Thursday 21 June 2012

3 Peaks Day 3 - Snowdon 19 Sept 2011

3 Peaks with Bourne Coffee Company
Day 3 - Pen-y-Pass to Snowdon and return
Distance 11km Climb 723m
Monday 19th September 2011


Snowdon, number 2 on ITV'S Britain's Favourite Walks shown January 2018.

It was a late start today, we were all tired.  The extra drinks at the bar the night before did not help.  Anyway after breakfast, we soon packed up and got on our way.  This was the only peak out of the three I had not walked, so this was all new to me.  Anne had decided that today she was going to join us as she had also never walked Snowdon.  When I had done my research into the 3 peaks I found there were three routes up Snowdon.  One started at Llanberis and two from Pen-y-Pass, on looking at things the Pyg Track looked the best for us.





It was wet when we started but no sooner had we climbed a little then we were surrounded by mist and more rain, the rain alternated between a steady downpour and a heavy downpour. The route disappeared a couple of times but we still moved upwards.  At one point we could hear people talking on our left hand side, but could not see them.  At the junction where the other route joined the Pyg track we came across another walker.  He was on his own, apparently he was the bus driver of a party who had walked so far before turning around and going back to the bus, these were the people who's voices we could hear.

We had been walking upwards for some time, with no visibility, this made it difficult to judge how far we had left to walk when we heard the train.  I knew once the Pyg track reached the train line it would not be far until we reached the top.  Moving to the train line the wind picked up and the rain got heavier.  The mist did not move or were we now walking in cloud.  Anyway we reached the top and being blown inside out we took a few photos.

Moving from the top we found our way into the cafe/train station.  You should have seen the look on the peoples faces as we walked in looking like three drowned rats.  Many sat in waterproofs after just getting off the train and the look was almost like they were saying, is it raining outside?  Have they walked up? why? when you can get the train.


After a cup of coffee a cake and a short rest we set off back down the track the way we had walked up.  No train journey down for us.  The bus driver we met on the way up was soaked and he took the train down.  On our way down. we passed a few walkers coming up but not many.  As we reached a point near the start the sky cleared a little and we could get a look at some of the views.  I must say although it rained almost from the start and we could not see the views I was impressed with Snowdon.  To me I had found that even though wet, I could get a good grip on the stones, better than I have found in many places in particular the Lakes, which I find when wet is very slippery.

We had covered approx. 11km with 723m climb.

Well that was the 3 peaks, all that was left now was the long drive home.  It had been a good few days, we had not done it as the challenge, except for our own personal challenge and experience.  It had been good.

More to follow


Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The  3 Peaks or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to previous - Day 2 Scarfell Pike
Follow link to time I walked the National 3 Peaks Challenge
The Bourne Coffee Company previously the Caer Urfa Coffee Company. 



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