Running in Eryri (Snowdonia): a runner's guide

Eryri is where running in Wales stops being a matter of fitness and starts being a matter of judgement. The park covers roughly 823 square miles of northern Wales, and within it sit Yr Wyddfa (1,085m), the long whaleback of the Carneddau, the boulder-strewn Glyderau, and a southern half around Cadair Idris that most visitors never reach.

What the running is actually like

Two things catch people out. The first is that ascent here is steep and sustained rather than rolling - you will walk sections you would run anywhere else, and that is normal, not a failure. The second is the surface. Large parts of the Glyderau and the ridges above Ogwen are rock rather than path, and rock in the wet is a different sport.

The Carneddau are the exception and the reason a lot of runners keep coming back: broad, grassy, high ground where you can hold a rhythm for miles. If you want mountain running in Eryri that actually involves running, start there.

Weather

The high ground makes its own weather and the sea is close on three sides. Cloud base drops onto the ridges with very little warning, and a clear valley tells you almost nothing about what the tops are doing. Carry more than you think you need, and know how to navigate without seeing anything.

Where to base yourself

Llanberis puts you at the foot of Yr Wyddfa and within reach of the Glyderau. Capel Curig sits between Ogwen and the Moelwynion and is the best compromise if you want variety. Dolgellau is the base for Cadair Idris and the quieter southern hills.