Things To Do

Top Attractions in Llanberis North Wales

Once you camp at Llys Derwen in the heart of Snowdonia, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to find us.

For a truly exceptional camping or caravanning experience, visit our touring park which is located centrally to all of Snowdonia’s attractions to ensure your holidays are filled with fun and excitement. This area is perfect for family holidays, exploration and adventure.

Snowdon Mountain Railway 
Go on a journey of a lifetime on a narrow gauge steam railway to the summit of the highest mountain in England and Wales and enjoy the panoramic views.

The National Slate Museum
Here you will learn about the secrets of slate and how it was quarried and split into roofing slates. This once enormous quarry employed more than 3000 people at its height before its closure in 1969. Visit the largest working Waterwheel in mainland Britain with a diameter of 15′ 5″ (15mtrs) and 5′ 3″ wide. Travel through time in a row of four quarrymen’s houses from 1861, 1901 and 1969.

• Zip World & Zip World Forest - Fastest Zip Line in the World and the Longest in Europe.
• Caernarfon Castle 
• Rib Ride Menai 
• Aber Falls Whiskey Tour 
• Penderyn Whiskey 
• Llangollen Canal
• Cemaes Bay Anglesey 
• Portmeirion
• Bodnant Garden 
• Llandudno Pier and Promenade
• Great Orme Cable Car 
• Conwy Castle 
• Surf Snowdonia 
• Welsh Mountain Zoo 

Snowdon Walking Routes

There are many scenic walks from Llys Derwen to Snowdon and to help plan your walking trips here's a few suggested routes shown on the image/link below:

Snowdon (Yr Wydffa) is the highest mountain in Wales and is located in the Snowdonia National Park. There are six main walking paths to the 1,085m summit of Snowdon, which all start from different sides of the mountain.

Snowdon Walking Routes starting points

The Llanberis Path 

The Llanberis path is the most popular of the Snowdon routes & in close proximity to Llys Derwen Caravan & Campsite.

The route starts in the village of Llanberis which has plenty of parking and amenities. The Llanberis Path is the easiest of the Snowdon routes and also the busiest.

If this is going to be your first mountain walk or you are coming with children then the Llanberis Path is the ideal route.

Route details

• Time: 5-7 hours
• Distance: 9 miles (there and back)
• Ascent: 970 metres
• Difficulty: 2/5
• Start point: Llanberis (LL55 4TY)
• Car parking:
• Map: OS OL17 Explorer
• Route description: Llanberis Path Route

 Pros and cons

• The easiest of the Snowdon routes
• Simple to follow path
• Perfect route for first timers, families and children
• Lots of car parking
• Extremely busy
• Longest route (but least steep)
• The route used by most large events

Highlights

• Views across the Glyderau and down in to the Pass of Llanberis from Clogwyn
• Anglesey and the Menai Strait on a clear day
• Enjoying a cup of tea at the Halfway House

Pyg Track and Miners Track

The Pyg Track is the classic Snowdon route.

Both the Pyg Track and Miners’ Track start at Pen-y-Pass. The routes run pretty much parallel with each other, the Miners’ Track starts lower, but both paths join at Llyn Glaslyn. Walkers normally climb Snowdon via the Pyg Track and come down on the Miners’ Track.

Parking at Pen-y-Pass is almost impossible unless you want a very early start. Pen-y-Pass is normally full by 7am on a weekend so it’s worth parking in Llanberis or Nant Peris and making good use of the Sherpa Bus.

For a more interesting day park in Llanberis, and get the Sherpa bus to Pen-y-Pass. Follow the Pyg Track to the summit and then come down the Llanberis Path, which makes a really nice linear traverse of the mountain.

