because of the classes… It’s not worth it,”
- “What if I can’t get parked?”
- “What if I break down?”
You get the idea. You unconvinced yourself from doing what you set out or wanted to do. The brain gets uncomfortable, inconvenienced by going away on a trip. Left to its own devices, the brain would prefer the comfort of doing the same things, day-in/day-out. Which in my case, would be going to the café, with the laptop, drinking a coffee, and trying to write content – without content.
I needed a plan – a cunning plan!
The Cunning Plan
After some toing and froing, a few mental slaps and self chat, the brain and I agreed to get away. Not necessarily hiking Snowdon (yes, hiking Snowdon, shhhh), but it was there as an option:
- Decided I am Hiking Snowdon,
- Decided I will train a Taekwon-Do school International Taekwondo Council on-route,
- Booked Hotel,
- Checked Weather,
- Packed Bag,
- Went to bed.
This wasn’t great planning, after all, I had no idea where I would park before the hike nor the route I was going to take. This last one (route) was a bit of an error! But I am here to tell the tale.
I’ve booked the hotel, there’s a partial refund if I bale out, but I’m going!
Maenan Abbey Hotel
The Maenan Abbey Hotel is about 35 minutes from Snowdon on the A470 (Llanrwst Road) near Maenan, Llanrwst LL26 0UL.
The charming Maenan Abbey is full of character and is Privately owned and run.
As soon as you enter our grand entrance hall with its galleried landing and blazing log fire in winter you will feel immediately at home.
Our individually designe14 bedrooms were all recently updated. There are Four Poster rooms with Jacuzzis, two bedroom family suites, one single room and a flexible mixture of double and twin rooms.
History of Maenan Abbey
Maenan Abbey’s history dates back to 1277 when King Edward I, in his effort to strengthen his hold on North Wales after defeating Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, began building a chain of castles along the Coast, starting with Conwy Castle in 1283. However, there was a problem at the chosen site as there was already a monastery there. To resolve the issue, the King decided to relocate the monks of Aberconwy to a new site, which was Maenan. The King purchased the land and compensated the monks with £40 and building materials to construct their new Abbey.
The Abbey grew in power and, at one point, was known to own over 38,000 acres. It was also a burial site for the princes of Gwynedd, with Llewellyn the Great himself buried there.
Unfortunately, the Abbey’s existence was short-lived as Henry VIII dissolved it in March 1537. The materials from the Abbey were used to repair the walls of Caernarfon Castle, while the remaining stone, timber, lead, slates, and glass were sold to the gentry who were building mansions along the Conwy Valley. During this time, the remains of Llewellyn disappeared, with only the bottom half of his stone sarcophagus being recovered from the river in Llanrwst. It is now located in the local church of St Crwst.
In 1599, the land passed to the Wynne family, who built a house below the north wing of the current house. The present structure, constructed of local granite, was built between 1851 and 1854 by the Elias family, who lived there for much of the 19th century.
My Stay At The Maenan Abbey Hotel
The place looked a bit Grand for (the old) me, but as the shampoo advert goes “I’m Worth It!”
The one and only issue I had with the place was the squeaky ceiling – the room above had a squeaky floor and the residents were up late and got up early – or their dog/child did. Yes Dogs are allowed.
The hotel was busy the night I arrived but the following night (Sunday) I was the only resident! The busy season starts in March and this became apparent on the Monday when I went to visit some local attractions.
Parking for Hiking Snowdon
There are many places to park, some you need to pay for, some Park and Ride and some free. But the first thing to do is decide the route you are going to take on Snowdon. And I should have done that before I set off.
