Mountain Walks for Novice Walkers

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How to get to Snowdon and where to stay

Snowdon by Rail

Travelling from London to Snowdonia by train

To travel to Snowdon from London the train takes you into the heart of Snowdonia. A train from London Euston, changing at Chester and Llandudno Junction takes just under 4 hours. This train takes you to Betws-y-Coed which is a very pretty little town right in the heart of Snowdonia. Betws-y-Coed is an ideal place to stay with a range of hotels, guest houses and bed and breaksfasts to suit every pocket, and many eating places. There are camping and walking shops here so you can pick up any items you may have forgotten before you set out on your walk.

The Sherpa Bus passes through Betws-y-Coed and takes you to a number of points where you can start the walks up Snowdon.

You can also get to Porthmadog by train from Euston, but it is a six hour journey.

Travelling from Manchester to Snowdonia by train

Trains to Snowdonia (Betws-y-Coed) from Manchester take 3 hours.

Timetable information and fares can be obtained from the TrainLine. Use this link for more details:

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WHERE TO STAY NEAR MOUNT SNOWDON

Snowdonia is a great place to stay with many attractions to visit. Most can be reached by public transport. The main places to stay that are also served by the Sherpa Bus are:

Caernarfon

- a town with an impressive not to be missed castle. Take a walk around the town walls with views across the Menai Straits. A good place to stay with a vast selection of hotels and guesthouses.

Llanberis

- As well as being the starting point for the Mount Snowdon Railway, Llanberis also has the attractions of a slate mine and lakeside railway.

Bethesda

- a quiet little town with a mining history and dramatic scenery around.

Llanryst

- situated at the edge of Snowdonia Llanryst is a historic market town.

Capel Curig

- Resting in the foothills Capel Curig is a pleasant place to stay.

Pen-y-Gwryd

- close to the foot of Snowdon and home to the historic Pen-Y Gwryd Hotel. In 1953 the British Everest Team stayed here whilst training.

Beddegelert

- A pretty place to stay with campsites, hotels and restaurants

Betws-y coed

- A bustling little town where you can stay, eat and top up on your camping and walking supplies

See the map below for the main places to stay and see their position in relation to Mount Snowdon.

Travelling by Air

Manchester is the most convenient airport for Mount Snowdon, and from there the train takes just three hours into the heart of the Snowdonia National Park.

Travelling to Snowdon by Road

From London and the South East the easiest way to get to the Snowdonia National Park is via the M1, M6 and then the A5. The A5 will take you all the way to Betws-y-Coed which is a good base for a holiday in North Wales. Travelling around Snowdonia is fairly easy on the main roads, but there are few dual carriageways so allow extra time for your journey.

Once away from the A roads, roads leading into the mountains can be very steep, and of gradients 1 in 3. See the map below for travelling around North Wales and the Snowdonia National Park.

Car Parking in Snowdonia

It's not easy to park your car in Snowdonia, and often convenient car parks at the foot of the walks are full quite early in the day in high season. The Sherpa bus is a convenient way to travel around to start your walk.

Travelling to Snowdonia

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