| Snowdon | |
|---|---|
| Yr Wyddfa (Welsh) | |
 The Snowdon group viewed from the north-east left to right Y Lliwedd,Crib Goch, Yr Wyddfa (the summit),Garnedd Ugain | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,084.74 m (3,558.9 ft) [1][a] |
| Prominence | 1,039 m (3,409 ft) Ranked joint 3rd inBritish Isles |
| Parent peak | Ben Nevis |
| Isolation | 368.7 km (229.1 mi)  |
| Listing | Marilyn, Ribu,Furth,Hewitt,Nuttall,Welsh 3000s,council top, |
| Coordinates | 53°4′6.59″N4°4′34.43″W / 53.0684972°N 4.0762306°W /53.0684972; -4.0762306[2] |
| Geography | |
  Snowdon Snowdon (Wales) Show map of Wales Snowdon Snowdon (the United Kingdom) Show map of the United Kingdom | |
| Parent range | Snowdonia |
| OS grid | SH6098954379 |
| Topo map | OSLandranger 115,Explorer OL17 |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Llanberis Path |
| Name | Grid ref | Height | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crib y Ddysgl | SH610551 | 1,065 m (3,494 ft) | Welsh 3000s,Hewitt, Nuttall |
| Crib Goch | SH624551 | 923 m (3,028 ft) | Welsh 3000s,Hewitt,Nuttall |
| Craig Fach | SH635552 | 609 m (1,998 ft) | sub-Hewitt |
| Craig Wen | SH597508 | 605 m (1,985 ft) | sub-Hewitt |
Snowdon (/ˈsnoʊdən/), orYr Wyddfa (Welsh:[ərˈʊɨ̞̯ðva]ⓘ), is amountain inSnowdonia inNorth Wales. It has an elevation of 1,085 metres (3,560 ft)above sea level, which makes it both thehighest mountain inWales and the highest in theBritish Isles south of theScottish Highlands. Snowdon is designated anational nature reserve for its rareflora andfauna, and is located withinSnowdonia National Park.
The rocks that form Snowdon were produced byvolcanoes in theOrdovician period, and themassif has been extensively sculpted byglaciation, forming thepyramidal peak of Snowdon and thearêtes ofCrib Goch andY Lliwedd. It is part of the largerSnowdon range, which includesGarnedd Ugain,Yr Aran, andMoel Eilio.[3] There are several lakes on the mountain, the largest of which isLlyn Lydaw (110 acres (45 ha)), located on the eastern flank at 1,430 ft (440 m).
The mountain has been described as the "busiest in the United Kingdom", and in 2022 it was climbed by 543,541 walkers. There are six main paths to the summit, the most popular of which begins in the town ofLlanberis to the north.[4] The summit can also be reached using theSnowdon Mountain Railway, which carried 98,567 passengers in 2021.[5] Therack railway, which opened in 1896, operates over4+3⁄4 miles (7.6 kilometres), from Llanberis to theSummit station. It generally operates from March to the end of October, with trains running to the summit station from May. The cliff faces on Snowdon, includingClogwyn Du'r Arddu, are significant forrock climbing, and the mountain was used byEdmund Hillary in training for the1953 ascent ofMount Everest. The mountain, alongsideBen Nevis in Scotland andScafell Pike in England, is climbed as part of theNational Three Peaks Challenge.[6]
The name "Snowdon" is first recorded in 1095 asSnawdune, and is derived from theOld English elementssnaw anddun, meaning "snow hill".[7][8]
The Welsh name of the mountain,Yr Wyddfa, is first recorded inLatin asWeddua vaur in 1284. This is probably an approximation ofPen y Wyddfa Fawr. The elementgwyddfa in this context means 'height, promontory', and also appears in the Welsh name for the town ofMold,Yr Wyddgrug.[8]
Gwyddfa later developed the meaning "burial cairn", and there is a legend that the giantRhita is buried under the mountain's summit cairn.[8][9] One legend claims that Rhita was defeated and buried on the mountain byKing Arthur, and another states that Rhita was killed by the giantIdris who lived on the mountainCadair Idris.[10][11] The mountain is also linked to other figures from Arthurian legend, a legendaryAfanc (water monster) and theTylwyth Teg (fairies).[7]
It has been argued thatMount Snowdon strictly refers to a higher mountain inBritish Columbia, Canada, with the Welsh mountain simply being "Snowdon".[12] However, the Welsh mountain has been referred to in some uses as "Mount Snowdon" or "Mt Snowdon".[13][14]
In November 2022, national park authority announced they are to refer to the mountain by its Welsh nameYr Wyddfa, not Snowdon.[15] Following a two-year transition period, in November 2024, the authority announced the name would be kept following its success in gaining support and adoption by businesses and media.[16]
