Stag Walkers Weekend Away: Yr Wyddfa & the Welsh Coast (Ramblers members only)

Join us for four memorable days of walking and discovery, from the woodlands and coast around Porthmadog (where we will be based) to the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), a beautiful coastal walk from Llanystumdwy, and potentially a spectacular heritage train journey through the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia), with evening meals on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

There is no obligation to join every walk or group meal but please be confident you can attend for most of the weekend before you book your place.

This trip includes walking to the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the highest peak in Wales & England at 1,085 metres. This will be much more challenging than our local walks so a good level of walking fitness will be required, along with appropriate clothing/footwear for a day in the mountains. Please note that the planned walks may change depending on weather conditions and other considerations with the safety and comfort of the group in mind.

Organiser: JP

Booking:
Booking opens 8pm Wednesday 29th April.
The weekend is exclusive to current (paid-up) members of the Ramblers. Space is limited to 16 people. Book your place by clicking the ‘Attend’ button on the Meetup event page. If the event is full, click ‘join waitlist’ and you will be added if a place becomes available.

After booking your place, please complete our spreadsheet to tell us about which meals you plan to attend, any dietary requirements and offers of car-sharing. Please complete this as soon as possible and by 14th June at the latest.

The usual Stag Walkers booking policy applies: please book only if confident you can attend and remember to update your RSVP if you have to cancel, and DON’T NO-SHOW unless it is absolutely unavoidable. If you no-show three times, without extenuating circumstances, we will decline further bookings from you for a period of six weeks.

Accommodation:
When you have confirmed your place, please book your own accommodation. Prompt booking is recommended. Porthmadog has many options for hotels (e.g. Travelodge and Premier Inn), B&Bs, guesthouses and Airbnb. The walk leader recommends Queens Rooms guesthouse as a good room-only option. The nearest campsites are Tyddyn Llwyn: ~3 minutes, Morfa Bychan Sites: ~10 minutes, Eisteddfa: ~10 minutes. Feel free to post on the event page if you’d like to share accommodation with other members.

Transport:
Porthmadog is around 4.5-5.5 hours away by road or 6-7 hours by public transport from Herts. Please consider car-sharing if possible.

Meals:
Details of restaurants for Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be provided nearer the time of the trip. Some of these may require attendees to pay a deposit. Alternatively, you are welcome to make your own arrangements for dinner if you prefer.

Walks:
Thursday 16 July: Woodland, Coast and Estuary Views from Porthmadog - 6 miles - Leisurely, Circular
Starts 4:30 PM at Porthmadog Railway Car Park, High Street, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, LL49 9HT

We’ll kick off the weekend with a lovely evening circular walk from Porthmadog Station, taking in a real variety of scenery straight away. The route starts along railway-side paths and town streets before climbing through the peaceful woodland of Nursery Wood to Tremadog. From there, we continue along hillside and rocky slopes on the edge of Moel-y-Gest, with fantastic views over the Glaslyn Estuary, the coastline, sandy coves, surrounding hills and the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia).
The walk then drops through the wooded slopes of Parc y Borth to the shore, where we join the Wales Coast Path for an easier stretch beside the water. We’ll then pass Harbour Station and Llyn Bach before returning through the centre of Porthmadog to the station. A great introduction to the area and an enjoyable way to start the trip.

Friday 17 July: Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) Summit Adventure via Snowdon Ranger and Rhyd Ddu - 8 miles, 954m elevation, Very Strenuous, Linear
Meet at 9:15 AM at Porthmadog Railway Car Park, High Street, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, LL49 9HT. We will travel by Bus S4 Sherpa, changing at Beddgelert onto Bus S3, with a 5-minute connection between buses, arriving around 10.15 AM at Snowdon Ranger. Alternatively, if we have enough drivers willing to help with transport, we could drive to Beddgelert, 7 Cae Morys Parking, LL55 4YW (£6 for the whole day) and take Bus S3 from there.

