I have ridden my mountain bike up Snowdon a number of times now and have always started from the car park by Llyn
Padarn in Llanberis. Coming into Llanberis from the Caernarfon direction on the A4086 the car park is on the left as
soon as you enter the town (GR577605).
1. To start the ride turn left on the road and follow it to a junction just after the Snowdon Mountain Railway station
(GR583596). Turn right and get your legs ready for the first short climb where the road becomes steep with a capital
'S'. Go past the house on the left at the top of the climb and continue along the lane to the gate on the right hand
bend. Once through the gate follow the lane right, up a short climb, to the sign on the left indicating the start of the
Padarn in Llanberis. Coming into Llanberis from the Caernarfon direction on the A4086 the car park is on the left as
soon as you enter the town (GR577605).
1. To start the ride turn left on the road and follow it to a junction just after the Snowdon Mountain Railway station
(GR583596). Turn right and get your legs ready for the first short climb where the road becomes steep with a capital
'S'. Go past the house on the left at the top of the climb and continue along the lane to the gate on the right hand
bend. Once through the gate follow the lane right, up a short climb, to the sign on the left indicating the start of the
Llanberis Trail.
2. This sign directs you through a gate that is the
start of the off road ascent (GR582589). The first
parts of the trail gives a good indication of what is to
come with some tricky rock sections. What follows is
very challenging, with a mixture of boulders, loose
scree and some flatter rocky hardpack. There are
some sections that are always a push, mainly in the
2. This sign directs you through a gate that is the
start of the off road ascent (GR582589). The first
parts of the trail gives a good indication of what is to
come with some tricky rock sections. What follows is
very challenging, with a mixture of boulders, loose
scree and some flatter rocky hardpack. There are
some sections that are always a push, mainly in the
top third, but in good
conditions the trail is about 70%
ridable. The bonus here though is
when it gets a bit too much you can
have a rest and take in the awesome
scenery. Once you reach the top
ridable. The bonus here though is
when it gets a bit too much you can
have a rest and take in the awesome
scenery. Once you reach the top
(GR610544), there is time to take in the
views while refuelling and getting ready for
the first descent.
3. After touching the trig point (GR610544)
descend back to the standing stone and look
left towards the railway track for the top of
the Snowdon Ranger (GR608549). Ride
down to the rails then turn right and follow
views while refuelling and getting ready for
the first descent.
3. After touching the trig point (GR610544)
descend back to the standing stone and look
left towards the railway track for the top of
the Snowdon Ranger (GR608549). Ride
down to the rails then turn right and follow
the track for a few 10s of meters. Turn left over the rails and descend on the fast, sweeping,
loose trail. After a long left turn the trail comes to a steeper section where things start to get
loose trail. After a long left turn the trail comes to a steeper section where things start to get
technical with the rocks becoming increasingly larger. The greater rockiness is combined with chutes, steps and tight
switchbacks, proper pick your way down type of stuff. This ends with a section of about 30m of big rocks that I couldn’t
ride. Following this the trail flattens out a bit on a fast gravely trail with a great view of Snowdon on the left. Don't get
distracted by this as you can wait till the gate a little further on (GR586556). Through the gate the trail becomes a bit
boggier in sections, not overly much through. After a while a drystone wall comes in from the left and leads to another
gate at a stream crossing. Go through the gate and follow the gravely trail over the water bars and down through a
number of switchbacks finally ending up at a small group of houses. At the end of the houses turn left and drop down,
over the railway tracks, to the road (GR564551).
switchbacks, proper pick your way down type of stuff. This ends with a section of about 30m of big rocks that I couldn’t
ride. Following this the trail flattens out a bit on a fast gravely trail with a great view of Snowdon on the left. Don't get
distracted by this as you can wait till the gate a little further on (GR586556). Through the gate the trail becomes a bit
boggier in sections, not overly much through. After a while a drystone wall comes in from the left and leads to another
gate at a stream crossing. Go through the gate and follow the gravely trail over the water bars and down through a
number of switchbacks finally ending up at a small group of houses. At the end of the houses turn left and drop down,
over the railway tracks, to the road (GR564551).
4. Turn left and follow the lane, past the Snowdon Ranger YHA , all the way into Rhyd
Ddu. Go through the village and continue along the road as it climbs, bearing to the left.
Ddu. Go through the village and continue along the road as it climbs, bearing to the left.
Just after the end of the row of buildings on the right look for the track, in between the houses on the left, signed
incorrectly as a footpath (GR569527). If you pass the next single house on the right you have gone too far.
5. Take the track on the left that turns immediately right around the back of the houses and comes out at a railway
crossing. Go over the rails following the track up to a junction and turn right, riding around the barrier, straight on being
a private farm track (GR572527). Climb this BW, negotiating a few locked gates on the way. This trail then comes to a
crossroad with the track up Snowdon, again marked incorrectly as a footpath (GR582524). Go through the kissing gate
on the left for the start of the hard part of the climb. One of the ridable sections is the first, over large uneven boulder
paving. This includes some pretty technical sections through tight turns and up steps, made harder by the strong side
wind we encountered. The trail eventually becomes more natural and steeper with more and more pushing required.
