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4.8
| 78 reviews

Welsh 15 Peak Challenge

Tackle the highest peaks in Wales - in a single weekend

Duration

3 nights

Annual Leave

1 day off work

Group Size

Up to 12 people

Season

May—Sep

Location

United Kingdom

Meeting Point

Lodge Dinorwig, Caernarfon

Classic Accommodation

Hostel

Customer Reviews

(78)

4.8

Difficulty

Challenging

From

From

What's it like?

4.8
| 78 reviews
Due to the weather conditions the hike was...
September 2023
Siddhanth
Due to the weather conditions the hike was...
September 2023
Siddhanth
Due to the weather conditions the hike was...
September 2023
Siddhanth
challenging, memorable and invigorating tri...
September 2022
Tom
challenging, memorable and invigorating tri...
September 2022
Tom
challenging, memorable and invigorating tri...
September 2022
Tom
Everything - accommodation, guides, food, o...
May 2022
Carl
Great weekend which was made even better by...
September 2021
Andrea
Great weekend which was made even better by...
September 2021
Andrea
Great weekend which was made even better by...
September 2021
Andrea
Great weekend which was made even better by...
September 2021
Andrea
This weekend was amazing and I would highly...
September 2021
Sonja
Wow, what a weekend!! I can’t recommend thi...
September 2021
Sarah
Wow, what a weekend!! I can’t recommend thi...
September 2021
Sarah
Wow, what a weekend!! I can’t recommend thi...
September 2021
Sarah
Wow, what a weekend!! I can’t recommend thi...
September 2021
Sarah
Wow, what a weekend!! I can’t recommend thi...
September 2021
Sarah
Really great trip!...
July 2021
Ben
Really great trip!...
July 2021
Ben
A brilliantly challenging and rewarding tri...
July 2021
Amy
What an amazing adventure. Went on some gre...
June 2021
Paul
What an amazing adventure. Went on some gre...
June 2021
Paul
What an amazing adventure. Went on some gre...
June 2021
Paul

Hike and scramble through the Carneddau, Glyders and Snowdon ranges – home of the highest mountains in Wales

Ascend ridges, cross linked peaks in rapid succession and experience the stellar views and natural beauty of Snowdonia, the largest National Park in Wales

15 mountains. 4000m of gain. 1 incredible weekend

Day 1

Arrival at Lodge Dinorwig, Snowdonia

Arrive at the hostel in time for a pre-trip briefing and enjoy getting to know your fellow adventurers over dinner at 7pm. Then heads down for some sleep - it's an early start the next day.

Day 2

The Carneddau

Hiking

8-10hrs · 21km · 1623m up · 1368m down

Meet your guides and after a quick briefing get out onto the trail. Follow an old Roman road into the heart of the Carneddau Mountains, hike through a pass framed by twin Bronze Age monoliths and climb onto the ridgeline where the day’s goals will be lined up in front of you.

First stop - Foel Fras (942m), northernmost of the Welsh 3000s, followed by 3 more peaks in quick succession. Push to the top of Carnedd Llewelyn, the highest summit in the range (1064m) and then snag Pen Yr Ole Wen on the way down. Hike into the beautiful Ogwen Valley and then its back to the hostel for dinner. Seven peaks down, eight to go.

Day 3

The Glyders

Hiking

8-10hrs · 16km · 1587m up · 1487m down

Fuel up with a big breakfast and then hit the trail again – one that’s rockier and more rugged than yesterdays. Your first goal is Tryfan (917m), lowest of the Welsh 3000s, but also one of the most challenging thanks to the final scramble to the top. Descend via the picture-perfect Adam and Eve Rocks, then it’s a short, steep climb up Glyder Fach.

Cross a formation known as the 'Castle of the Wind' to attain Glyder Fawr (999m), the highest peak in the range, then descend back to Llanberis via a natural hanging garden of alpine flowers and the last two peaks of the day, before heading to the bar for a cold drink. Twelve down, just three more to go (including the big one).

Day 4

The Snowdon Massif

Hiking

6-8hrs · 13km · 1219m up · 981m down

Time to finish this thing off. Follow the snaking, rocky ridge to the summit of Crib Goch and then climb to Crib Ddysgl. One last ascent and you’re on top of Mount Snowdon (1085m), the highest of them all. Take some victory pics, enjoy a mountaintop lunch and then it’s all downhill. Depending on weather and time you’ll either complete the Snowdon Horseshoe or descend via the Pyg Track - either way the scenery is spectacular. Head back to Llanberis, the train station and home.

Included

Guides

Professional, experienced mountain guides

Accommodation

3 nights in a local lodge

Meals

All breakfasts and lunches

Not Included

Some meals as described

Travel insurance

Personal expenses

Travel to and from the start point

Visas where required

Day 1

Hostel · Mixed dorm

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2 – Day 3

Hostel · Mixed dorm

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 4

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Breakfasts at the Lodge are filling with generous portions of cereal, toast and cooked breakfast (meat, vegetarian or vegan) with tea and coffee. Packed lunches include sandwiches, crisps, cake and chocolate. You'll need to bring your own snacks and drinks for the trail. All dietary requirements including vegetarian and vegan can be catered for: just make this request on your passenger information form.

Evening meals are not included, but can be pre-ordered at Dinorwig Lodge or you can also take a trip into the village of Llanberis. Most people opt to eat as a group in the lodge and they cost around £10-£15 per person. Alcohol is not served at the lodge but you are welcome to bring your own.

What is the accommodation like?

Lodge Dinorwig

The accommodation is Lodge Dinorwig. The lodge is an old school set on the hillside above Llyn Padarn, with spectacular views overlooking Snowdon. The bunkroom consists of 14 solidly built beds, each with its own reading light and a curtain for a little added privacy. All bedding is provided, but please bring your own towel.

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Bangor Train Station, or Caernarfon in Wales

17:00 onwards on Day 1

Ends

Bangor Train Station, or Caernarfon in Wales

18:45 on Day 4

Transfers

If travelling by train: your host will pick you up from Bangor Train Station at 5.30pm for the 20-minute transfer to the hostel in Caernarfon. This transfer must be requested via your passenger information form no later than 7 days before arrival.

If travelling by car: drive directly to the hostel in Caernarfon where free parking is available. You can check in any time from 5.00pm.

At the end - you can be dropped back at the hostel or taken to Bangor train station for onward travel at 6:45pm.

Travel options

There are regular trains to Bangor from across the UK. If arriving by air - we recommend flying to London, Bristol or Cardiff airports, and then getting the train from one of these hubs.

Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.

What do I need to bring?

Bag

Rucksack (20 - 35L)

Clothes

  • Fleece jacket
  • Waterproof top and bottoms
  • Warm hat and thin gloves
  • Hiking socks (2 pairs)
  • Thermal top and bottoms (wool or synthetic, not cotton)
  • Lightweight, breathable hiking trousers (synthetic, not denim or cotton)
  • Sturdy, broken-in hiking boots with ankle support are essential. Walking shoes or trainers are not permitted.

Other

  • Water bottles or bladder (2L capacity)
  • Whistle
  • Phone or camera in waterproof bag
  • Snacks/energy food
  • Head torch
  • Walking poles (optional but recommended)
  • Personal toiletries and sanitary supplies
  • Sun protection (hat, sunglasses and sunblock)
  • Towel

No optional extras are available for this trip.

Selena(November 2023)

Not for the faint hearted! A good solid 3 day challenge with scrambling. If you’re not as confident like I was on Day 4 there are plenty of alternatives. Enjoy it as it’s over before you know it!

Laura(November 2023)

Fantastic, but challenging, experience in the beautiful Welsh peaks. Be prepared for all weathers! Knowledgeable guides, logistics smooth and communications with host was good. Great accommodation too! Thanks 😊

Siddhanth(September 2023)

Due to the weather conditions the hike was harder than expected but Tom, Jim and Larry made sure we did the right hikes and took great detours along the way. All while keeping an amazing spirit! Sonnie's lodge and amazing cooking after each day was what the entire group was looking forward to.

Utsav(September 2023)

The guides were excellent, they helped us power through the challenging weather conditions and recommended us to not do certain peaks when the winds were too strong. Be sure to carry proper waterproofs as the rain and wind can be quite strong. The lodge was really nice and the hosts provided us with some excellent food for lunch and dinner!

Helen(August 2023)

What a brilliant adventure! Looking down from the scramble up Crib Goch to stunning views on either side was something special. Great to hike with some lovely, like-minded people, and Much Better Adventures looked after the details to make it feel like a stress-free holiday too. On the last day, even as a small group, we had different aspirations - they made it possible for us all to achieve them by bringing in an extra guide - the kind of thing that, alongside the quality of the food and the accommodation, made it feel worth the price.

Shenil(May 2023)

Fantastic trip, challenging, well planned and managed by hosts, guides, lodge etc

Emma(September 2022)

This is a challenging three days of hill walking where you will be rewarded with beautiful rugged landscapes. It teetered between hiking and mountaineering for me with some grade 1 scrambles. I am not at all sure footed at height so I opted out of Crib Goch and based on the conditions I was very glad I did. I would highly recommend this trip for those used to regular hill walking (there is around 3000m of height gain over the three days) It’s been fantastic to explore Snowdonia and the other worldly landscapes of Tryfan and Glyderau

Tom(September 2022)

challenging, memorable and invigorating trip!

