Snowdonia by Michal Huniewicz

Snowdonia is a national park in Wales, established as the third one in Britain. It is visited by 6 million people annually.

It has a hole in the middle - slate mines are contained within it. The park is a home to the feral goat among other animals; it also the wettest spot of the British Isles, so you may see drops of water that were on my lens while taking pictures.

I took these pictures on my way to the mountain Snowdon.

Uploaded on: 2012-04-15. Updated on: 2026-02-26.

Path

Path
Snowdon has been described as 'probably the busiest mountain in Britain' but it wasn't that bad when I visited, in April.

Pen Y Pas

Pen Y Pas
This is where most people begin the ascent. From here the Miners' Track, the Pyg Track, and the ascent via Crib Goch are available. If you're lazy or can't walk, in the town of Llanberis there's a railway to take you to the top of Snowdon.

Miners' Track

Miners' Track
This picture was taken from the Miners' Track and it shows the Llyn Teyrn lake. Derelict mine buildings are encountered along the path.

Llyn Teyrn

Llyn Teyrn
Here, also Llyn Teyrn, and mine buildings on the right. These were probably copper mines.

Bruised clouds

Bruised clouds
Bruised clouds sagging oppressively from the sky.

Sunshine

Sunshine
One of the brief moments of sunshine.

Soft rush

Soft rush
I had to use my pocket Wildlife of Britain guide for this: I think this is soft rush.

Llyn Llydaw

Llyn Llydaw
If you want to have a swim in Llyn Llydaw, don't - it's one of the coldest lakes in Britain.

B&W

B&W
Rocks in B&W.

Crack in the clouds

Crack in the clouds
'There's a crack in the clouds, but only for a moment now. Like an owl looking out, the blue sky spies the roads we will go down.' (Audioslave)

Sheep

Sheep
Sheep didn't seem to mind the rain - my lens did (see how drops made the picture blurry here and there?).

Pyg Track

Pyg Track
This is on the Pyg Track (aka Pig Track). Snowdonia NPA: "Nobody knows for sure why this path is called the Pyg Track. It's possible that it was named after the pass it leads through, Bwlch y Moch (translated Pigs' Pass) as the path is sometimes spelled 'Pig Track'. Or, maybe because it was used to carry 'pyg' (black tar) to the copper mines on Snowdon. Another possible explanation is that the path was named after the nearby Pen y Gwryd Hotel, popular amongst the early mountain walkers."

Llyn Llydaw from the Pyg Track

Llyn Llydaw from the Pyg Track
Llyn Llydaw is up to 58m deep.

Snowdon

Snowdon
This is Snowdon, hidden in the clouds. It's the highest mountain of Wales (1,085m above the sea level). See the lake on the left? It's called Glaslyn and this is where, according to the folklore, Excalibur, the sword of King Arthur, was returned to the Lady of the Lake.

Going up

Going up
Somewhere on the ridge on the right King Arthur is said to have died. His body was then placed in a boat in Glaslyn, to be carried away to the legendary island of Afallon.

Even higher

Even higher
Here it began to be properly cold and windy! The legend says that King Arthur's men sleep in a cave on the slopes of Y Lliwedd but will awake when they are needed. There's an identical legend about knights that sleep under the Polish mountain of Giewont.

Above the clouds

Above the clouds
Not really above the clouds, but there was a short moment of clear sky, captured here.

From the top

From the top
Here's the view from almost the top.

Snowdon conquered!

Snowdon conquered!
Relevant quote: 'It used to be that men "conquered" mountains in a cacophony of gratuitous chest-thumping.' — Tim Cahill. It took me and my friends a few hours to get to the top but it was absolutely worth it.
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