Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
No Snowdonia experience is complete without coming face-to-face with Snowdon
(1085m), one of Britain's most awe-inspiring mountains and the highest summit in Wales
(it's actually the 61st highest in Britain, with the higher 60 all in Scotland). On a clear day
the views stretch to Ireland and the Isle of Man over Snowdon's fine jagged ridges, which
drop away in great swoops to sheltered
cwms
(valleys) and deep lakes. Even on a gloomy
day you could find yourself above the clouds. Thanks to the Snowdon Mountain Railway
it's extremely accessible - the summit and some of the tracks can get frustratingly
crowded.
Just below the cairn that marks the summit is
Hafod Eryri
, a striking piece of architecture
that opened in 2009 to replace the dilapidated 1930s visitor centre that Prince Charles
famously labelled 'the highest slum in Europe'. Clad in granite and curved to blend into
the mountain, it's a wonderful building, housing a cafe that serves snacks and light
lunches, toilets, and ambient interpretative elements built into the structure itself. A wall
of picture windows gazes down towards the west, while a small row faces the cairn. The
centre (including the toilets) closes in winter or if the weather's terrible; it's open whenev-
er the train is running.
