Story
The story of Snowdon
At 1,085 metres, Snowdon – in Welsh, Yr Wyddfa – is the highest mountain in Wales, and the highest in the British Isles outside the Scottish Highlands. Its rocks were created by volcanoes in the Ordovician period, and glaciers later sculpted them into a sharp pyramid-shaped peak with knife-edge ridges such as Crib Goch. It has been called the busiest mountain in the United Kingdom: in 2022 it was climbed by 543,541 walkers.
There are six main paths to the summit, the most popular starting from the village of Llanberis to the north, and you can also ride up on the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Several lakes lie on its slopes; the largest, Llyn Llydaw, sits on the eastern side. The mountain is a national nature reserve because of its rare plants and animals.
The weather up here can change fast, so wear good boots and warm layers, check the forecast, and on a clear day enjoy the view from the summit.
This story is compiled from Wikipedia and other open sources; dates and numbers are checked against the source. The text is shared under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Source ↗
Hear this story on the spot, in a natural voice
On Sightlore, the story of Snowdon is narrated in a natural voice in 5 languages. When you arrive, say "I'm here" and get your passport stamp.
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More highlights in Gwynedd
- Harlech CastleHarlech Castle in Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales, is a Grade I listed medieval fortification built onto a rocky knoll close to the Irish Sea.
- Dolbadarn CastleDolbadarn Castle is a fortification built by the Welsh prince Llywelyn the Great during the early 13th century, at the base of the Llanberis Pass, in northern Wales.
- Caernarfon CastleCaernarfon Castle is a medieval fortress in Gwynedd, north-west Wales.
- National Slate MuseumThe National Slate Museum (previously known as the Welsh Slate Museum and the North Wales Quarrying Museum) is located at Gilfach Ddu, the 19th-century workshops of the now disused Dinorwic quarry, within the Padarn Country Park, Llanberis, Gwynedd.
- PortmeirionPortmeirion is a colourful tourist village in the style of an Italian village, designed by Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 on a hillside above the Dwyryd estuary.
- Snowdon Mountain RailwayThe Snowdon Mountain Railway is a narrow gauge rack-and-pinion mountain railway in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It is a tourist railway that travels for 4.7 miles (7.6 km) from Llanberis to the summit of Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales.