Walking in Snowdonia National Park

You will need to be an active and fit person to enjoy the walks on this tour. We have tried to balance the harder walks with easier walks in between where possible.

The day before the Snowdon summit walk is the easiest walk on the tour, as it will give you a chance to simply have a more relaxing walk before you ascend Snowdon. There is a choice of routes up Snowdon, of varying difficulty.

If you do not want to summit Snowdon there is the option not to as there is plenty of other activities in the area. One suggestion would be to take the Snowdon Sherpa Bus and board the Welsh Highland Railway for a spectacular ride.

On this tour you will be walking in Snowdonia National Park and along mountain trails, wooded and lakeside routes. You can enjoy striking mountain views. Sometimes you will walk at a lower level, but at times higher up, where there could be some snow at the beginning and end of the season.

This tour is graded moderate overall, with one optional moderate-to-strenuous day for those summiting Snowdon. Within the tour individual days may vary in difficulty - some might be a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

You'll stay in handpicked B&Bs, guesthouses and, in a few places, small hotels. They're comfortable and clean, with great breakfasts and a warm welcome throughout.

It can be difficult to confirm one-night stays in Beddgelert on Fridays and Saturdays, so if you have flexibility, it's best to avoid starting your tour on a Thursday or Friday to make booking easier.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

If you're walking solo, you should take extra care in the outdoors, particularly in the mountains, and you'll need to be able to read a map and compass.

A hearty breakfast is included each morning - most guesthouses and B&Bs offer a cooked breakfast to set you up for the day. Lunch and dinner aren't included, so you're free to choose from the options along the way. Most accommodations are happy to provide a packed lunch on request, and dinner is available either at your accommodation or at nearby pubs and restaurants.

This tour can be booked between April and October. The weather in Snowdonia is cool and unpredictable at any time of year, so it's worth being prepared for changeable conditions whenever you travel. Spring and early summer are lovely for seeing the local flora and fauna, while autumn tends to be quieter on the trails than the busier summer months, though there's a higher chance of snow on the higher ground in the shoulder seasons.

Weather at altitude can change quickly and walking up Snowdon can be hazardous in poor conditions, so keep a close eye on the forecast (Mountain Forecast is a useful resource) - if the weather looks unsuitable on your scheduled Snowdon day, we'd suggest switching it with an easier walk instead.

Snowdonia is a popular destination, especially around school and bank holidays, so we recommend booking as early as you can, and avoiding weekend starts if possible as these get busiest.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

The trails on this tour vary between way-marked and unwaymarked.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Getting to the start

Betws-y-Coed is easily accessible from Chester by train via Llandudno, in approximately 1 hour 35 minutes. Chester itself is accessible from London, Manchester and Liverpool by train, so you can fly into any of the major UK airports and continue to the start by rail. Check the National Rail website for times and schedules. You can also drive, as there are 24-hour car parks in the town, costing on average around 5 pounds a day. At the end of your tour in Llanberis, a bus back to Betws-y-Coed takes approximately 40 minutes. Check the Gwynfor Coaches website for details.

Getting from the end

From your final destination, Llanberis, take a bus to Bangor, a journey of approximately an hour. From Bangor you can reach Chester by train in about 1 hour 20 minutes. If you've parked your car in Betws-y-Coed at the start of your tour, you can return there by bus in about an hour. Check the National Rail website for bus and train timetables.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport. There's also a Sherpa Bus Service operating in and around Snowdonia that can be useful if the schedule allows, and our office can offer advice on arranging transport if you need it.

If you'd prefer not to summit Snowdon, there's still plenty to do in the area - one popular alternative is to take the Snowdon Sherpa Bus and ride the Welsh Highland Railway instead.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation