Climbing Snowdon with Kids: A Complete Guide to the Snowdon Ranger Path

Table of Contents

This is my complete guide to climbing Mount Snowdon with kids on The Snowdon Ranger Path. Honestly, it’s one of the best things that we’ve done on our family adventures, and something we’re all proud of. We are keen walkers but it’s the first time we’d ever climbed a mountain, let alone with kids! 😂 And, I’m here to tell you to go for it because, although it was challenging in parts, it’s totally do-able and so worth it. We stayed at Haven’s Hafan y Mor Holiday Park, which was a brilliant base for a family holiday. So keep reading to find out everything that you need to know before you begin your climb, including: where to park; how long it takes; what to expect; what to pack; what to wear; and for our beautiful photos of the views too!

Climb: September 2021 (Updated 2025)

Which is the best route for climbing Mount Snowdon with kids?

There are a number of routes for climbing Mount Snowdon, but we chose the Snowdon Ranger Path because it’s deemed suitable for kids but it still offered us brilliant views across Snowdonia National Park as we climbed. Even right at the start of our trip, we were blessed with this gorgeous view! However, the Llanberis Path (though it may take a bit longer as it’s a longer route) is said to have a more continuous gradient for beginners so it could be a good option if you’re feeling less confident, or for families with children who are looking for a lesser challenge. If you’re happy to take a bit longer it could be an easier trek – though I have heard that the views along the way aren’t quite as special as they are on The Snowdon Ranger Path so for us it was definitely the right choice of climbing route.

Where do you start the Snowdon Ranger Path climb?

You can start and end the walk for the Snowdown Ranger Path at the Llyn Cwellyn Car Park, off the A4085. This is pay and display but it was only a couple of quid for the whole day. There’s a portaloo here but beware – when we washed our hands they smelled like stagnant water! Luckily we were able to wash them off in some streams along the way as it was awful. If you use the toilet, opt for hand sanitiser instead! 😂 From the car park, cross the road and follow the path past an old farm house to begin the trail. The first part of the trail is a steepish zig zag, but after a while there’s a period of more gentle climbing before the hardest section of the walk begins.

What’s the Snowdon Ranger Path like?

As I mentioned, the first part of the Snowdown Ranger path is fairly steep. But, once you get past that bit, there’s a nice flatter section which is easier on the thighs, and pretty leisurely. We passed streams and sheep in the fields, and still had this beautiful view over the lake. Don’t let this lull you into a false sense of security though, because once the ascent properly starts the route can be quite hard work. The pathway becomes really narrow in places, the stone underfoot is loose and there are some tall steps for little legs. The end of the route, for at least the last hour, is quite hard work and very steep.

There’s a grassed area about halfway through the tricky part, so this is where we chose to have our lunch and rest the kids’ legs to break it up a bit. Not a bad view for lunch eh… 😉 Finn was tired but determined to finish, but Lola at this point did have a moment where she was ready to give up. She took the last bit slowly and really pushed herself to finish the climb. We do a lot of walking and hill hiking as a family, but this was definitely the biggest challenge the kids have taken on and we were so proud that they completed it.

Who’s the climb suitable for?

My kids, Finn and Lola, are aged 8 and 10 and (although it was tricky at times) climbing the Snowdon Ranger Path was certainly manageable for them. The last bit was tough, but they were perfectly happy heading back down and seemed to get a second wind. The next day, when Jay and I ached like mad, the kids acted like they hadn’t even climbed a mountain! 😂 In fact, after dinner on the day of the climb, they wanted to go and play in the park at the holiday park and were running around as normal – at this point Jay and I were exhausted! So, although they found the climb trickier, they definitely recovered a lot more easily than we did – my calves still ached for days!

Personally, I don’t think that I would want to climb Snowdon with a child younger than about 7 years old, and I think really small children would struggle enormously with the last section of the climb – it would be dangerous and hard work if you needed to carry them too. Snowdon isn’t really suitable for young children. I also think it would be a bit much for elderly people, or anyone unsteady on their feet, so for the older generation I would only tackle Snowdon if I was really active and fit. There’s also the option to get a train up the mountain three quarters of the way, so that might be a good alternative for those who want to see the Snowdon summit without the climb, or to shorten the route for those with little legs!

How long does it take to climb Mount Snowdon?

We stayed at Hafan y Mor Haven Holiday Park which was about 35 minute drive from Mount Snowdon. We wanted to leave ourselves plenty of time so that we would be back way before dark, so we woke up at 6.20am and by the time we’d got organised and driven there we started our climb not long after 8am. I’d pre-packed our backpacks before we’d left home from Kent, so that they were organised. We climbed the mountain the day after we’d driven to Wales, due to the weather forecast looking less happy towards the end of the week. I’d made lots of flapjack and goodies at home which we brought with us, and then I just made sandwiches etc to be chilled in the fridge overnight to save time in the morning.

