Llanberis Pass facts for kids
The Llanberis Pass (also called Bwlch Llanberis in Welsh) is a famous mountain pass in Snowdonia, Wales. It's like a natural pathway through huge mountains! A main road, the A4086 road, goes through this pass. It connects the southeast part of Snowdonia to the town of Llanberis.
The pass goes right over a spot called Pen-y-Pass. It sits between two big groups of mountains: the Glyderau and the Snowdon massif. At the very bottom of the pass, you'll find a tiny village called Nant Peris.
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Exploring the Llanberis Pass
The Llanberis Pass is located in the county of Gwynedd, in northwestern Wales. It's surrounded by the impressive mountain ranges of Snowdon and the Glyderau.
Pen-y-Pass: The Summit Spot
The highest point of the pass is called Pen-y-Pass. It's about 359 meters (1,178 feet) above sea level. At this spot, there's a building that used to be a hotel. Now, it's a Youth Hostel, which is a place where travelers can stay cheaply. The main road, the A4086 road, runs right through the pass.
Valleys and Rivers Around the Pass
To the northwest of the pass is the Nant Peris valley. This valley slopes down towards the town of Llanberis. Along the way, you'll see two beautiful lakes, Llyn Peris and Llyn Padarn. The water then flows as the Afon Rhythallt river all the way to Caernarfon and the Menai Strait. The valley itself is quite narrow and steep, with lots of rocky cliffs and big boulders next to the road.
About a mile east of Pen-y-Pass, you'll find the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel. East of this hotel, small streams begin that form the Dyffryn Mymbyr. This river eventually joins the River Llugwy at a place called Capel Curig. To the south of Pen-y-Gwryd, the Afon Glaslyn river starts its journey. It flows southwest towards the village of Beddgelert.
Rock Climbing Adventures
The Llanberis Pass is a super popular place for rock climbers. Many amazing rock faces are easy to reach from the road.
Famous Climbing Spots
On the north side of the pass, some of the main climbing cliffs are:
- Dinas y Gromlech: This cliff is famous for a climbing route called Cenotaph Corner.
- Carreg Wastad: This means "flat rock."
- Clogwyn y Grochan: These three cliffs (Dinas y Gromlech, Carreg Wastad, and Clogwyn y Grochan) are often called the "Three Cliffs."
- Further down the valley, there's Craig Ddu, which means "black rock."
On the south side, the main cliff right by the road is called Dinas Mot.
The Cromlech Boulders
The Cromlech Boulders are large rocks by the roadside. They are used for a type of climbing called bouldering, which is climbing on smaller rocks without ropes. These boulders were almost destroyed in 1973 when plans were made to widen the road. But local people, climbers, historians, and scientists protested for six years, and the boulders were saved!
Climbing Legends and Training
Some famous climbers are linked to this area, like John Menlove Edwards (who climbed here in the 1930s and 1940s) and Joe Brown (in the 1950s and 1960s). The British team that climbed Mount Everest in 1953 also trained in this area. They stayed at the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel at the eastern end of the pass to prepare for their big adventure.
Getting to the Pass
At Pen-y-Pass, there's a car park and a cafe. From here, you can start many exciting walks.
Footpaths and Trails
Three different footpaths lead up to the summit of Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales. There are also two other paths to the east that go to the tops of Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach.
Parking and Buses
The car park at Pen-y-Pass often gets full very quickly. So, there's a special shuttle bus service from Llanberis. This service includes a park and ride option from near the Vaynol Arms.
The Snowdonia Sherpa bus service also runs frequently. These buses, operated by Express Motors and GHA Coaches, connect many places like Betws-y-Coed, Capel Curig, Pen-y-Gwryd, and Pen-y-Pass. They also run between Pen-y-Pass, Nant Peris (where you can also park and ride), and Llanberis. This makes it easy to visit the pass even if you don't drive.
