Watkin Path: My Guide
Snowdon’s gem
Published By: Daniel Weadley. Published: 22nd April 2024. Filed at: Hiking Routes. Disclosure: I earn commission from purchases made via links. Comments are open.
Page Contents:
I’ve climbed Snowdon via the Watkin Path more times than I can remember and it’s one of my favourite routes as it has a bit of everything:
- A lovely start through an ancient woodland.
- The famous Watkin Path pools and water cascades.
- Treks past abandoned slate mining buildings.
- A challenging upper section.
- Various options for continuation or descent.
- Quieter than the Llanberis, Pyg and Miner routes.
- Wonderful views from and around Snowdon.
This is my ultimate guide to the Watkin Path.
Never been up the Watkin Path before?
I’ve published two videos that show the route:
Watch The Videos:
Snowdon and the Watkin Path during a cloud inversion:
Video 2:
A quick look at the difficult section on the Watkin Path:
My Favourite Scrambling Footwear:
Route Profile
Length: 8 miles/13km there and back.
Ascent: 1015m.
Time: 5-7hr there and back.
Grade: Hard mountain walk. The Watkin Path is one of the harder routes up Snowdon.
Start/End: Pont Bethania Car Park – What3Words: https://what3words.com/vocab.proudest.self or LL55 4NR (within 100m)
Hazards: Steep upper section over loose scree. Getting lost on the upper section during fog.
Parking: Pay and Display car park (30 cars). The layby near the cafe is free, but don’t park directly opposite the cafe or houses as this is parking for residents.
Facilities: Toilet block in car park. The summit cafe has a shop and toilets but is closed out of season and during bad/windy weather.
Camping: The nearest campsite is Hafod y Llan. Also; Llyn Gwnant is within walking distance.
Route Rating: 9/10.
Map (click to expand)
The Watkin Path’s Three Sections
The Watkin Path can be split into three sections:
- The woodland, waterfalls and pools and the abandoned buildings.
- The midsection that rises from the valley to a ridge just below Snowdon.
- The final steeper section on loose scree and the last couple of hundred metres to the summit.
I Never Go Out Without a Lightweight Packable Jacket:
Section 1: Woodland, Waterfalls and Abandoned Buildings/ruins
From the car park, head over the main road to the start of the route which is well marked.
This initial path takes you through a delightful wooded area and exits near the famous Watkin Path pools and cascades. This is a popular place for a picnic in the summer and I’ve visited this lower part several times just to relax by the water.
Above the cascades and pools, the ground levels off and there are several more ruins from a past era.
The start is next to the main road, opposite the car park
The famous pools and cascades – perfect for a summer picnic
Ruins of abandoned slate mining buildings
The final ruin, the path steepens from here up to the ridge between the peaks of Snowdon and Y Lliwedd
These Are Perfect for General Hiking:
Section 2: Up to the Ridge
This section takes you from the final ruin near the huge pile of slate in the valley, up to the ridge between Snowdon and the neighbouring peak of Y Lliwedd.
The path is steeper than the earlier section but most fit people and active dogs should be able to complete it in good weather without too much difficulty.
I’ve always found this section of the route fairly easy to follow as the rocks are well worn from the many visitors who come up this way every year.
The path rises above the valley
Most of the path looks like this in section 2
Nearing the ridge (R) as Snowdon comes into view (C)
The ridge viewed from the other side. Y Lliwedd is to the left and Snowdon to the right.
Snowdonia Hiking Guidebook:
Section 3: The Scree Slope to the Summit
This section is the steepest and I have met about a dozen people over the years who have turned back at this point. It’s notoriously challenging and dangerous in icy conditions where micro spikes or crampons are a must.
Section 3 starts at the foot of the scree slope and is marked with a stone.
At first there are plenty of loose stones to navigate and then one large rock that you may need to use your hands to pull yourself around.
Beyond this, the path loses its identity for about 50 metres or so and can be quite hard to follow (esp in bad weather – see my video here) but eventually, it joins with a recently constructed slab path, about three-quarters up.
The final section of the Watkin Path
Marker stone with the scree slope in the background
The diagonal path at the top of the Watkin route
I Use This Water Filter Bottle
The Final Push to the Summit
The Watkin Path ends on the ridge near the top of the Rhyd Ddu Path and the summit is a 10-minute walk away.
The end of the Watkin Path (joins with Rhyd Ddu Path)
The Summit of Snowdon with the Rhyd Ddu path and the South Ridge in the background
Continuation
So you’ve made it to the top, had your lunch and now it’s time to descend.
Here are your best options, I’ve tried all of these but my usual route is up the Watkin Path and down the South Ridge.
- Back down the Watkin Path (quite a challenge in icy conditions and even in the dry, loose stones can be problematic in descent).
- Down the South Ridge (this joins the Watkin Path near the pools).
- Rhyd Ddu Path (get the bus back, possibly changing buses at Beddgelert).
- Pyg Track/Miners Track to Pen y Pass and get the bus back.
My preferred option for descent is the South Ridge and below you’ll see a few photos from my most recent trip and a map:
Map showing Watkin Path up and South Ridge descent
The South Ridge is my preferred descent route
Heading down towards the South Ridge
Descending the South Ridge with sunset approaching
The Watkin Path is visible to the left and directly ahead the path ends near the pools and cascades, completing this circular route
Tips
This route is potentially dangerous in winter due to ice on the rocky section and is best avoided. If you do intend to try it, I suggest wearing micro-spikes or crampons.
The most difficult part of this route is section three where the path loses its identity for 50m or so and can be hard to follow in poor weather. The route is diagonal and I suggest looking at satellite imagery before you set off so you can get an idea of the rough direction the path takes you.
The Watkin Path is slightly more hazardous in descent due to loose rocks and scree, hence why I suggest you consider the South Ridge for descent
I don’t recommend this route for dog walkers or those with several young children. The Llanberis Path, Pyg Track and Ranger Path are more suitable.
Related Content
Nearby Scrambles:
- The Snowdon Horseshoe (grade 1)
- Tregalan Couloir (grade 2)
About Daniel Weadley
This guide to the Watkin Path was created by Daniel Weadley, aka The Bald Scrambler.
From walking along beaches and kayaking down rivers to making his way up mountains and even jumping out of planes, Daniel has a love of the outdoors, but scrambling is his real passion.
Daniel Weadley aka The Bald Scrambler
1 Comment
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Have fun, keep safe. Hopefully I’ll see you on the mountains one day
By The Bald Scrambler
Hi Dan – just watched your video on the top of the Watkins route. Thank you. Really helpful. After doing the Becons this year, my son and I planning on taking on Snowdon next year. And this helps a lot in choosing the route. We want to challenge ourselves. But also don’t want to end up needing help to get off the mountain.
I wanted to gauge where this sits in terms of difficulty.
We walked from Pencelli – up Fan y Big, along the ridge to Pen y Fan to the car park. Would you say this route is harder? And if so in what way? More physical or just harder to navigate?