Day 1: Mt Snowdon

21 July (Sunday) – mountain blessing

Soon after we got engaged (on Great Barrier Island, NZ, 28 March 2018), Andrew suggested it would be nice to get married on top of a mountain. As Andrew is always serious and never suggests anything lightly (!!), Jasmijn proposed that he should climb the Crib Gogh (red pin below) route to Snowdon and she would climb the other route that forms the horseshoe shape, and that they would meet in the middle, at the top. Although Andrew was actually joking, he could not fault this plan, and embraced the idea fully.

Fig 1. Snowdon horseshoe, with Crib Goch marked

We hope to be joined by friends and family on our paths/journeys, or alternatively, at the top (via an easier path or via the Snowdon Mountain Rail from Llanberis).

Fig 2. Snowdon horseshoe, with summit routes marked

The Crib Gogh route (starting off with the Pyg Track) is steep and exposed, and suitable for intermediate and experienced hikers only. Jasmijn’s route starts off nice and easy (Miners Track) but veers off to the left before lake Llyn Llydaw and will then climb up to the left ridge. This is steep in a few places, including a steep rocky descent of half an hour. The path then joins the Watkin path coming from the south, and includes a steep final ascent for 20 minutes to the top. Jasmijn’s route (Y Lliwedd) is not recommended for novices either, although it won’t be as difficult as Crib Gogh. Both routes take approximately 3.5h. We plan to go down together via the Llanberis track (approximately 3h). A variety of other easier routes are also available.

Travel and meeting arrangements

Andrew’s party: Meet at the base of the Mountain railway station in Llanberis by 08:15am opposite the carpark (top of Fig. 3 below). Make sure you park the car there by 8am, as the parking lot usually fills up before 8:30am. £8 per day per car.

Andrew’s party to take the Sherpa bus #1 to Pen-y-Pass at 8:30am, arrive at 09:00am. Set off via the Pyg Track and Crib Gogh route by 09:10am.

Jasmijn’s party to meet at Nantperis Maes Parcio car park (between Llanberis and Pen-y-Pass) at 08:30am. Take Sherpa bus #1 to Pen-y-Pass at 09:00, arrive at 09:10am. Set off via the Miner’s track at 09:20.

Fig 3: Andrew’s party to meet at Mountain railway station in Llanberis by 08:15am opposite the carpark. Jasmijn’s party to meet at Nantperis Maes Parcio car park (between Llanberis and Pen-y-Pass) at 08:30

Arrive at the top of Snowdon around 13:30. Have lunch or a snack (bring your own) and/or use summit cafe facilities (including toilets).

Train guests to arrive at 13:30 or 14:00. Start photoshoot at 14:05/14:10, meet near the entrance to the cafe on the steps.

Start Mountain blessing below the summit (north side) at 14:15. This will finish around 14:45. Small snack and drink to be included.

Use cafe facilities and start walking down via Llanberis path (following railway track) around 3pm. Back at Llanberis car park around 6pm. A couple of cars could drive to Nantperis car park to collect remaining cars (Jasmijn’s party).

Independent hikers

Hikers may choose other routes – several are available – see map above. If parking at Pen y Pass (main trail head), the car park fills up very early. You either need to park there before 8am or take Sherpa (i.e. shuttle) buses from Llanberis or other surrounding areas. Paid parking is also available at the bottom of the road, near the Pen-Y-Gwryd Hotel (half a mile/800m walk up to the Pen Y Pass starting point), but this will also fill up fairly early.

All hikers should aim to get to the top around 1:00 – 1:30 pm. After a quick lunch at or outside the mountain-top café, we will start the blessing ceremony, which is planned for 2:15 – 2:45 near the summit (not on it – there are usually about 50 people trying to fit onto the summit cairn at peak times…!) Hikers will need to start their descents around 3:00 pm in order to reach Llanberis around 5:30 pm.

What to bring and wear?