A 1682 survey estimated that the summit of Snowdon was at an elevation of 3,720 feet (1,130 m); in 1773,Thomas Pennant quoted a later estimate of 3,568 ft (1,088 m) above sea level atCaernarfon. It was long believed to be the tallest mountain on the island of Great Britain until measurements taken in the 18th century confirmed thatBen Nevis and several other Scottish peaks were taller.[17] Recent surveys give the height of the summit as 1,085 m (3,560 ft), making Snowdon the highest mountain in Wales, and the highest point in theBritish Isles outsideScotland.[18]
The rocks which today make up Snowdon and its neighbouring mountains were formed in theOrdovician Period. At that time, most of modern-day Wales was near the edge ofAvalonia, submerged beneath the ancientIapetus Ocean.[19] In the Soudleyan (former British regional) stage (458 to 457 million years ago) of theCaradoc (British regional) epoch, avolcaniccaldera formed, and producedash flows ofrhyolitictuff, which formed deposits up to 500 metres (1,600 ft) thick.[20] The current summit is near the northern edge of the ancient caldera; the caldera's full extent is unclear, but it extended as far as the summit ofMoel Hebog in the south-west.[21]
Snowdon and its surrounding peaks have been described as "true examples ofAlpine topography".[22] The summits of Snowdon andGarnedd Ugain are surrounded bycwms, rounded valleys scooped out byglaciation.[23] Erosion by glaciers in adjacent cwms caused the characteristicarêtes ofCrib Goch,Crib y Ddysgl andY Lliwedd, and thepyramidal peak of Snowdon itself.[24] Otherglacial landforms that can be seen around Snowdon includeroches moutonnées,glacial erratics andmoraines.[25]
In winter, Snowdon often has a covering of snow (giving rise to its English name).[26] Although the amount of snow on Snowdon in winter varies significantly, 55% less snow fell in 2004 than in 1994.[27] The slopes of Snowdon have one of the wettest climates in Great Britain, receiving an annual average of more than 5,100 mm (200 in) ofprecipitation.[28]
The environment of Snowdon, particularly its rare plants, has led to the designation of much of the eastern part of the massif as anational nature reserve.[29][30] In addition to plants that are widespread in Snowdonia, Snowdon is home to some plants rarely found elsewhere in Britain. These include the "Snowdon lily",Gagea serotina, which is also found in theAlps and in North America; it was first discovered in Wales byEdward Lhuyd, and the genusLloydia (now included inGagea) was later named in his honour byRichard Anthony Salisbury.[31] Snowdon lies in the northern part ofSnowdonia National Park,[32] which has also provided some legal protection since the park's establishment in 1951.[33]
Otters,polecats, andgoats have been seen near or on the mountain,[34] althoughpine martens have not been seen for many years.[35] Birds that can be seen include theraven,red-billed chough,peregrine,osprey,merlin,red kite and moorland birds.[36]
A number of lakes are found in the variouscwms of the Snowdon range:
Other lakes include:Llyn Du'r Arddu below Clogwyn Du'r Arddu, at a height of 1,901 feet (579 m), 5 acres (2.0 ha);Llyn Teyrn near Pen-y-pass, at a height of 1,237 feet (377 m), 5 acres (2.0 ha); and several smaller pools.[41]
Snowdon has been described as "the busiest mountain in Britain",[42] with some 543,541 people having walked up the mountain in 2022.[43] There are six main walking paths, which can be combined in various ways.[44] In addition, the circular walk starting and ending atPen-y-Pass and using theCrib Goch route and the route overY Lliwedd, both of which involvescrambling, is called the Snowdon Horseshoe, and is considered "one of the finest ridge walks in Britain".[45] The routes are arranged here anticlockwise, starting with the path leading from Llanberis. In winter conditions, all these routes become significantly more dangerous and the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team state that "additional skills, equipment and knowledge are required".[46] Many inexperienced walkers have been killed over the years attempting to climb the mountain via the main paths.[47]
The mountain itself may also be viewed on takeoff and approach to bothManchester Airport andLiverpool John Lennon Airport on very clear days, and even fromHowth Head inDublin,Ireland.[48]
On 26 June 2018, Sam Laming became the first everWingsuit pilot to perform a 'Proximity Flight' over a UK mountain, by flying approximately 30 metres over Snowdon's summit, after jumping from a helicopter with fellow wingsuit camera pilot, Mike Hitchcock.[49]
In 2021, John Harold, the director of the Snowdonia Society, reported that the number of visitors ascending Snowdon was exceeding capacity. At popular times walkers queue for upwards of 45 minutes for an opportunity to take a photo at the summit pillar.[50]
TheSnowdon Massif includes a number of cliffs, and holds an important place in the history ofrock climbing in the United Kingdom.Clogwyn Du'r Arddu is often colloquially known as 'Cloggy' among climbers, and was the site of the first recorded climb in Britain, in 1798.[7] It was carried out byPeter Bailey Williams andWilliam Bingley, while searching for rare plants.[7] It is now considered to be one of the best cliffs in Britain for rock climbing.[51]
Y Lliwedd was also explored by early climbers, and was the subject of a 1909 climbing guide,The Climbs on Lliwedd by J. M. A. Thompson and A. W. Andrews, one of the first in Britain.[7] Snowdon was used byEdmund Hillary and his group during preparations for their successful 1953 expedition to climbMount Everest.[7]
The first recorded ascent of Snowdon was by the botanistThomas Johnson in 1639.[7] However, the 18th-century Welsh historianThomas Pennant mentions a "triumphal fair upon this our chief of mountains" followingEdward I's conquest of Wales in 1284, which could indicate the possibility of earlier ascents.[52]
The six main paths were mapped by the Google Trekker in 2015.[53] The elevations and gradients given here are for the start point on a public road, based onOrdnance Survey mapping. Other definitions are possible so alternative figures can be found (e.g.[54][55]).
Length: 6.8 km (4.2 mi). Elevation gain: 965 m (3,166 ft). Overall gradient: 1 in 7.1 (14.1%).
The Llanberis Path is the longest route to the summit. It follows close to the line of the railway, and being the easiest ascent,[18] it is the route used by the annualSnowdon Race,[56] which has a record time of less than 40 minutes recorded from the start to the summit.[57]
The section of the Llanberis Path above Clogwyn station has long been called the "Killer Convex"; in icy conditions, this convex slope can send unwary walkers over the cliffs of Clogwyn Du'r Arddu. Four people died there in February 2009.[58][59]
Length: 6.3 km (3.9 mi). Elevation gain: 935 m (3,068 ft). Overall gradient: 1 in 6.7 (14.9%).
The Snowdon Ranger Path (Welsh:Llwybr Cwellyn) begins at theyouth hostel besideLlyn Cwellyn, to the west of the mountain, served by theA4085 andSnowdon Ranger railway station. This was formerly the Saracen's Head Inn, but was renamed under the ownership of the mountain guide John Morton.[17] It is thought to be the oldest path to the summit.[18]
The route begins withzigzags through turf,[38] before reaching a flatterboggy area in front of Llyn Ffynnon-y-gwas. The path then climbs to Bwlch Cwm Brwynog, and then snakes along the ridge above Clogwyn Du'r Arddu towards the summit. This path meets the railway, the Llanberis Path, the Crib Goch path, and the combined Pyg Track and Miners' Track all within a short distance, just below the summit.[38]
Length: 5.8 km (3.6 mi). Elevation gain: 905 m (2,969 ft) or 896 m (2,940 ft)[38][54] depending on exact start point. Overall gradient: 1 in 6.4 (15.7%).
The Rhyd Ddu path, formerly called the Beddgelert Path, leads from the village ofRhyd Ddu, west of Snowdon, gently up on to Llechog, a broad ridge dropping west from the summit.[7] It is considered one of the easier routes to the summit,[38][7] with the advantage that the summit is visible from the start,[7] but is one of the least used routes.[51] It climbs at a shallow gradient to Bwlch Main, shortly southwest of the summit, from where it climbs more steeply, meeting up with the Watkin Path at a site marked with a large standing stone a few hundred metres from the summit. An alternative start begins atPitt's Head on theA4085 road.[51]
Length: 6.2 km (3.9 mi). Elevation gain: 1,025 m (3,363 ft). Overall gradient: 1 in 6.1 (16.5%).
