Welcome to the Snowdonia Mountains and Coast.....
Love Snowdonia Mountain Community, a page for everything that is beautiful and great about working in and visiting the Snowdonia National Park and, it’s magnificent surrounding areas. Whether you are a leader, instructor, guide, business or visitor, become part of our Coastal and Mountain Community. This an open forum for advertising, seeking help and up to date information covering the region’s Community and, it’s fantastic outdoor facilities.
The Snowdonia mountains are made up of 90 mountain peaks including the tallest mountain in Wales, Snowdon, standing at 1,085 metres.
Situated on the west coast of Britain covering 823 square miles of diverse landscapes, Snowdonia National Park is a living working area, home to over 26,000 people. As well as being the largest National Park in Wales, Snowdonia boasts the highest mountain in England and Wales, and the largest natural lake in Wales, as well as a wealth of picturesque villages like Betws y Coed and Beddgelert. Snowdonia is an area steeped in culture and local history, where more than half its population speak Welsh.
Snowdonia attracts thousands of visitors each year who enjoy its amazing landscapes and the wealth of outdoor activities on offer. The National Park Authority’s aims are to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area; promote opportunities to understand and enjoy its special qualities; and to foster the economic and social wellbeing of its communities.
The region can be divided into four areas with the northernmost area the most popular, including peaks such as Moel Hebog, Mynydd Mawr and the Nantlle Ridge. Many hikers tend to concentrate on Snowdon itself regarding it as a fine mountain. However it can become quite crowded, with the peak welcoming around half a million visitors every year, of which four fifths scale the peak on foot, while the remainder choose to take the train instead.
One of Snowdon’s main attractions is the sheer number and variety of paths that reach the peak. This means that everyone from mountaineering novices to climbing experts should find a way up the mountain that will suit their abilities or provide them with a sufficient test. The easiest is the Llanberis path which, being the longest, has the most shallow ascent. In contrast, the Watkin Path is widely seen as being the most demanding ascent, despite also being considered the prettiest.
Before venturing out:
Ask yourself 3 questions before you set off:
Do I have the right GEAR?
Do I know what the WEATHER will be like?
Am I confident I have the KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS for the day?
Good to know
Wales has activities for all abilities, but before you set off it is important to;
a) be honest with yourself about you and your companions knowledge, fitness and ability, and
b) check the latest weather and ground conditions.
Take advice and only attempt an activity if the conditions are within you and your companions capabilities.
There are some areas where people are more likely to get into difficulty than others, so here’s a ‘heads up’ with specific regional info on how to stay safe whilst exploring Wales.
Visit AdventureSmart Wales to find the answers you need to be kitted up and in the know to be safe!
Check the Weather
The varied landscape and changeable maritime climate of Wales are what make it a fantastic place for outdoor adventures. It has over 1,680 miles (2,700 km) of coastline and is largely mountainous, with its higher peaks in the north and central areas.
In Snowdonia in the north, five of the peaks are over 1,000 m (3,300 ft). The highest of these is Snowdon, at 1,085 m (3,560 ft). The 14 Welsh mountains (15 if including Garnedd Uchaf ) over 3,000 feet (910 m) high are known collectively as the Welsh 3000s and are located in a small area in the north-west.
The highest peak outside the 3000s is Aran Fawddwy, at 905 m (2,969 ft), in the south of Snowdonia.
The best advice with regard to the weather in Wales is to prepare for it to change! The uplands of Wales have on average more than 50 days of rain during the winter months (December to February), falling to around 35 rainy days during the summer months (June to August). Annual rainfall in Snowdonia averages between 3,000 mm in Blaenau Ffestiniog and 5,000 mm at Snowdon’s summit. Average annual rainfall in coastal areas can be less than 1,000 mm.
In winter be prepared for winter conditions because the likelihood is that rain will fall as sleet or snow when the temperature falls below 5 °C and snow tends to be lying Snowdon’s summit for an average of 30 days a year. Snow falls several times each winter in inland areas.
Snowdonia Weather:
https://snowdon.live/
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/specialist-forecasts/mountain/snowdonia#?date=2019-07-31
If you are unsure as to how to prepare for winter conditions then register on a winter skills course or go on a guided walk – this way you will gain the skills and guidance you need to explore Wales in winter comfortably and safely!
Brushing up on your first aid skills is time well spent! St John Cymru Wales run FREE First Aid Awareness Courses in Wales.
If you find yourself in danger or, have an accident whilst out on the mountains in the Snowdonia National Park or along our coastline and need help;
In an emergency, always dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Police, then request Mountain Rescue.
Mountain Rescue and Sea Rescue Services information can be found on the links below along with a lot of helpful advice to stay safe:
SEA RESCUE - RNLI
RNLI Llandudno Lifeboat Station - https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/llandudno-lifeboat-station
RNLI Porthdinllaen Lifeboat Station - https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/porthdinllaen-lifeboat-station
RNLI Pwllheli Lifeboat Station - https://rnli.org/
RNLI Beaumaris Lifeboat Station - http://www.beaumarislifeboat.com/
RNLI Moelfre Lifeboat Station - https://rnli.org/
RNLI Criccieth Lifeboat Station - https://rnli.org/
RNLI Holyhead Lifeboat Station - https://rnli.org
MOUNTAIN RESCUE
The Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team - http://www.llanberismountainrescue.co.uk/safety
Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation - https://ogwen-rescue.org.uk/
Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue - http://www.aberglaslyn-mrt.org/
Disclaimer: To avoid any confusion, whilst we work closely with the Snowdonia National Park Authority at times, we are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with the Snowdonia National Park Authority. If you need to get in touch with the Parc’s Authority direct, the official SNPA website can be found at http://snowdonia.gov.wales.
