Snowdonia Way is 97 miles long (156 km) and takes you through the beautiful mountains of North Wales, which covers the entire National Park.

The trek starts in south Wales in the small town of Machynlleth and finishes in the north of Wales in the town of Conwy.

While walking, you’ll pass two of the great rivers of Wales that separate the eastern and southern edges of the area. Of course, we’re talking about the Conwy and the Dyfi.

You can split the walk into two main sections, the southern and northern sections, and one of them is a lot harder than the other.

You’ll start in the south, which is generally the easier section of the hike. During this part of the hike, you’ll be walking through hillside paths, gorgeous valleys, roads, and forests.

As you reach the northern section, you’ll start to notice an increase in steep ascents and descents, which makes the hike more challenging. The route avoids the major peaks, so you can simply stare up and take in the beautiful views.

Of course, if you have the skills and want to spend extra time in the area, you can take on many of the peaks along the way… but your fitness levels have to be tip-top.

And that’s what makes this route so unique. While you’re hiking, you’ll pass by Mount Snowdon, Cadir Idris, the mountain ranges of Ogwen Valley, and Aber Falls.

And it’s not just the mountains that will leave you in awe; you also pass through some of the most idyllic villages in the country.

What does it look like?

How Long Does It Take?

As mentioned earlier, the Snowdonia Way is 97 miles long, but the length can vary depending on where you stay and what mountains you decided to tackle along the way.

For most people, it will take them between 6-10 days to complete the entire hike. Let’s take a look to see how that breaks down:

• 6 Days: 16.1 miles per day
• 7 Days: 13.9 miles per day
• 8 Days: 12.1 miles per day
• 9 Days: 10.8 miles per day
• 10 Days: 9.7 miles per day

Now, these are only rough estimates of how far you have to walk each day. If you take on Mount Snowdon, Cadir Idris, the Glyders, or Tyfan, you have to add a few more miles and possibly an extra day or two.

How To Get There And Back?

Most of Snowdonia has excellent transport links, making it extremely easy to get around the National Park. You can choose where you want to start or finish the hike, with both Machynlleth and Conwy having their fair share of transport options.

The easiest way to arrive at your chosen start point is via train. The train stations in both Machynlleth and Conwy are very well connected.

If you decided to jump off the route a little easier, there are train stations at Penrhyndeudraeth and Dolwyddelan.

You can also get buses to most of the locations along the Snowdonia Way path, but you may have to take multiple buses depending on your home location.

If you want to drive, you shouldn’t have too many problems other than finding a location to park your car for 6-10 days.

The Best Time To Go

The one thing you can say about Wales with all certainty is the weather is highly unpredictable.

During the summer months, you can expect anything mild/sunny weather to full-blown rain storms. And in the winter it usually means rain and snow.

Whatever time of year you decide to go, you can expect a mixed bag of weather conditions.

That being said, if you want to guarantee at least one day of good weather, you should head there early spring through to summer.

If you’re looking to test yourself in the snow, then you should head to walk from late December to early February.

Where To Stay On Your Journey

One of the best things about walking the Snowdonia trail is the options you have regarding accommodation.

The trial is full of camping spots which you can take full advantage of. And although wild camping is not legal in Wales, there are pretty accepting if you leave no trace you were there.

Many of the B&Bs/hotels work for many people on a budget, but of course, things change when you hit the peak seasons.

Most of the towns just off the path have many locations for you to check out; just make sure you plan in advance.

If there’s a group of you going, you can find bunkhouses you can rent out, but again they can be busy in the summer, so make sure you book well in advance. Most of the bunkhouses are found around Mount Snowdon and the Ogwen Valley.

Where To Get Food And Drink Along The Way

Okay, so what about food and drink? Due to Snowdonia being such a popular tourist destination, you won’t be short on bars, cafes, and restaurants.

Most of the small villages have stunning country pubs where you can stop off for some lunch or dinner.

You can also find restaurants with a wide variety of food and drink options, some of which serve food all day.

If you’re looking to do things on the cheap, check out some of the local shops to pick up food. If you’re camping, some of the spots can be pretty far from the shops, so make sure you’re prepared to take a taxi.

Final Thoughts

Snowdonia Way is home to some of the most famous mountain ranges in Wales and the UK. The scenery is beautiful, the mountains are stunning, and the people are very friendly.

If you’ve been planning your trip to Wales, you won’t be disappointed with this excellent route.