Whats the crack with parking near the bottom of the pyg/miners
I was told i need to book but then i cannot find out how to book.
If i cannot book what time would i need to turn up to the car park to guarantee a space?
thanks
The carpark at Pen-Y-Pas is only small, out of season you need to be there before 7:30 - 8:00 to get a spot. Day parking is £10. It has toilets, cafe, and rubbish bins. Both the Miners and Pyg set off from here so you can do a circular.
They introduced pre book parking last year when it was busy - the cost was IIRC £18 or £24 cant remember. I only go in the winter months.
There is a park and ride a few mile back towards Llanberis which is £5 per day and the Sherpa bus that runs a regular circular route that stops off at Pen-Y-Pas.
There is a bit of roadside parking just down from Pen-Y-Pas but the road is a derestricted fast road with no pavements so walking along it is dangerous and to be avoided.
If it's the same carpark then it's not that big so given Snowdon's popularity then as early as you're willing really. Plenty park on nearby roads but I'm not sure if it's still allowed. Alternatively you can park in the lay-bys near Ogwens Cottage and climb one of the nearby peaks.
+1 for the shuttle bus up to Pen-y-Pass, skip up the PyG track then back down the Llanberis path, taking care to pause for the view back to Clogwyn Du'r Arddu, to Wern and back along the road to your car via the Vaynol Arms.
We are staying at Llyn Gwynant Campsite if that helps
Probably going to add a few more miles walking I guess if we go from there and with a couple of 5 year olds there could be tears.
Is the shuttle dog friendly do you know?
I've only done it when I was staying at the YHA overnight (yes, £60 a night! Thank you!) and I did that through the app on my phone. I think if you want to turn up without having booked you're playing roulette, even if you got there early. The shutttle service or park in Capel Currig and get a taxi is a much safer option.
How does one book though? I figure booking was a seasonal thing?
How does one book though? I figure booking was a seasonal thing?
Here: (enter 'Pen Y Pas' as the location)
Is the shuttle dog friendly do you know?
Shuttle bus was dog friendly when we used it a couple of years ago.
yep doggo friendly.
I don't have children personally but I'm not sure about 5year olds being happy up there?
There's a little bit of scrambling from the 2nd lake up towards the PYG path junction then there's a lot of rock about the place.
The Llanberis path is easy but mind numbing long and boring.
It only seems to find the one near Nant Peris. Is that the right one?
I love snowdon, but have avoided like the plague for the last few years!!
As has been said, get the Sherpa from Llanberis - it works brilliantly and needs to be used more.
I've also stayed at Llyn Gwynant a lot; don't underestimate how much it would add to a walk up snowdon if you walk from the campsite to Pen Y Pass. With kids it'll add a minimum of... I dunno. but it's longer than it looks - in length it'll roughly double the length of the walk. For context, most people do Pyg/miners in around 6 hours, for me & the wife we can (walk) it in 3-3.5 including a rest at the top.
We've done some lovely circular walks from Llyn Gwynant - hint - cross the main road...
There's some pay and display parking around the Pen Y Gwryd hotel (where the Llanberis pass road joins the A498). There is an easy & safe path from there (just S of the junction) up to Pen Y Pass so you don't need to walk on the main road.
It will fill up quickly. *ALL* the rest of the roads around there have been yellow lined and you are extremely likely to get ticketed / towed if you park on them - lots of coverage in the local press.
It isn't clear to me whether Pen Y Pass is now pre-booking at all times (like last year), or only "when busy" as reported earlier this year:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-60089285
Perfectly possible to start at Llyn Gwynant, but I wouldn't do it with small kids! It's a fair way/climb.
The bus *did* used to stop at the entrance to Gwynant campsite, but that was a few years ago and the company running it has changed (following fraud, etc.) so I don't know what the current status is. It would be my preferred choice with kids, but check the time of the last bus down - from memory it was surprisingly early & inconvenient.
From Llyn Gwynant the obvious route up is the Watkin Path which is very nice.
The Snowdon Sherpa passes your campsite on the way to Pen-y-Pass though.
We parked down the hill and hitched a lift up.
Second car picked us up.
IMO, there's nicer hills to walk without the queues and mayhem in North Wales.
Do you have to do Snowdon?
^^^ what he said. My secret pleasure is Cnicht. Glyders are a decent shout too.
My secret pleasure is Cnicht. Glyders are a decent shout too.
On the subject of outing your own secrets, mine is a circuit around Marchlyn Mawr NE of Llanberis taking in Carnedd y Filiast and Mynydd Perfedd. Easy to park, not crowded. On a clear day the views down towards Ogwen and over to Snowdon are fabulous. It's a favourite winter walk when the snow is thick.
You know your five-year-olds better than us, but a less-committing route up from Llyn Ogwen might be an option?
Y Garn is very nice IIRC.