Climbing Mount Snowdon using the Snowdon Ranger Path took us about 7 hours in total, up and down, with the two kids in tow. We probably had at least an hour’s worth of breaks along the way – so it’s perfectly doable in a day in a decent amount of time. It’s best to start early, so that you can make allowances for the kids needing to rest or snack, and so that you can take your time without worrying about losing the daylight. It was also handy to be finished well before tea-time – as carrying two meals up a mountain would be a bit much!

What are the views like at the Snowdon summit?

The views for our entire climb along the Snowdon Ranger Path were incredible – it was breathtakingly beautiful and 100% worth the effort of climbing it, the kids thought it was amazing! We’ve since been told that we were really lucky as we had a brilliant view from the top, which is apparently often blocked by the clouds. It was such a warm, clear and gorgeous morning when we visited. When we started heading back down the mountain around lunchtime there were some clouds creeping in and, as we looked back on the summit from lower down during the afternoon, the clouds had completely covered it! So I think we definitely had luck on our side!

What supplies do you need to climb Snowdon?

The best advice that I can give you is to invest in some good walking boots for the whole family. The Snowdon Ranger path is often loose and uneven, and the last thing you want when you’re climbing a mountain is damaged feet or a twisted ankle – especially with kids. Not only that but they’ll be sturdy, waterproof in case of a change in weather, and they’ll keep your feet warm and comfortable. Make sure that you break in any new shoes too – we did some hill hiking in the couple of weeks before to prep our shoes and our bodies! You’ll need plenty of water and food for the climb, particularly foods that will keep your energy levels up. We also, as a precaution, packed a whistle, some torches and some plasters – which came in handy as Finn got blisters bless him so we were able to pad out his heels.

We started in trousers but packed shorts (and soon changed into them!), waterproof trousers and raincoats – even if the weather looks fine at the bottom of the mountain, it may not be the same at the top. Not only that but it’s a lot colder at the top. Be sure to check the Snowdon Summit weather forecast before you set off. You’ll basically want to wear layers, and bring extras like sunglasses too to make sure everyone is comfortable. Just be prepared, start your climb early in the morning and you’ll have an incredible experience climbing Mount Snowdon with the kids! 😍

Where are the best places to stay with kids near Mount Snowdon?

You’re spoilt for choice on where to stay near Mount Snowdon – North Wales is home to some fabulous family-friendly holiday parks! I’ve been looking for great kids’ activities, beautiful locations and swimming pools. Head to my article: The 5 best holiday parks in North Wales for families for more information on what’s on offer at these sites, and for more great holiday park options, but here’s a quick glimpse at a few of my top picks. The distance mentioned is from each holiday park to Llyn Cwellyn Car Park for the start of the Snowdon Ranger Path.

Haven: Hafan y Môr Holiday Park is a 35 minute drive from Mount Snowdon: This is where we stayed and we had such a good time – check out my Hafan y Mor Review for all the details. It has a fantastic indoor pool complex (with waterslides and a wave pool – my kids loved it!), a high ropes course, segways, bungee trampolines, a NERF training camp, inflatables, a boating lake with pedalos, soft play and more!

Parkdean Resorts: Ty Mawr Holiday Park is a 1 hour drive from Mount Snowdon: Located near the stunning beaches of Rhyl and Prestatyn, this lively park offers a mix of exciting activities. The site boasts an indoor swimming pool (complete with a waterslide), adventure playgrounds, VR, archery, soft play, arts & crafts, laser quest, a sports dome and high ropes.

Haven: Greenacres Holiday Park is a 35 minute drive from Mount Snowdon: This one has a beautiful blue flag beach alongside it and the indoor swimming pool offers fun whatever the weather. The park also boasts an outdoor splash zone for the warmer months and there are lots of activities available including: pedal-karts, sports, a climbing wall, archery, NERF camp, crafts, soft play and bike hire.

Is North Wales a good place to visit with kids?

I hope that this article has been a useful guide to help you plan your trip to Mount Snowdon with the kids – climbing the Snowdon Ranger Path was the highlight of our holiday in North Wales. We found Haven’s Hafan y Mor to be a fantastic base for climbing Mount Snowdon – it’s a great holiday park with lots of things for the kids to do. We also had a fabulous day out at nearby Greenwood Family Park which Finn and Lola loved. So, if you’re looking for a great family staycation in Wales, then make sure that you check out my Hafan y Mor Haven Review. North Wales is a brilliant place to visit with the kids – for some more brilliant day out ideas, take a look at my guide: The 10 best things to do in North Wales with kids – have a great trip! 😊