If you’re an avid hiker or relatively new to the world of walking, chances are Snowdon features prominently on your bucket list — but it’s high time you added this particular route to that very same list.
After a year of hiking, I finally tackled the tallest mountain in Wales, known in Welsh as Yr Wyddfa, but more widely recognised as Mount Snowdon, and discovered that we may well have chosen the best route to the top.
Admittedly, I played no part in the preparation or planning of this walk, as my partner is considerably more experienced in hiking than I am, and took on board a friend’s recommendation that we tackle the Rhyd Ddu Path.
This, I believe, is the secret to a truly rewarding experience, and one that rarely gets the attention it deserves. In the run-up to our trip to Snowdonia, TikTok and Instagram appeared to be flooded with complaints about over-tourism and congested trails — but this route may just be the exception to that rule.
Having looked into the walk since our visit, it transpires that this path is statistically the quietest of the six principal routes to the summit, which comes as no surprise whatsoever.
There is a long queue to touch the trig point (Image: Emily Malia)
The route stretches an impressive 3.75 miles each way, totalling roughly 12 km, with an elevation gain of 895 metres. It is estimated to take six to seven hours in total, though we managed to complete it in around five, with a moving time of four hours 13 minutes.
Starting at the charming Rhyd Ddu train station car park, the walk kicks off at a handy location offering approximately 60 parking spaces for £8 all day. Toilet facilities and fresh drinking water are also available before you head off.
Classified as a demanding and strenuous route, it is rated as a ‘tough mountain walk with a narrow, exposed ridge near the top’. However, tackling it on a bright, clear day significantly reduces any danger, and arguably the most challenging stretch comes in the final 30 minutes as you approach the summit.
There were very few people in sight (Image: Emily Malia)
The initial two hours to the top are considerably more manageable, and provided you go at your own pace, those with moderate fitness levels should handle this route comfortably.
From start to finish, this hike delivered some of the most breathtaking scenery imaginable. With layer upon layer of mountain peaks and lush green woodland as a backdrop — remarkable given the drought conditions the UK has endured — it was an absolute joy to stand and stare at during our water breaks.
As with any stunning landscape, photographs simply fail to capture the true magnificence of the place; these mountains demand to be witnessed in person. Combined with just how peaceful and crowd-free the trail was, every step felt entirely worthwhile.
I can’t stress enough how tranquil this was. Having tackled several of Wales’ most popular hikes, including Eyri National Park’s Cadair Idris and Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, this was undoubtedly the most serene of the lot.
That is, of course, until you reach the summit, which is home to a queue of around 50 people, a café with toilet facilities and a railway ferrying visitors up and down. That aspect felt rather dystopian, yet it still did nothing to diminish my sense of achievement, nor the breathtaking scenery that felt as though it been lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale.
The route was even quieter on the way down (Image: Emily Malia)
We were fortunate enough to tackle this route on a glorious day with virtually no wind, clear blue skies and warm sunshine, though I can only imagine how vastly different the experience might have been in harsher conditions. As opposed to wet clothes, this time I walked away with sunburn.
Should you be contemplating taking on this route, it is strongly advisable to thoroughly research the weather forecast and honestly assess your own capabilities beforehand. I have completed far simpler walks that can quickly turn treacherous once strong winds and driving rain take hold.