Our big mountain day takes us up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via the Snowdon Ranger Path, descending by the Rhyd Ddu Path. This is a superb mountain route, combining a steady, sustained ascent with a more dramatic and quieter descent.
Starting from Snowdon Ranger, we’ll climb through rugged scenery with increasingly impressive views over Llyn Cwellyn and the surrounding mountains. Higher up, the terrain becomes rockier and the sense of height and space grows as we make our way towards the summit of Yr Wyddfa.
At the top, we’ll stop for a packed lunch and, weather permitting, take time to enjoy the spectacular panoramic views. There is also the Hafod Eryri café at the summit for anyone who would like to buy drinks, snacks or cakes, and there are public toilets there too.
We’ll descend via the Rhyd Ddu Path, which feels quieter and more remote, with striking mountain scenery and some airy sections that add to the sense of adventure. If we’re back down in good time, we may finish with a relaxed stop at the Cwellyn Arms for a well-earned drink.
For the return journey, we will travel back to Porthmadog by Bus S3 from Rhyd Ddu, changing at Beddgelert onto Bus S4. If we travel by car at the start, we will return to Beddgelert by Bus S3 at the end of the walk and then drive back from there.

Saturday 18 July: Coast Path and Castle Views from Llanystumdwy to Porthmadog - 10 miles - Moderate, Linear
Starts 10:15 AM at Porthmadog Railway Car Park, High Street, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, LL49 9HT

Our final walk follows the Wales Coast Path from Llanystumdwy to Porthmadog, combining peaceful countryside, sea air and some lovely coastal scenery. Along the way, we’ll reach Criccieth, where the impressive ruins of Criccieth Castle stand high above the shore with excellent views across Cardigan Bay.
We’ll stop here for our packed lunch and there will be the option to visit the castle grounds and enjoy the setting. After that, we’ll head to the Prince of Wales for a pub stop. Anyone who would prefer not to visit the castle can go straight to the pub, where there is also a grassy area opposite for lunch. Castle entry is £7.70 per person.
From Criccieth, we continue on towards Porthmadog, with more coastal views and fine scenery towards the mountains of Eryri. This is a really enjoyable day with a good mix of history, coastline and relaxed walking.

Sunday 19 July: Mountain Spirit Heritage Rail Journey through Eryri
Departing at 10:40 from Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways (Harbour Station), Porthmadog, Gwynedd, LL49 9NF. Please arrive at the station 10–15 minutes before departure, as this is where we’ll meet before boarding.

This relaxing steam rail journey will be a memorable way to round off the weekend. The Mountain Spirit is a scenic 27-mile return trip on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways, offering a completely different perspective on the landscapes we’ve explored on foot. Over the course of approximately 3 hours in total, the journey takes us through the heart of Eryri, passing mountain scenery, open countryside, and some of the most beautiful views in North Wales.
The train stops at Blaenau for around 50 minutes, giving you time to stretch your legs, take photos, and admire the locomotive before the return journey. The town centre is just a 5-minute walk from the station, with a few cafés and shops nearby. The station shop also has a small selection of gifts and light bites to take away, and pre-order takeaway options are available when booking.
With its heritage charm, relaxed pace, and ever-changing scenery, it’s a fitting and memorable finale to the trip.

Tickets should be booked individually in advance. The price is £49.75 per person, excluding booking fees. Please indicate on the spreadsheet whether you are likely to join for this activity; an alternative may be arranged if there's little interest in this option.

Any questions?
If you've not been to a Stag Walkers weekend away before, they are a great chance to explore somewhere new and to spend some time socialising with other members of the group.
If you have any questions about the weekend, please post on the Meetup event page.
About the organisers

This event is hosted by Stag Walkers - we are a Ramblers group aimed mainly at people in their 20s and 30s but all are welcome and we have members of all ages. We run weekly walks, on Saturdays or Sundays, varying in length from around 5 to 15 miles, and we host regular social nights. Walks and socials generally take place across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and south Cambridgeshire.
For details of how to join the Ramblers and how much it costs please see our website.