Winter Walking in Snowdonia

A brilliant opportunity to walk in the mountains of Snowdonia in winter with a small group and Winter Mountain Leader over a weekend.


Experience Type: Multi-Day Experience
Duration:
2 nights
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Group size: Maximum 8 (but up to 20 sharing the accommodation)
Level: Tough (Winter) - no previous experience of winter walking required, but you will need a good level of hill-walking fitness
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs

In a Nutshell:

  • Experience the spectacular mountains of Snowdonia in the heart of winter.

  • Walk safely and comfortably with a Winter Mountain Leader a small group of fellow adventurers.

  • Relax in guesthouse accommodation with a cosy lounge and a toasty log burner.

  • Enjoy hearty, home-cooked meals prepared by your Large Outdoors host.

  • Please note: B1 walking boots are required. These can be purchased or hired from all good outdoor specialist shops.


 

We are not currently offering this walk.

If you would like to organise your own private walk we can arrange this via our Hire a Guide service. Details can be found here…

How do we grade our walks?

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

You’re welcome to arrive at our guesthouse, Dol Peris, from 5pm where you’ll be welcomed by your Large Outdoors host for the weekend. Your mission tonight is to get settled and meet your fellow adventurers for the weekend. We’ll have the log burner lit and a delicious meal cooking in the kitchen, leaving you with nothing to do but relax and have a laugh in great company.

This trip usually runs alongside another Large Outdoors experience based at Dol Peris, so there’s also the chance to chat to others who will be looking forward to their outdoor adventures over the weekend. We’ll enjoy dinner at the accommodation together at around 8pm, when your host will brief the group on the weekend’s adventures.

Day 2

After breakfast and packing up our lunches for the day, we’ll put on our walking gear and head out in the winter wilderness.

If the conditions mean it will be safer to use crampons and ice axes, your Large Outdoors guide will give you a full briefing on using them safely and make sure you’re able to use them comfortably.

Your guide will choose the route today based on the conditions and what the group would like to achieve over the weekend, with a selection of the possible options being:

  • Moel Siabod

  • The Glyders

  • Marchlyn Mawr Horseshoe

  • Cnicht

  • Carnedd Dafydd and Llewelyn

We’ll return to our accommodation in the late afternoon, giving you plenty of time to freshen up and warm up in front of the log burner. Our accommodation has a dedicated drying room for any items of kit that got wet during your day on the hills.

Tonight your host will cook dinner and you can relive the day’s adventures with your group and other Large Outdoors participants, then relax in the cosy lounger or perhaps enjoy a visit to a local pub.

Day 3

This morning we’ll enjoy breakfast together and pack up our belongings, checking out of the accommodation before heading out for a second day of winter walking around one of Snowdonia’s impressive hill routes. Prepare for breathtaking views few get to experience at this time of year!

Like yesterday, your Large Outdoors guide will assess the day’s conditions and choose a route that will be safe and enjoyable - possibly from one of those listed above.

Depending on the time we get down from the hills, there may be time to grab a last cuppa or a late lunch together, otherwise it’ll be time to hit the road with a head full of brilliant winter walking memories!

Good to Know

  • Meeting Time: from 5pm.
    You can arrive any time from 5pm - the Large Outdoors host will be at the accommodation to welcome you. Dinner will be served around 8pm so if you intend to arrive later than this, please ensure you have something to eat on the way.

    Meeting Location:
    Dol Peris
    High Street
    Llanberis
    Gwynedd
    LL55 4HA

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    Parking: There is limited parking available at the accommodation and plenty of pay-and-display car parks nearby.

    Public Transport: The easiest way to get to Dol Peris on public transport is a train to Bangor and then the S2 bus from Bangor Train Station to Llanberis. Please check service/timetables before travelling.

    Taxi: A taxi from Bangor Train Station to Llanberis can cost around £30.

    Please Note: On some days there could be a short drive required - where activities don’t start from the door of the accommodation. We don't include transport and participants normally car share. Some of our possible routes for the weekend mean we may need to jump on a local bus - the cost for these journeys is not included.

    Finish Time: We aim to finish on the final day between 1pm and 3pm - the exact finish time may depend on the planned/chosen activity, group dynamic, weather conditions, whether the group chooses to grab a coffee or lunch together during/after, etc. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility.

  • We’ll be staying in the lovely Dol Peris Guesthouse on this trip. It’s a spacious and cosy converted farmhouse set on the edge of Snowdonia National Park, so it’s perfectly placed for our itinerary. With views towards the forests and mountains, it’s a haven that we love coming back to. Wi-Fi is available, there’s a handy drying room and even a wood-burning stove for extra comfort!

    Bedding is provided - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.

    Accommodation Address:
    Dol Peris
    High Street
    Llanberis
    Gwynedd
    LL55 4HA

    Room Types:
    You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
    Bed in a Shared Female Room
    Bed in a Shared Male Room
    Double/Twin Room
    Single Room (shared bathroom)

    There are Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a room - with single beds, no bunks - with other participants (room sizes vary and bathrooms are shared). Double/Twin Rooms sleep up to two participants booking together (bathrooms are shared with other rooms or en-suite). Single Rooms are for one participant and have a single bed (bathrooms are shared with other rooms).

  • Included:

    • 2 nights accommodation in a guesthouse - we have taken over exclusive use of the accommodation, so it will just be Large Outdoors participants staying.

    • A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you, deal with meal preparation and the logistics for your experience.

    • Guided walks on 2 days (Day 2 & Day 3) through the magical Snowdonia National Park, with training in the use of crampons and ice axe (if the conditions require their use), learning skills for walking safely and confidently in mountain environments in the winter.

    • Winter kit hire to include: ice axe, helmet, snow goggles and crampons.

    • Home-cooked set 2-course dinners at the accommodation on both evenings.

    • A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).

    • A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Day 2’s walk.

    • Tea (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.

    • Bedding - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.

    • The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.

    • Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

    Not included:

    • Travel to and from the meeting location.

    • B1 walking boots. You must purchase these before the trip or hire them from a kit rental company.

    • Travel from the accommodation to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the door. On some days there could be a short drive required - we don't include transport and participants normally car share. Some of our possible routes for the weekend mean we may need to jump on a local bus - the cost for these journeys is not included.

    • Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.

    • Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.

    • Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation, or there’s a handy shop next door.

    • Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.

    • Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.

  • Please see our Winter Walking Kit List.

    The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.

    Please note: B1 (crampon-compatible) walking boots are required. These can be purchased or hired from all good outdoor specialist shops. See our blog on what to look out for when buying winter walking boots.

    If you have your own winter walking kit then please feel free to bring it along. However, the use of crampons, an ice axe, helmet, and snow goggles is included in the price.

  • • What level of fitness is needed?
    This trip is graded as Tough (Winter Walking). Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.
    No previous experience of winter walking is required, but you will need a good level of general hill-walking fitness.

    • Can I attend on my own?
    Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.

    • I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
    Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. *Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.

    • What transport is provided during this trip?
    We do not provide any transport for this experience. On some days there could be a short drive required to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the accommodation - participants normally car share. Some of our possible routes for the weekend mean we may need to jump on a local bus - the cost for these journeys is not included.

    • Can I bring my dog?
    Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.