PARK A ND RISE
Your guide to parking – legally, and as affordably as possible – before tackling the UK’s busiest mountain
IF you don’t want to get a ticket when parking in Snowdonia, you’ll to need to get organised, make an early start and avoid sneaking on to verges and pavements. A few visitors chance it, then wonder why their cars are towed away.
Invariably, Yr Wyddfa is a hotspot and long gone are the days when visitors could just roll up and expect to find a parking spot. With a little pre-planning, however, it needn’t be a painful experience.
Parking is available, just not part-way up the mountain – unless you have deep pockets.
Spaces at Pen y Pass car park are always limited and in peak season must be pre-booked at a cost of up to £40.
But much cheaper options exist and there is plenty of choice.
For example, the Snowdon Sherpa bus service gives park-and-ride options and is often the best option for those not prepared to arrive at the crack of dawn.
Below are a list of the main car parks that service Snowdon. Which one you use will depend on which route you want to take.
MINERS’ AND PYG TRACKS
As these as the two of the most popular routes up Snowdon, parking can be tricky.
Twenty or 30 years ago, you could head to Pen y Pass car park with a reasonable expectation of finding a space, even on a summer weekend. Those days are long gone.
Even in winter, parking here can sometimes be difficult, especially at weekends. It is, after all, one of the smallest car parks in Snowdonia.
Since 2021, following a trial run the previous summer, Pen y Pass has operated a booking-only system between April and November. But it is expensive at £18 for eight hours; £25 for up to 12 hours, or £40 for 12-24 hours. Booking is via JustPark.
A more affordable option is the parkand-ride service from Snowdonia National Park Authority’s (SNPA) car park at Nant Peris, at the bottom of the Llanberis Pass.
Extra services have been laid on for the 2022 season (April 9-September 25). For many people, this is a much better bet. For details, see the Nant Peris park-and-ride section below.
Adjacent to this facility is a large private car park, Parking For Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).
Marked as “Cae Gwyn” from the main road, it’s open seven days a week and offers overflow parking for the
SNPA facility at £6.20.
Some parking is available in laybys in the Cromlech area of the A4086 Llanberis Pass.
However, these quickly become congested, they lack facilities and their use is discouraged by Snowdonia National Park Authority.
Another option is roadside parking on the A498 near the Pen y Gwryd Hotel (LL55 4NT).
From here, a footpath takes around 30 minutes to reach Pen y Pass. Pay-anddisplay machines are in operation.
LLANBERIS PATH
Of Snowdon’s six main routes, this is the longest. However, it’s a popular option for first-timers as the climb is the most gradual – and because parking is more readily available.
The route starts in Llanberis, which has a wealth of private and local authority car parks.
Always park in designated parking areas, as visitors risk a ticket if they park on side streets or in residential areas.
A good option is Padarn Country Park car park. Parking here costs £5.50 all day (gate closes at 9pm) and, if you need it, the Snowdon Shuttle runs up to Pen y Pass from Llanberis Interchange.
Some private parking areas are slightly closer to the starting point of the Llanberis Path.
The biggest of these is the Parking For Snowdon (LL55 4TU) pay-and-display car park (£10 all day, £6 after 2pm), which is run by the adjacent Royal Victoria Hotel.
A new 110-space car park is planned at the former Electric Mountain Visitor Centre. Owner First Hydro aims to offer charging points for electric vehicles too.
WATKIN PATH
This tough trek up the mountain has become more popular in the past couple of years, partly because of the pathside presence of two Insta-friendly waterfalls.
For this route, the main parking area is at the Pont Bethania car park in Nant Gwynant (LL55 4NR).
This is a pay-and-display facility operated by SNPA (£6 for the day or £3 for up to four hours).
Located by the stone bridge after which the car park is named, it’s not the largest and it quickly fills on summer weekends.
Another option is to stay at the National Trust’s Hafod y Llan campsite (LL55 4NQ).
It has 35 grass pitches with hot showers, toilets and a small car park. As early afternoon departures are expected, you’ll probably need to book two nights.
RHYD DDU PATH
This path up Snowdon’s western slopes starts gradually along the old track that served the Bwlch Cwm Llan slate quarry and culminates in some ridge ascents that, in winter, should only be undertaken by experienced climbers.
Parking is available at Rhyd Ddu train station, a stopping point for the Welsh Highland Railway (LL54 6TN).
Another owned by SNPA, there are toilet facilities here and parking spaces are usually available. It’s a pay-anddisplay car park (£6 for the day or £3 for up to four hours).
SNOWDON RANGER PATH
This is believed to be the earliest of the six main routes to the summit of Snowdon. Despite this, it is less well travelled and its car park is rarely full.
The route up Snowdon’s western flank starts from the shore of Llyn Cwellyn – hence its Welsh name, Llwybr Cwellyn (Cwellyn Path). Before it reaches the summit, the route merges with the Llanberis Path.
Parking for the route, at Llyn Cwellyn car park, is provided by SNPA on the A4085 opposite the YHA Snowdon Ranger Hostel (LL54 7YS).
It’s a pay-and-display facility (£6 for the day or £3 for up to four hours), with some portable toilets. Like all SNPA facilities, card payments are accepted.
NANT PERIS PARK-AND-RIDE
Located between Llanberis and Pen y Pass is a large pay-and-display car park operated by SNPA (LL55 4UF). Parking costs £5 for the day. Card payments are accepted, but visitors should take coins in case machines are out of order.
From here, a shuttle bus operates as part of the Snowdon Sherpa service. Tickets are bought on the bus and contactless payment is accepted.
Adult tickets cost £2 for singles or £3 for returns (£1 and £1.50 for children). Taxi services are also often available from here.
Buses run from here to Pen y Pass every 15 minutes in morning. During the middle of the day, when things are quieter, the service runs every 30 minutes. First bus up is at 7.15am and the last service is at 6.15pm. Last bus down is at 7.30pm.
SNOWDON SHERPA BUSES
This service travels around the foot of Snowdon, providing a link between the mountain’s six main routes. It also connects the area’s main car parks, villages and attractions.
For example, it’s now possible to park in Llanberis, Carnaerfon, Bangor, Porthmadog or Betws y Coed and get a direct bus straight to Pen y Pass.
The various bus routes enable walkers to start their journey from one point and finish at another (though a bus change may be needed).
Snowdon Sherpa buses also operate all-day “hop on, hop off’ tickets costing £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. Tickets are bought on the bus and contactless payment is accepted.
Dogs are welcome on all Snowdon Sherpa services.
TAKE PRECAUTIONS
Most car parks take cards or mobile payment apps such as PaybyPhone.
However, visitors are advised to bring coins in case machines are not working or mobile signals are weak.
When using private car parks, motorists are also advised to take photos of their machine receipts (with car registration number) as proof of payment. It follows reports of errors and subsequent fines.
Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon is the UK’s busiest mountain and free parking is hard to come by. For a hassle-free day, it’s always best to plan to pay – the alternative could prove much more costly. Proceeds help pay for the area’s upkeep and, when all is said and done, it’s still a relatively cheap day out out in one of the most spectacular places in Britain.