Top 10 parking places for hiking Mount Snowdon in Wales
- Snowdon Sherpa Bus – Park and Ride: The Snowdon Sherpa Bus is the most convenient park and ride service from various locations in the area, including Llanberis, Betws-y-Coed, and Caernarfon. Prices start at £2 per day for parking, and you can find more information on their website: https://www.snowdonsherpa.com/parking
- Nant Peris Car Park: Located in the village of Nant Peris, this car park is the closest to Llanberis Path, the most popular hiking route up Snowdon. It costs £4 per day to park here, and you can find more information on the Snowdonia National Park website: https://www.snowdonia.gov.wales/visiting/plan-your-visit/car-parks
- Pen-y-Pass Car Park: This car park is quite a central location for accessing multiple hiking routes up Snowdon, including the Pyg Track and the Miners’ Track. It costs £10 per day to park here, and you can find more information on the Snowdonia National Park website: https://www.snowdonia.gov.wales/visiting/plan-your-visit/car-parks
- Llanberis Car Park: Located in the village of Llanberis, this car park is convenient if you are starting the hike up Snowdon from the village. It costs £5 per day to park here, and you can find more information on the Snowdonia National Park website: https://www.snowdonia.gov.wales/visiting/plan-your-visit/car-parks
- Rhyd Ddu Car Park: This car park is the starting point for the Rhyd Ddu Path up Snowdon. It costs £5 per day to park here, and you can find more information on the Snowdonia National Park website: https://www.snowdonia.gov.wales/visiting/plan-your-visit/car-parks
- Betws-y-Coed Car Park: This car park is located in the village of Betws-y-Coed and is convenient if you are starting the hike up Snowdon from the village. It costs £4 per day to park here, and you can find more information on the Snowdonia National Park website: https://www.snowdonia.gov.wales/visiting/plan-your-visit/car-parks
- Beddgelert Car Park: This car park is located in the village of Beddgelert and is convenient if you are starting the hike up Snowdon from the village. It costs £4 per day to park here, and you can find more information on the Snowdonia National Park website: https://www.snowdonia.gov.wales/visiting/plan-your-visit/car-parks
- Llyn Ogwen Car Park: This car park is located near the A5 road and is convenient if you are starting the hike up Snowdon from the east side of the mountain. It costs £5 per day to park here, and you can find more information on the Snowdonia National Park website: https://www.snowdonia.gov.wales/visiting/plan-your-visit/car-parks
- Aberglaslyn Pass Car Park: This car park is located near the village of Beddgelert and is convenient if you are starting the hike up Snowdon from the south side of the mountain. It costs £4 per day to park here, and you can find more information on the Snowdonia National Park website: https://www.snowdonia.gov.wales/visiting/plan-your-visit/car
- Pont Cae’r Gors Car Park: This car park is located near the village of Nant Gwynant and is convenient if you are starting the hike up Snowdon from the south-west side of the mountain. It costs £4 per day to park here, and you can find more information on the Snowdonia National Park website: https://www.snowdonia.gov.wales/visiting/plan-your-visit/car-parks
It’s worth noting that parking can be limited during peak times, so it’s a good idea to arrive early or consider using public transportation or a park and ride service.
Hiking Snowdon
Its a given, that whatever I plan, will be subject to change through random events or loose planning. This isn’t a bad thing (well loose/bad planning is quite a fundamental flaw – but it can lead to quite an exciting life!).
I didn’t book the parking and relied on good old fashioned luck and serendipity to carve a path for the day ahead. I didn’t manage to get a parking space at Pen-y-pass, so I carried on down the road (A4086) with many twists and turns until I stumbled upon a lay-by with a few spaces.
I was glad to get off the road too because the Bus drivers that know the road believe you should also know the road and drive faster, or get out of the way. We will leave my thoughts about those drivers there.
Snowdon planned route
Once I found a space, I was able to start looking at routes. And as usual, I landed on my feet because there was a route some 200 metres directly to my left.
A quick hop over the Afon Nant Peristhe river which runs alongside the Llanberis pass and joined the Alltrails Route called Clawdd Coch, Yr Wyddfa (Snowden), and Garnedd Ugain which would take me up to Pen-Y-Pass and back down to the car.
So this was listed as a Hard Route, but then so was Ben Vorlich and although there were a couple of steep bits, that was the benchmark for “Hard Route.” So off I went.
25 minutes in – Left Calf fatigue = Push on
It started getting quite steep and I was zig-zagging to save the muscles but the fatigue was starting to creep in on the left calf. It is the weakest side for me because of the MS. I used to have a strategy when I had to run a distance – “Get to the next lamppost” but of course there was a flaw in using this method part way up a steep hill.
