Best walks in Snowdonia
Packed with great mountain climbs, idyllic river walks, lakeside rambles and coastal hikes, Snowdonia National Park is the perfect getaway location for hiking – our pick of the best walks in Snowdonia
Snowdonia National Park covers 823 square miles of north-west Wales and contains the country’s highest peak, Snowdon.
The region, designated as a national park in 1951, was sculpted by glaciers, leaving behind a spectacular landscape of craggy mountains and hills, deep valleys and over 100 lakes.
There are numerous ways to explore the park – mountain biking routes, driving tours and even by canoe – but for a truly immersive experience, why not take on one of Snowdonia’s best walks? Here’s our list of some of the most inspiring, from a classic Snowdon ascent to a less-gruelling riverside amble along the Afon Artro.
1. Rhosgadfan, Gwynedd
Enjoy this nine-mile mountain walk through open hills and slate quarries in the Snowdonia National Park. Map and route.
2. Yr Eifl, Llyn Peninsula, Gwynedd
A three-hour loop walk above the verdant valleys of the Llyn Peninsula and on to the crown of Yr Eifl with views of the Menai Strait. Map and route.
3. Mawddach Estuary, Gwynedd
Savour the beautiful scenery on this 10-mile walk to the stunning Cregennen Lakes in the foothills of Cader Idris in Snowdonia National Park. Route and map.
4. Llanbedr Woods, Gwynedd
Pass through this ancient woodland teeming with wildlife in north-west Wales. This walk is especially glorious in late summer and autumn when the woods are filled with colour and foraging creatures. Map and route.
5. Snowdon, Gwynedd
Take on the peaks and crags of Snowdon and immerse yourself in what is one of the wildest places in Wales with this seven-mile mountain walk. Map and route.
6. Llyn Tegid, Gwynedd
Known in English as Lake Bala, Llyn Tegid is the largest natural lake in Wales – explore its banks and surrounding forests in the east of Snowdonia National Park with this 8.5-mile hike. Map and route.
7. Gwydir Castle, Llanrwst, Conwy
8. Aber Falls, Gwynedd
Admire Aber Falls and discover the surrounding history and wildlife on this dramatic valley walk through the north-west fringes of Snowdonia National Park. Route and map.
9. Pen-y-Gwryd, Gwynedd
Follow in the footsteps of Hillary and Tenzing as they prepared to summit Mount Everest with a stay in their Snowdonia basecamp and a walk in the foothills of one of Britain’s best-loved peaks. Map and route.
10. Coed y Brenin, Gwynedd
11. Harlech to Llandecwyn, Gwynedd
From the cylindrical towers of a 13th-century castle, ascend into the Snowdonia mountains to follow a prehistoric trackway to an extraordinary Bronze Age cairn. Route and map.
Main image ©Getty
