Mount Snowdon – The Ranger Path

Our Mount Snowdon climb – what a fantastic adventure this was, we were rewarded with truly breathtaking and amazing views from every direction. 

MAY 2011 Update:  Sarchie has now taken 4 of the 6 routes to Snowdon Summit!  Next time he’ll do it for charity!  So he has  now done the Ranger track, Llanberis track, Pyg track, and Miners track, what a great dog, he just loves it and all the attention he gets along the way, he has even mastered ladder stiles.  We have been so lucky with the weather on all our treks up there.  We hope to do the three peaks at some point, but that definitely will be for a worthy charity.

 

Our climb up Mount Snowdon was a super walk, and what a day we picked for it.  It was the most beautiful day, clear blue skies, a really glorious sunny day.  It was so comfortable walking, but when we reached the summit, although we were in T-shirts, there were snow drifts!  The summit restaurant was closed and the train was unable to run due to the snow.  

We took a picnic, and water and treats for Sarchie, we had lots of stops on our ascent of Mount Snowdon, and WOW….. it was so worth it.  Sarchie met lots of dogs on the top who he wanted to play with, still lots of energy left over!  Big ones, small ones, all sorts.   Sarchie has been taught not to pull on his lead…..but I could have done with a pull at times up Mount Snowdon!

Of course Sarchie has had training and been fittened steadily and correctly for these walks.  A fit Weimaraner can do a lot of miles, and he loves it.  You must remember if setting off with a dog to conquer Mount Snowdon, that at the time of writing this, no dogs (Except Some Assistance Dogs) were permitted on the Mount Snowdon Trains, so whatever distance you walk up with your dog, you will have to do the same by return, so it important that the dog is capable.

Georgie climbed Mount Snowdon again with her school colleagues in late June, and it was pouring with rain and thick fog from half ay up right to the summit, so there was no view, although the restaurant and toilets were open then!

Although I have not included our own personal detailed directions for this Walk, I have included the link below which has good detail and information regarding the Ranger Path.  And,  I have to admit that the worn paths are straightforward to follow, and if all days were similar to the day we went, then you will meet walkers going up and down at regular intervals for reassurance you are heading the right direction!  Walkers we met were all ages and sizes, a great achievement for all I am sure.

Please keep your dog under control as there is livestock in these areas, and some steep slopes too!

*Click on the images below to enlarge*

This link gives excellent information regarding the Ranger Path Route:

http://www.eryri-npa.gov.uk/snowdon_ranger_path.htm

Some of our memories from that great day:

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

 

Parking: We parked in the pay and display car park almost opposite the Youth Hostel, but we got there fairly early and glad we did as it gets quite busy.

Directions to Snowdon Ranger Car Park:

By Road: On the A4085, 8 miles South of Caernarfon & 5 miles North of Beddgelert.

By Bus: Snowdon Sherpa S4 (Caernarfon to Pen-y-Pass) stops at the hostel. Connections to Bangor railway station.

By Train: Bangor 16 miles, Porthmadog 13 miles. The narrow gauge Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon – Rhyd Ddu) has a halt at the hostel.

The Ranger Path Route then starts across road as described on the link.

Public Conveniences:  There are portaloo style toilets in the car park, the next ones you will hopefully find open are in the Restaurant on the Summit!

Places to eat in the area, I have not tried them but here are a few suggestions:

The Snowdon Inn:  http://www.snowdoninn.co.uk/

Snowdonia Park: http://www.snowdonia-park.co.uk/

Mountain Top Adventure: www.snowdonrailway.co.uk/shop_and_cafe.php

The Summit refreshment area: http://www.snowdon-summit.co.uk/

Other Attractions in the area can be found via:  http://www.star-attractions.co.uk/

LLanberis is not too far away, we walked all the way around the lake, and found the Old Quarry Hospital (FREE ENTRY) on the far side.  Some of the gadgets in here will make you cringe.  More information on the Quarry Hospital can be found here:  http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/Walks/Llanberis_Lake_Walk.htm

Then a little further on is the National Slate Museum, again FREE ENTRY, dogs are allowed in most parts too.  We had a lovely lunch in the slate mine cafe here.   More information on the National Slate Museum can be found here:  www.star-attractions.co.uk/attractions/slate_museum/slate_museum.htm

Mount Snowdon – Simply Fantastic!