The Watkin Path is "the most demanding route direct to the summit of Snowdon",[29] since it starts at the lowest elevation of any of the main routes and has the steepest overall gradient.[38] It was first conceived bySir Edward Watkin, a railway owner who had attempted to build a railway tunnel under theEnglish Channel, and had asummer home inNant Gwynant near the start of the path.[18] It was originally designed as a donkey track and opened in 1892.[38]
The start of the Watkin Path has been described as "the prettiest beginning" of the routes up Snowdon.[38] It begins at Bethania on theA498 and climbs initially through oldbroadleaved woodland.[38] After leaving the woods, the path climbs past the waterfalls of the Afon Llan to the glacialcirque of Cwm Llan, crossing a disusedincline from an abandoned slate quarry.[29] It then reaches Plas Cwmllan, formerly the home of the quarry manager for the South Snowdon Slate Works beyond, and later used fortarget practice bycommandos during the Second World War.[29] Near Plas Cwmllan is the large boulder known as Gladstone Rock, which bears a plaque commemorating a speech given in 1892 byWilliam Ewart Gladstone, the then 82-year-oldPrime Minister, on the subject ofJustice for Wales.[38] The slate workings in Cwm Llan were opened in 1840, but closed in 1882 due to the expense of transporting the slate to the sea atPorthmadog. Various buildings, including barracks and dressing sheds, remain.[29]
From the slate quarries, the Watkin Path veers to the north-east to reach Bwlch Ciliau, thecol between Snowdon andY Lliwedd, which is marked by a large orange-browncairn.[38] From here, it heads west to meet the Rhyd Ddu Path at a standing stone shortly below the summit of Snowdon.[29]
Length: 6.4 km (4.0 mi).
The route overY Lliwedd is more frequently used for descent than ascent, and forms the second half of the Snowdon Horseshoe walk, the ascent being over Crib Goch. It is reached from the summit by following the Watkin Path down to Bwlch y Saethau, and then continuing along the ridge to the twin summits of Y Lliwedd.[45] The path then drops down to Cwm Dyli to join the Miners' Track towards Pen-y-Pass.
Length: 6.6 km (4.1 mi). Elevation gain: 726 m (2,382 ft). Overall gradient: 1 in 9.1 (10.9%).
The Miners' Track (Welsh:Llwybr y Mwynwyr) begins at the car park atPen-y-Pass, at an elevation of around 360 m (1,180 ft), and has the shallowest overall gradient.[7] It begins by skirtingLlyn Teyrn before climbing slightly to cross the causeway overLlyn Llydaw.[7] It follows the lake's shoreline before climbing toGlaslyn, from where it ascends steeply towards Bwlch Glas. It is joined for most of this zigzag ascent by the Pyg Track, and on reaching the summit ridge, is united with the Llanberis Path and Snowdon Ranger Path.[7] Derelict mine buildings are encountered along several parts of the path.[7]
Length: 5.3 km (3.3 mi). Elevation gain: 726 m (2,382 ft). Overall gradient: 1 in 7.3 (13.7%).
The "Pyg Track" (Welsh:Llwybr Pyg), or "Pig Track" (both spellings may be encountered), also leads from Pen-y-Pass.[38] The track climbs over Bwlch y Moch on the eastern flanks of Crib Goch, before traversing that ridge's lower slopes.[7] Above Glaslyn, it is joined by the Miners' Track for the zigzag climb to Bwlch Glas between Snowdon and Garnedd Ugain, where it joins the combined Llanberis and Snowdon Ranger paths.[7]
From the website of theSnowdonia National Park Authority,
Nobody knows for certain 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.
— Snowdonia National Park Authority[60]
Length: 5.0 km (3.1 mi).
