So, you’ve decided you’re going to climb Snowdon. Or Yr Wyddfa, as it’s known in Welsh.

Now comes the slightly confusing bit: which way do you go?

There are six main paths to the summit, and they are all quite different. Some are longer, some are steeper, some are busier, and some give you a completely different view of the mountain.

If it’s your first time, it can be hard to know where to start. The good news is that you have options. The slightly less good news is that there isn’t really an “easy” route up Yr Wyddfa. The National Park classifies all six main routes as hard or strenuous, so whichever one you choose, you’re climbing a proper mountain.

But don’t let that put you off. With a bit of preparation, a sensible choice of route and the right weather, climbing Yr Wyddfa can be an amazing day out.

So, which route should you choose?

There are six main routes to the summit:

• Llanberis Path – the longest, but generally the most gradual
• Miners’ Track – beautiful, with the lakes and dramatic mountain scenery
• Pyg Track – shorter, but steep and rocky
• Snowdon Ranger – quieter and a great option for seeing a different side of the mountain
• Rhyd Ddu Path – scenic, quieter and with a real mountain feel
• Watkin Path – steep and challenging, and probably not the one we’d suggest for your first attempt

The official round-trip distances range from around 11km for the Pyg Track to 14.5km for the Llanberis Path.

But don’t make your decision based on distance alone. A shorter walk isn’t necessarily an easier walk.

If you’ve never climbed Yr Wyddfa before, the Llanberis Path is probably the one you’ve heard of.

It starts right in Llanberis and winds its way steadily upwards towards the summit. It’s the longest of the six main routes at around 14.5km there and back, but the gradient is generally more gradual than some of the other paths.

It’s also particularly handy if you’re not driving. Llanberis has the best public transport connections of the main starting points, and the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus service connects Llanberis with other parts of the area.

For a first climb, there’s something reassuring about the Llanberis Path too. It’s a very obvious route, there are plenty of other walkers around and you’ve got the mountain railway alongside parts of the route.

If you’ve never done a mountain like this before and want the most straightforward option, this is probably where we’d start looking.

Just remember that straightforward doesn’t mean easy. It’s still a long, hard day on a 1,000m mountain.

The Miners’ Track starts at Pen-y-Pass and is one of the most popular ways up Yr Wyddfa.

It’s around 13km there and back, so shorter than the Llanberis Path, but don’t look at the distance and think you’ve found the easy option. The route gets steeper and rougher as you climb towards the summit. What you do get in return is some fantastic scenery.

You walk alongside very beautiful lakes, including Llyn Llydaw, with the huge mountain slopes rising around you. It’s one of those routes where you spend a lot of the walk looking around thinking, this is why I came to Wales.

The downside?

Pen-y-Pass gets extremely busy, particularly in good weather. If you’re planning to walk from here, it’s worth thinking about transport before you set off rather than just turning up and hoping to find somewhere to park. But the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus serves Pen-y-Pass from several locations.

The Pyg Track is another Pen-y-Pass route and, at around 11km there and back, it’s the shortest of the six main routes. But again, shorter does not mean easier.

It’s a steep and rocky route, particularly as you get higher up, and you’ll need to be comfortable walking on rough mountain terrain. It’s a fantastic route, and if you’re a reasonably fit walker who is used to hills and rough ground, you might absolutely love it.

If your idea of a walk is mostly a nice path through the countryside, we’d probably start with the Llanberis Path instead.

This is where things start getting more interesting. The Snowdon Ranger Path approaches Yr Wyddfa from the west, starting near Llyn Cwellyn.

It’s around 13km there and back and is officially classed as hard/strenuous, but it tends to be much quieter than Llanberis, Pyg and Miners. You’re approaching the mountain from a completely different direction, so it doesn’t feel like you’ve simply picked the quieter version of the Llanberis Path.

There’s also a nice bonus if you’re trying to avoid driving. The S3 Sherpa’r Wyddfa service stops at the Snowdon Ranger trailhead, and you can catch it right from our front door.

For us, this is one of the routes that’s really worth considering if you’ve got a little mountain-walking experience already and fancy something less busy.

Now we’re getting to our favourite.

The Rhyd Ddu Path also approaches Yr Wyddfa from the west, starting from the small village of Rhyd Ddu. It’s around 12km there and back and, like all the main routes, is classed as hard/strenuous.