Route details

• Time: 5-7 hours
• Distance: 7.3 miles (there and back)
• Ascent: 750 metres
• Difficulty: 3/5
• Start point: Pen-y-Pass (LL55 4NU)
• Map: OS OL17 Explorer
• Route description: Pyg Track Route

Pros and cons  

• The views are incredible
• Path is easy to follow
• You can descend via the Miners’ or Llanberis Path
• Can be busy especially at weekends
• Parking is impossible at Pen-y-Pass (use the Sherpa Bus or taxi from Llanberis)

 Highlights  

• Llyn Llydaw and Llyn Glaslyn (the Snowdon lakes)
• The classic view of Snowdon
• Epic views of Crib Goch and Y Lliwedd

The Snowdon Ranger Path

The Snowdon Ranger Path is the oldest of the Snowdon routes up the mountain and named after the Snowdon Ranger Inn which is the now the YHA.

In terms of ease this ranks somewhere between the Llanberis Path and the Pyg Track.

The Ranger Path is one of the easiest routes and also much quieter than the Llanberis Path. However, it doesn’t have as much parking or amenities as Llanberis which is why it is less busy.

Route details

• Time: 5-7 hours
• Distance: 8 miles (there and back)
• Ascent: 937 metres
• Difficulty: 3/5
• Start point: Llyn Cwellyn
• Car parking: Llyn Cwellyn Car Park (LL55 7YS)
• Map: OS OL17 Explorer
• Route description: Snowdon Ranger Path Route

Pros and cons

• One of the quietest routes
• Path is easy to follow and recently improved
• Views of the Nanttle Ridge, Moel Hebog and Mynydd Mawr
• Not as interesting or dramatic as the other Snowdon routes

 Highlights

• Views of the Nanttle Ridge, Moel Hebog and Mynydd Mawr
• The classic view of Snowdon

Rhyd Ddu Path 

The quietest of the Snowdon routes

If you ask someone who has walked all the Snowdon routes they will more than likely tell you that Rhyd Ddu is their favourite.

Firstly, it’s the quietest. There have been times where we have seen just a handful of people until the summit.

Secondly, the views are stunning and you get to see a different side of Snowdon.

Lastly, the Snowdon South Ridge makes this one of the best circular routes on Snowdon…if not the best.

Route details

• Time: 6-7 hours
• Distance: 7.5 miles (there and back)
• Ascent: 890 metres
• Difficulty: 3/5
• Start point: Rhyd Ddu Car Park (LL54 6TN)
• Car parking: Rhyd Ddu Car Park
• Map: OS OL17 Explorer
• Route description: Rhyd Ddu Path Route

Pros and cons

• The quietest Snowdon route on Snowdon
• Can be combined with the South Ridge for an epic circular walk
• Parking can be difficult if you arrive late in the day
• A chance to see a different side of Snowdon away from the busy routes

 Highlights

• Views of the Nanttle Ridge, Moel Hebog and Mynydd Mawr
• The classic view of Snowdon
• Epic views of Crib Goch and Y Lliwedd

The Watkin Path    

The toughest of the Snowdon routes

The great thing about the Watkin Path is that you start from almost sea level which mean you are climbing almost the full 1,085m height of Snowdon.

This is also an interesting route in terms of scenery. The walk starts through woodlands and alongside ragging waterfalls before entering the vast Cwm Llan and Cwm Tregalan.

The views from Bwlch Ciliau of Llyn Llydaw and Crib Goch are breathtaking.

Route details

• Time: 6-7 hours
• Distance: 8 miles (there and back)
• Ascent: 1,015 metres
• Difficulty: 4/5
• Start point: Across the road from the car park
• Car parking: Pay & Display in Nantgwynant (LL55 4NR)
• Map: OS OL17 Explorer
• Route description: Watkin Path Route

 Pros and cons  

• The hardest of the Snowdon routes
• Limited parking so arrive early
• The final summit section is steep and the path is awful – although it does add to the challenge – it not a nice route to descend
• The Snowdon South Ridge makes this a good circular route
• You will really feel like you have climbed Snowdon!

Highlights

• Afon Cwm Llan waterfalls
• Views of the South Ridge and Yr Aran
• The final push is tough but challenging with great views of Y Lliwedd, Crib Goch, the lakes and the distant Snowdonia summits
• South ridge as a descent option