Snowdon, in Snowdonia National Park, is Wales's highest mountain at 1,085 metres, the same height as Table Mountain in South Africa.  The Welsh call it Yr Wyddfa.   The English call it Snowdon, as in snow hill, even though there's significantly less snow there than there used to be. 

As the highest mountain in Wales it's on the route of the Three Peaks Challenge.  The first recorded ascent was in 1639 by a botanist, but it's more than likely that he wasn't the first and that earlier ascents just went unrecorded. 

Snowdon gets a lot of rain, and the weather can turn very quickly, so don't take summit-ing this mountain lightly.  There are a number of routes to the top, starting on all sides, some involving rock climbing, and one circular route.  If you don't fancy the hike there's the Snowdon Mountain Railway running from Llanberis to the top – where there's a cafe.  But on a clear day you're treated to some extensive views over Ireland, Scotland and England – someone has counted them and apparently you can see 29 lakes.  Etched into the cafe, opened in June 2009, is the couplet: "Copa'r Wyddfa : yr ydych chwi yma, yn nes at y nefoedd." "The summit of Snowdon: you are here, nearer to Heaven."

Written by  Emilie Stokes.

Add comment

Comments, reviews and questions

There are no posts. Why not be the first to have your say?

Add a comment, review or question

Make a comment Ask a question Write a review

Review title

Your comment

Your rating

Choose rating... Don't go Go Must go

Your name

Your email address