The traverse ofCrib Goch has been described as "one of the finest ridge walks in Britain",[45] and forms part of the Snowdon Horseshoe, a circuit of the peaks surrounding Cwm Dyli.[7] The path follows the Pyg Track before separating off from it atBwlch y Moch and leading up the East ridge ofCrib Goch. After the Crib Goch ridge, it descends slightly to Bwlch Coch, then ascends to the peak of Garnedd Ugain (1,065 m or 3,494 ft), before dropping to join the Llanberis path. All routes which tackle Crib Goch are considered mountaineering routes orscrambles.[61]
TheSnowdon Mountain Railway (SMR) (Welsh:Rheilffordd yr Wyddfa) is anarrow-gaugerack-and-pinionmountain railway that travels for4+3⁄4 miles (7.6 km) fromLlanberis to theSummit station of Snowdon.[62] It is the only public rack andpinion railway in theUnited Kingdom,[62][63] and after more than 100 years of operation it remains a populartourist attraction, carrying more than 130,000 passengers annually.[64] Single carriage trains are pushed up the mountain by eithersteam locomotives ordiesel locomotives. It has also previously useddiesel railcars asmultiple units. The railway was constructed between December 1894, when the first sod was cut by Enid Assheton-Smith (after whom locomotive No.2 was named), and February 1896, at a total cost of £63,800 (equivalent to £9,325,000 as of 2023).[65]
| Hafod Eryri | |
|---|---|
 Hafod Eryri (2009) | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Address | via Snowdon Mountain Railway, Llanberis, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 4TY |
| Coordinates | 53°04′08″N4°04′32″W / 53.068865°N 4.075588°W /53.068865; -4.075588 |
| Elevation | 1,065 m (3,494 ft) |
| Opened | 12 June 2009 |
| Cost | £8.4m |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Ray Hole Architects |
| Structural engineer | Arup |
| Main contractor | Carillion |
| Awards and prizes | RIBA Welsh Architecture Award 2010 |
| Website | |
| Hafod Eryri Visitor Centre | |
The first building to be erected at the Snowdon summit was in 1838 to sell refreshments, and alicence to sell intoxicating liquor was granted in 1845.[7] Very basic accommodation was also provided for visitors.[66] When theSnowdon Mountain Railway was opened in 1896, the company strove to get an alcohol licence for its own proposed new hotel, but being unable to, took over both summit huts by 1898.[66]
During the 1930s, many complaints were received about the state of the facilities at the summit and in 1934/5 a new station building was erected in two phases; the upstairs accommodation was completed in 1937. It was designed by SirClough Williams-Ellis and included rooms for visitors and acafe. The other operators were bought out and the ramshackle collection of buildings on the summit was cleared. The flat roof was intended to be used as a viewing platform and some photographs show it being used in this way. However, other photographs taken of the cafe show that the roof leaked, which probably explains why the practice was stopped. The Summit was taken over by government agencies during the war and the accommodation was restricted to staff use afterwards.[66] Having become increasingly dilapidated in post-war decades, this building was described byPrince Charles as "the highest slum in Wales".[67] Its state led to a campaign to replace the building. In April 2006, Snowdonia National Park Authority, with the support of theSnowdonia Society, agreed a deal to start work on a new cafe and visitor centre complex.[68] By mid-October 2006 the old building had been largely demolished.
The newRIBA Award-winning[69] £8.4 million visitor centre,Hafod Eryri, designed byRay Hole Architects in conjunction withArup and built byCarillion, was officially opened on 12 June 2009[70] byFirst MinisterRhodri Morgan.[71] The Welsh National Poet,Gwyn Thomas, composed a new couplet for the new building, displayed at its entrance and on the windows, which reads "Copa'r Wyddfa: yr ydych chwi, yma, Yn nes at y nefoedd / The summit of Snowdon: You are, here, nearer to Heaven".[72] The nameHafod Eryri was chosen from several hundred put forward after a competition was held by the BBC.[73][74]Hafod isWelsh for anupland summer residence, whileEryri is the Welsh name forSnowdonia.[7]
The summit pillar was built in 2001, the brasstoposcope carrying the date 2000. This plate details exactly 100 locations—mostly other peaks—which can be seen, given ideal visibility. Of the locations mentioned,Mount Leinster (in the Blackstairs Mountains in Ireland) is the furthest, at 188 miles away, with theWicklow Mountains (also in Ireland) being 100 miles away.Slieve Donard, in Northern Ireland, is 108 miles away. TheLake District is 100 miles away, Penmaen Dewi (St David's Head in Pembrokeshire) is 96 miles away,Kinder Scout (in the Peak District) is 94 miles away, and theIsle of Man is 84 miles away.
Originally Snowdon and its summit were owned by three agricultural estates, Vaynol, Hafod y Llan and the Baron Hill Estate. Today the Vaynol land at the summit is owned by the Snowdonia National Park Authority, Hafod y Llan by the National Trust and the Baron Hill Estate retains its holding.[75] The Baron Hill Estate land consists of the farm of Gwastadannas, which includes the Snowdon Horseshoe, Glaslyn, Llyn Llydaw and the northern end of Nant Gwynant.