Hiking became rock climbing
I wasn’t quite ready for the steepness of this route, the fatigue kicking in so early and that the hike soon became a climb; hands and feet were needed. It was exciting and challenging but my Vertigo started to re-introduce itself. People say that Crib Goch that people say is difficult, well I’m glad I didn’t go that way because I wasn’t prepared for Bwilch Coch!
I Didn’t Come this Far, To Only Come this Far!
The chatter was going on in my head and it was coming up with ways to make me go back down. Things like “You can find another route” and “What if you get stuck” or “What if you fall, it will be embarrassing if the helicopter gets called out to rescue you.”
They say that the best views come with the hardest climbs. Well it certainly was worth the climb in the end. I could easily have given up. The left leg was getting the brunt of the climb even though I was trying to take the pressure off.
Mount Snowdon Summit
Although it was a challenging experience, the views were amazing, not just from the summit, but all the way a along; well, when I was able to look of course!
A Challenging but Rewarding Experience
My first time hiking Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, was an adventure I had marked down on the list of 2023 challenges. After not much preparation, 3 days after writing the challenge list, I embarked on my first hiking trip to Snowdonia National Park.
Hiking Snowdon – The Decent
The ordeal of climbing up and over rocks was a bit much for me. It was exciting and I did manage it. But the thought of going back that way really worried me.
My sensible side took charge and I decided to descend a different route. The downside was that it was going to take me further and further away from car.
I used the Llanberis Path but even that took a diversion as I joined the railway line, hoping it would be quicker. Oh how I wander!
A Town called LLanberis – 3 miles to go?
Llanberis has a few attractions to keep visitors entertained for a while. To start with, the lakeside location at the foot of Snowdon. You could spend hours walking by the water’s edge, or take a ride on two narrow-gauge railways – the Llanberis Lake Railway and Snowdon Mountain Railway. The latter takes you almost all the way to the spectacular Hafod Eryri Visitor Centre.
In the nearby Padarn Country Park, there are plenty of other things to see and do. The National Slate Museum is an interesting place to explore and learn about Snowdonia’s industrial heritage, while Dolbadarn Castle for anyone interested in Welsh history. There’s even a replica sword from the time of the Welsh princes, ‘Llafn y Cewri’, which you can see on the banks of the lake with Dolbadarn Castle in the background.
at last, My Car, I’ve found you
From Llanberis I wasn’t hanging around. I guestimated about 3 to 5 miles to go. From the map on the app I had a few points f reference. There was a castle, a small village and a couple of lakes or reservoirs. Aches and pains were starting to creep in. Though the calf had calmed down a bit from the easy descent, it was still a bit numb and spasticity was high – I just wanted to find the car and get back to the hotel.
From Hiking Snowdon to Relaxing Jacuzzi!
I was the only guest this evening and I told them I’d eat out. This turned into Fish and Chips takeaway from Tir A Môr in Llanrwst which I took back to the hotel. The hotel was locked but after a few minutes the owner opened the door and seeing had Fish and Chips, asked if I wanted a plate, cutlery and any condiments for my supper.
Chatting with the owner, he mentioned some rooms had Jacuzzis and as there were no other guests, I managed an upgrade!!
Snowdon – The Actual Route I Took
I really enjoy using the Alltrails app but the phone I have (Xiaomi Redmi) has a knack of losing signal. Had planned things and downloaded the route, I would have been able to follow the original route.
But who cares right? The weather was amazing, the route was challenging. I made it back alive and in one piece. I pushed myself to a new limit and beat the fatigue.
Result!
Conclusion
Hiking Snowdon for the first time was a challenging but rewarding experience. Preparation, determination, and proper gear are essential to ensure a safe and enjoyable hike. The views on-route and from the summit are amazing and make the effort all worthwhile.
If you are planning your first hiking trip to Snowdon, make sure to research the route, check the weather, wear appropriate gear, and train beforehand. Follow the markers carefully, take breaks, and respect the environment. With these tips in mind, you can make the most of your first time hiking Snowdon and create some of your own memories.
Happy Hiking Wanderers!
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