Neil Pirie

Snowdon
Expedition 2013

Our Pirie Family Website


Welcome to my Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Expedition page.

On 23 June 2013, after participating in the Stone St. Michael's 10k road race, I headed off into North Wales. Having bagged Ben Nevis last year, it seemed like a good idea to bag Snowdon Next.

After briefly considering the various routes to the summit, I settled on the Watkin Path, indicated by the Snowdonia National Park Authority as 'thought to be one of the most hard going paths up Snowdon, as it starts only a little above sea level'.

I'd chosen Llyn Gwynant Campsite in the valley of Nant Gwynant for its surroundings, good facilities and proximity to the start of the Watkin Path. As I arrived in the valley, low rain clouds had just passed and the sky was starting to lighten again, so it was a good time to pitch the tent.

The Met. Office forecast for Snowdonia indicated that the weather would improve for the next day (Monday), although there was likely to be limited visibility on the summit, and would further improve for Tuesday. So Tuesday would be a better day for the ascent.

On Monday, I drove up out of Nant Gwynant for a trip to Betws-y-Coed.

The sky above the campsite on Tuesday morning was clear, so it was off down to Bethania for the start of the Watkin Path and the ascent of Snowdon.

For most of the ascent, the summit of Snowdon was shrouded in cloud, but for the final sections of the ascent the cloud cleared, allowing good and then excellent visibility from the Snowdon summit.

It had been quite tricky to see the path during the steepest parts of the ascent, particularly zig-zag section, but for the descent the Watkin Path was clearly visible below and offered new perspectives on the landscape.

Afterwards, refreshments and an excellent steak and ale pie at the Tanronnen Inn in Beddgelert were most welcome.

So, that's Ben Nevis and now Snowdon bagged. Scafell Pike next!


Llyn Gwynant Campsite

Llyn Gwynant Gallt y Wenallt (619m) looming over my little green tent

360° panorama at Llyn Gwynant Campsite
360° panorama at Llyn Gwynant Campsite

Click to open this panorama in a new window

Note: swipe the image left or right to rotate the view


360° panorama from the Nant Gwynant viewpoint
360° panorama from the Nant Gwynant viewpoint

Click to open this panorama in a new window

Note: swipe the image left or right to rotate the view


Up arrow

Views from the Nant Gwynant viewpoint on the A498

Looking down the valley to Llyn Gwynant Visitor information at the Nant Gwynant viewpoint Cwm Dyli hydro-electric power station in the valley below Looking up the valley to Moel Berfdd

Up arrow

Some views around Betws-y-Coed

The River Llugwy near Pont-y-Pair The suspension footbridge over the River Conwy Reflection on the River Conwy View through the trees from the A5 near Betws-y-Coed

Up arrow


The Watkin Path and the ascent of Snowdon

View from Pont Bethania car park toward Snowdon shrouded in cloud The start of the Watkin Path at Bethania A sylvan scene on the Watkin Path

Up arrow

Llyn Gwynant from the Watkin Path Waterfalls on the River Cwm Llan Y Lliwedd (898m) and the waterfalls on the River Cwm Llan

Up arrow

View back down to Nant Gwynant Approaching Gladstone Rock The plaque on Gladstone Rock commemorating the opening of the path to the summit

Up arrow

The path above the old works of the South Snowdon Slate Quarry Yr Aran (747m) and the old works of the South Snowdon Slate Quarry The path up to Bwlch Ciliau, the ridge between Snowdon and Y Lliwedd

Up arrow

The cloud clears briefly from the Snowdon summit Llyn Llydaw seen from Bwlch Ciliau Llyn Llydaw and Carnedd y Cribau (591m)

Up arrow

The path gets steep with lots of loose rock The standing stone at the top of Bwlch Main and the path to the summit

The summit of Snowdon

Approaching the summit: the train of the Snowdon Mountain Railway approaches its destination

Up arrow

Approaching the summit: Hafod Eryri, the Summit Visitor Centre The Snowdon summit (1085m), cairn and and triangulation station Pirie on the Snowdon summit (1085m)

Up arrow

Innis & Gunn Original on the Snowdon summit (1085m) Looking down the Snowdon Mountain Railway toward Llanberis and Llyn Padarn The Pyg Track, the Miners' Track, Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw

Up arrow

Y Lliwedd (898m) Yr Aran (747m) and Cardigan Bay on the right horizon Mynydd Mawr (698m), Llyn Cwellyn and Moel Eilio (726m)

Up arrow

Yr Aran (747m) and Cardigan Bay on the right horizon The World at my Feet Mynydd Mawr (698m), Llyn Cwellyn and Moel Eilio (726m)

Up arrow

The descent

Y Lliwedd (898m) and the Watkin Path ahead Zig-zagging down the steep slope to Bwlch Ciliau Bwlch Ciliau and Y Lliwedd (898m)

Up arrow

Cwm Tregalan and Yr Aran (747m) A clear view of Snowdon (1085m) A close up of the steep section of the Watkin Path

Up arrow

The quarrymen's barracks and old works of the South Snowdon Slate Quarry Cotton Grass in Cwm Llan

360° panorama from the Snowdon summit
360° panorama from the Snowdon summit

Click to open this panorama in a new window

Note: swipe the image left or right to rotate the view



Up arrow

This page was last updated on 2 February 2020.

Valid CSS!