The carrying really starts after the trail flattens out and a dark boulder field comes into view just off to the right. Follow
the trail to the bottom of the boulders then carry, push and occasionally ride up to the next gate. Once through the gate
incorrectly as a footpath (GR569527). If you pass the next single house on the right you have gone too far.
5. Take the track on the left that turns immediately right around the back of the houses and comes out at a railway
crossing. Go over the rails following the track up to a junction and turn right, riding around the barrier, straight on being
a private farm track (GR572527). Climb this BW, negotiating a few locked gates on the way. This trail then comes to a
crossroad with the track up Snowdon, again marked incorrectly as a footpath (GR582524). Go through the kissing gate
on the left for the start of the hard part of the climb. One of the ridable sections is the first, over large uneven boulder
paving. This includes some pretty technical sections through tight turns and up steps, made harder by the strong side
wind we encountered. The trail eventually becomes more natural and steeper with more and more pushing required.
The carrying really starts after the trail flattens out and a dark boulder field comes into view just off to the right. Follow
the trail to the bottom of the boulders then carry, push and occasionally ride up to the next gate. Once through the gate
continue climbing up the next, longer boulder field. Eventually the trail starts turning
right along the line of the ridge and becomes ridable again for
some time, coming to a gate (GR597537).
some time, coming to a gate (GR597537).
6. Go through the gate for a more technical but flatter part of
the ride to the bottom of the steep switchbacks, then continue
with the push and carry theme, a bit less rocky this time
though. At the top of the switchbacks remount and ride to the
precarious ridge traverse to the café. The first section is
ridable but you should consider the 350m drop off to the left
before deciding to attempt it. The trail definitely becomes
unridable again when it kicks up right and swaps over to the
right hand side of the ridge, with a 350m drop now off on the
right. Carefully pick your way up the ridge to where it widens
out to a ridable (but couldn’t be bothered) section to a final
scramble up to the back of the summit café. Go around the
back of the café and complete the climb for the second time at
the trig point.
the ride to the bottom of the steep switchbacks, then continue
with the push and carry theme, a bit less rocky this time
though. At the top of the switchbacks remount and ride to the
precarious ridge traverse to the café. The first section is
ridable but you should consider the 350m drop off to the left
before deciding to attempt it. The trail definitely becomes
unridable again when it kicks up right and swaps over to the
right hand side of the ridge, with a 350m drop now off on the
right. Carefully pick your way up the ridge to where it widens
out to a ridable (but couldn’t be bothered) section to a final
scramble up to the back of the summit café. Go around the
back of the café and complete the climb for the second time at
the trig point.
7. After refuelling return to
Llanberis down the trail
climbed at the start of the
ride. This is 100% ridable
and a fantastic rockfest of a
ride. The top section to the
Llanberis down the trail
climbed at the start of the
ride. This is 100% ridable
and a fantastic rockfest of a
ride. The top section to the
first bridge can be a bit congested with walkers but
once past this point the foot traffic usually gets a lot
lighter.
once past this point the foot traffic usually gets a lot
lighter.
To recover from this ride we visited Pete's Eats for some great food. This was a BIG ride,
nearly 6500ft of climbing in 19.2miles, and it took us 6hrs to complete. We kept the food
nearly 6500ft of climbing in 19.2miles, and it took us 6hrs to complete. We kept the food
breaks short and were only slowed down by a couple of
punctures, I'll hold my hand up to both. I took a lot of food and
ate it all but if you want to travel lighter there are a few possible
punctures, I'll hold my hand up to both. I took a lot of food and
ate it all but if you want to travel lighter there are a few possible
food stops at the Halfway Station and the summit cafe. These can be closed so it is
best to check before hand. The pub in Rhyd Ddu is also worth a visit.
I have since ridden this route in the opposite direction, to descend Rhdy Ddu and climb
the Snowdon Ranger. To be honest I preferred it this way round. The descent of Rhyd
Ddu was more consistently technical and the climb of the Ranger was a little more
rideable. The bottom third of the Ranger was easily rideable, the middle third a long
hard carry, and the top third was again rideable (but only just). For a route guide it is
probably easiest to follow the Rhdy Ddu route from my Snowdon route guide but at
para.7 continue straight on, up to the top instead of taking the track off to the left,
signed to Llanberis. This route can be broken up into shorter rides and they are
described on my Snowdon route guide.
All of this route can be plotted on OS Landranger 115.
best to check before hand. The pub in Rhyd Ddu is also worth a visit.
I have since ridden this route in the opposite direction, to descend Rhdy Ddu and climb
the Snowdon Ranger. To be honest I preferred it this way round. The descent of Rhyd
Ddu was more consistently technical and the climb of the Ranger was a little more
rideable. The bottom third of the Ranger was easily rideable, the middle third a long
hard carry, and the top third was again rideable (but only just). For a route guide it is
probably easiest to follow the Rhdy Ddu route from my Snowdon route guide but at
para.7 continue straight on, up to the top instead of taking the track off to the left,
signed to Llanberis. This route can be broken up into shorter rides and they are
described on my Snowdon route guide.
All of this route can be plotted on OS Landranger 115.
| To finish here are some of the veiws we had while climbing the Llanberis trail |
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