Although less formal than our wedding day the following day, we would still love it if people would dress up as much as possible, because we’ll have photographers and think it will look amazing if people are in beautiful clothes, on those wild mountain ridges and summits! Maybe not your very best, as they could get slightly dusty etc., but still dramatic if you can. E.g. anything vintage from a secondhand shop would be great. We’ll be wearing full wedding regalia (our second best sets!) on our respective mountain ridges. Andrew is going to attempt to wear a top hat! (If it doesn’t blow off! 🙂 which admittedly comes from a costume hire shop – you could try that too! Have fun!

Additionally: if it is sunny, bring sun cream (not optional), a hat and sunglasses. It is frequently very windy and wet on Snowdon or at least overcast, even in summer, so make sure you are prepared for all types of weather. If, the day prior, we deem the wind too strong or it’s too wet, we’ll go to an alternate Plan B (TBC). You’ll also need water and snacks/lunch. There is a cafe on top of the mountain. In bad weather it gets incredibly crowded with long queues, but we can’t delay our timings above. And of course, bring a phone and camera, in waterproof ziplocks bags in case of rain.

  • Mountain boots or comfortable hiking shoes
  • Backpack: water (at least 1L), snacks, dried fruit and or energy bars, other protein or calorie-rich food.

    • Cooler weather:

    • Warm clothes (base layers, jackets etc.)
    • Raincoat/poncho for drizzle or light rain

      • Warm/sunny weather:

      • Layers to take off and stuff in backpack (walking/climbing will warm you up significantly, but when it’s breezy, which it usually is on Mt Snowdon – could be 10C colder on the summit, make sure you have windproof layers)
      • Hat/cap
      • Suncream – essential when it’s sunny!
      • First aid materials, such as band aids, pain killers
      • Camera / phone etc. If necessary, bring waterproof bags to keep these items dry.

      Afterwards

      When we finish in Llanberis, we’ll drive back to Caernarfon and other accommodation locations. Dinner reservation at Wal Restaurant, 4 Palace St, Caernarfon LL55 1RR, for around 40 people at 7:30 pm (at own expense).

      Trains

      For those who prefer not to hike up, there is a rail service from the nearby town of Llanberis, which takes about 60 mins one way. Book at https://snowdonrailway.co.uk. Bookings will fill up as this is peak time of year – definitely book early! (The best trains are already booked out). Trains are all 1 hr up, 30 mins summit time, 1 hr down

      Sunday 21 July timings (always reaching the summit 1 hr after departure):

      • Steam depart 09:30, 13:00. Indicative return prices: £39 adult, 29 child
      • Diesel depart 10:00, 12:30, 14:00. Indicative return prices: £30 adult, 21 child

      child = 3 to 15 years inclusive

      Recommended (but probably booked out now):

      • steam depart 13:00 summit 14:00
      • diesel depart 12:30 summit 13:30

      For our timings of: arrive summit by 2 pm, ceremony 2:15 – 2:45

      Note that this means you would miss your return train down. Unfortunately due to timings it’s not possible to avoid this outcome. So the options are:

      i. ‘Single tickets can only be purchased for the journey UP Snowdon (Excludes Steam Service – can only book return tickets).’ Singles are slightly cheaper than return tickets (only available on diesel trains). Then walk back down to Llanberis via the Llanberis Track: 7 km one way, easy, gentle descent and a lovely walk
      ii. There should be a 15:00 train down. ‘A very limited number of descent tickets are sold on a STANDBY basis only from the Summit Stationmaster’s platform office, on a first come first served basis. Please note customers are not permitted to buy a return ticket and only use the return leg. A return ticket must be validated from the Llanberis platform to guarantee the return availability from the Summit.’
      iii. Get a regular return ticket which allows only 30 mins on the summit. You will miss some/all of the ceremony but will still get to join us and our friends/family up there (at least anyone who has arrived in time) and see the amazing views of this beautiful place.

      You can either book yourself via the website (preferred if possible) or give us your train choices and we will book for you. Unfortunately, as the wedding will be quite expensive for us, we regret we’re unable to pay for your train ticket. So if you say yes to taking the train, we will require the fee, which may unfortunately not be refundable, even if you later change your mind. Apparently once you book you get a confirmation email, which you exchange for a ticket office prior to boarding the train.