But if you’ve already climbed Snowdon via Llanberis or Pen-y-Pass, we’d really recommend trying this side of the mountain. It’s quieter, the scenery is fantastic and it feels much more like you’re actually out in the mountains.

And you don’t necessarily need a car. The S3 Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus stops at Rhyd Ddu, with a direct service from our front door.

Our favourite way to climb Yr Wyddfa

If we had to choose a day out on the mountain, this is what we’d do:

1. Bus to Rhyd Ddu.
2. Walk up the Rhyd Ddu Path.
3. Cross over the summit.
4. Come down the Snowdon Ranger Path.
5. Follow Bwlch Maes Cwm to Llanberis
6. Walk up to the Hostel

You get to see a completely different side of the mountain on the way down rather than simply retracing your steps.

And that’s one of the things we love about walking in Eryri: sometimes you don’t have to make the walk harder to make it more interesting. Just choose a different direction. Obviously, this isn’t the route we’d suggest for someone who has never done a strenuous mountain walk before. But if you’re reasonably comfortable on the hills, it’s a brilliant day out.

The Watkin Path starts down in Nant Gwynant and climbs steeply up the southern side of Yr Wyddfa. It’s a beautiful route and one of the quieter ones, but it’s also pretty challenging.

The National Park describes it as a steep route with rough and loose terrain, and specifically suggests that people considering their first hike up Yr Wyddfa might want to try an alternative route.

So we’d put this one in the “come back and try it once you’ve got a bit more mountain walking under your belt” category. There are plenty of other ways to get your first Snowdon summit without throwing yourself straight into the deep end.

If you’ve never climbed a mountain before, we’d probably look at the Llanberis Path first. It’s a long day, but the route is relatively gradual, it’s easy to reach without a car and you’ll have plenty of company along the way.

If you’re already comfortable walking on hills and want something a little quieter, we’d look at Snowdon Ranger or Rhyd Ddu.

If you want the spectacular lakeside scenery around Pen-y-Pass and you’re happy with a steeper, rockier route, consider Miners’ or Pyg.

And we’d save Watkin for another day.

But there isn’t one route that is right for everyone. Think about the sort of day you want, how comfortable you are on steep and rocky ground, the weather forecast and how you’re going to get to the start of the walk.

Don’t choose your Snowdon route first and think about transport afterwards. It’s worth looking at both together. Some of the trailheads have very limited parking, and places such as Pen-y-Pass can be particularly busy. The National Park recommends using the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus service to reach the various starting points.

And honestly, getting the bus can make the whole day easier. You don’t have to worry about finding a parking space, you can enjoy the views on the way there, and you don’t have to finish a long mountain day by getting back behind the wheel.

If you’re staying with us at Lodge Dinorwig, you’ve also got the S3 Sherpa stop just outside the hostel, which makes some of the less obvious routes surprisingly easy to reach.

If you’re driving, have a look at our guide:

Where to park for Snowdon

And if you don’t have a car, we’ve got you covered there too:

How to climb Snowdon without a car

Whatever route you choose, remember that Yr Wyddfa is a proper mountain. The weather can change quickly and conditions at the summit can be very different from those in Llanberis or at the bottom of the path.

Good walking shoes or boots, waterproofs, warm layers, plenty of food and water and a fully charged phone are all sensible things to have with you. The National Park also recommends carrying a map and compass and knowing how to use them. And check the weather before you go. A beautiful sunny morning in the valley doesn’t necessarily mean beautiful sunny weather on the summit.

We have written a little guide: What to Pack to Climb Snowdon?

This sounds obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to think of reaching the summit as the main event. You’ve made it to the top. You’ve taken the photo. Brilliant. Now you’ve got to walk back down. Your legs might be tired, the weather might have changed and the rocky sections can feel very different on the descent.

So give yourself plenty of time and don’t be tempted to rush the way down. The aim is to finish the day tired, happy and already thinking about which mountain you’re going to do next.

If you’re planning your first climb up Yr Wyddfa, we’re just up the hill in Dinorwig. We’re a small, independent hostel with 14 beds, breakfast included and plenty of space to sit down with a cup of coffee and work out your route for the following day.

Not sure where to stay for your Snowdon walk? We’ve put together a guide to the different areas and accommodation options around Yr Wyddfa, including what works best for the different walking routes:

Best Hostels new Snowdon: 4 Places to Stay

And if you’re not sure which path makes sense for you, just ask.

We’re always out walking around Eryri ourselves and are happy to have a chat about routes, buses, weather and where to go.