InWelsh folklore, the summit of Snowdon is said to be thetomb ofRhitta Gawr, agiant.[7] This is claimed to be the reason for theWelsh nameYr Wyddfa,[38] literally meaning "thetumulus".[76] Rhitta Gawr wore a cloak made of men's beards, and was slain byKing Arthur after claiming Arthur's beard.[39] Other sites withArthurian connections include Bwlch y Saethau, on the ridge between Snowdon and Y Lliwedd, where Arthur himself is said to have died. A cairn,Carnedd Arthur, was erected at the site and was still standing as late as 1850,[39] but no longer exists.[7] According to the folklore, Arthur hadBedivere throw his swordExcalibur intoGlaslyn, where Arthur's body was later placed in a boat to be carried away toAfallon. Arthur's men then retreated to a cave on the slopes of Y Lliwedd, where they are said to sleep until such time as they are needed.[39][45]Merlin is supposed to have hidden the golden throne of Britain among the cliffs north of Crib y Ddysgl when the Saxons invaded.[77]Glaslyn was also the final resting place of a water monster, known as anafanc (also the Welsh word forbeaver), which had plagued the people of theConwy valley. They tempted the monster out of the water with a young girl, before securing it with chains and dragging it to Glaslyn.[39][7] A large stone known as Maen Du'r Arddu, below Clogwyn Du'r Arddu, is supposed to havemagical powers. Like several other sites in Wales, it is said that if two people spend the night there, one will become a great poet while the other will become insane.[78] Llyn Coch in Cwm Clogwyn has been associated with theTylwyth Teg (fairies), including a version of thefairy bride legend.[79]
In 1968, scenes representing theKhyber Pass were filmed forCarry On... Up the Khyber on the lower part of the Watkin Path.[80] In 2005,Angela Douglas, one of the stars of the film, unveiled a plaque at the precise location where filming took place to commemorate the location filming. It now forms part of the North Wales Film and Television Trail run by theWales Screen Commission.[81]
_Snowdon_and_Dinas_Emrys_from_above_Beddgelert_-_William_Turner_-_Tate_Britain.jpg)
In January and February 2009 on Snowdon there were four people who died and three of these four deaths were related to people falling.[82] In 2021 there were four people who died on Snowdon.[83]
In 2021 two people were injured and taken to hospital after being struck by lightning on top of Snowdon.[84]
In April 2021 a motion was put forward byGwynedd Councillor John Pughe Roberts for Snowdon to be called by its Welsh nameYr Wyddfa in all official use, and forSnowdonia to similarly be known only asEryri. The motion, however, was rejected as the National Park already had a task group looking at the use and retention of Welsh names. An earlier petition calling for the National Park Authority to do this had been rejected by theSenedd the previous year after it was found to be the responsibility of the park itself, rather than the Welsh Government.[85]
In May 2021, following the dismissal of the motion, YouGov conducted a poll on Snowdon's name. Sixty per cent of Welsh adults supported the English nameSnowdon, compared to 30% wanting the Welsh nameYr Wyddfa. Separating by language, 59% of Welsh speakers preferred the Welsh name, while 37% wantedSnowdon to not be scrapped entirely; 69% of non-Welsh speakers firmly supportedSnowdon as the mountain's name.[86]
In November 2022, Snowdonia National Park Authority voted to useYr Wyddfa andEryri (rather than Snowdon and Snowdonia) in its usage,[15] though in statutory documents both Welsh and English will still be required by law.[87]
In November 2024, the authority stated that the name change had been a "success" as many businesses and media had followed suit. The authority stated that a summer survey showed "strong support" from locals and visitors for the name change. While some concerns were raised over misconceptions by some that the Welsh names were new and mispronunciations, the authority stated that the change resulted in the park being more associated with a Welsh identity, and more different from other UK national parks. The authority is set to make a pronunciation guide and publish a report on the change.[16]
Highest mountains of the United Kingdom (by country) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | Ben Nevis /Beinn Nibheis – 1,345 metres (4,413 ft) |  |
| Wales | Snowdon /Yr Wyddfa – 1,085 m (3,560 ft) | |
| England | Scafell Pike – 978 m (3,209 ft) | |
| Northern Ireland | Slieve Donard /Sliabh Dónairt – 849 m (2,785 ft) | |
| Overseas Territories | Mount Paget 2935 m (9,629 ft),Mount Hope 3,239 metres (10,626 ft) (Antarctic) | |
| Northern Highlands (20) |    | |
|---|---|---|
| Western Highlands (20) | ||
| Central and Eastern Highlands (13) | ||
| Southern Highlands (15) | ||
| Islands (13) | ||
| Scottish Lowlands, England and Wales (13) | ||
| Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland (25) | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