Kirsty(July 2022)

Fab trip - great hosts, brilliant guides, wonderful Welsh scenery - all round fun!!

Daisy(June 2022)

Lovely people, a hostel with really nice touches, delicious food, and tasty coffee (NB dinners not included in price), guides very friendly but reluctant to give much local knowledge. Good fun, VERY challenging hikes - overall quite pricey with some room for improvement. Be prepared for all weather!

Bijoy(June 2022)

A very well organised trip , enthusiastic guides . The Lodge Dornwig is excellent . The whole trip was a very enjoyable experience

Rema(May 2022)

Great trip! Would definitely recommend but make sure you are a fast hill walker AND that you have been training prior to the trip. Not for the faint hearted :)

Alanna(May 2022)

The trip was so well organised. The guides were very supportive and understood everyone's abilities very well. It currently was a challenge but everyone was very encouraging. I will remember this trip for a long time!

James(May 2022)

Fantastic experience. Very challenging to complete all the peaks over 3 days. Would book again. Great team running the adventure and well organised.

Carl(May 2022)

Everything - accommodation, guides, food, organisation - was simply the best!

Andrea(September 2021)

Great weekend which was made even better by the group of people I met also on the trip. Very knowledgeable leaders who were fantastic on the more scrambly sections of Tryfan and Crib Goch. A good level of fitness is necessary for this weekend as they are long days with a significant amount of climbing. The hotel in Caernarfon was bang on and I enjoyed having my own space? Overall it really was an adventure and I would highly recommend.

Catherine(September 2021)

The Welsh 15 Peaks trip was amazing. The three days were each so different but challenging and very enjoyable. We were blessed with blue skies for 2 days with stunning views and the 3rd day the clouds came and went. The trip is extremely well organised and very safe. It is challenging and you do need a good level of fitness but there are alternative routes available if you struggle with heights at certain points. Jim and Ian are excellent Mountain Leaders and really helped and made the whole experience wonderful. I would highly recommend and I would consider doing it all again

Sonja(September 2021)

This weekend was amazing and I would highly recommend it. You definitely need to have a high level of fitness and have good worn in walking boots. The organisation from the local host was spot on. Jim and his team were friendly, knowledgeable and always looking to keep us safe. There were always options for anyone who didn't feel comfortable in any situation. Us having a great time was their priority. I will definitely be doing another trip. I pushed myself all weekend and was definitely out of my comfort zone on more than one occasion. Loved it.

Sarah(September 2021)

Wow, what a weekend!! I can’t recommend this trip and our local hosts highly enough. The trek was certainly a challenge, not only distance and elevation covered each day and time on your feet, but also the terrain to navigate. I loved the exhilaration and achievement of climbing and scrambling up and down the peaks, all offering something different to the experience. The views are pretty stunning too! The hotel accommodation was good, and provided a great base to sleep (and eat) each day. And the guides were fantastic - so friendly, knowledgeable and attuned to the group’s needs, making sure we all had a great experience and finished each day with smiles. I’m already planning my next trip!

Zoe(September 2021)

Amazing walking. Definitely tough with some decent scrambles, our group only managed 12 of the 15 peaks but still had a good time. Came by myself and met a lovely group of walkers I’ll stay in touch with.

Janine(August 2021)

This trip was enjoyable and physically and mentally challenging. A really nice introduction to Snowdonia. I would say it does require a certain level of fitness though to ensure you enjoy it rather than suffer through it!

Rebecca(August 2021)

Unfortunately due to extreme weather we only managed about 2 peaks. Luckily we had a great group and fantastic guides (Kat and Abi) who worked extremely hard to tweak the hikes every day so we were still able to maximize our time. Despite the issues we had, we all made the most of it and still had such a laugh.

Marcus(July 2021)

A great trip - well organised, fantastic weather and the group all got on really well. Would definitely recommend!

Ben(July 2021)

Really great trip!

Amy(July 2021)

A brilliantly challenging and rewarding trip! A mix of hiking, climbing and scaling your way across the 15 peaks of Wales. What an experience!

Jen(July 2021)

When booking the trip, although it said “challenging” it contradicted itself by stating that no previous experience was needed. I felt that a few people on the trip were not prepared for the pace, lack of breaks and range of abilities within the group. Although no experience was needed, we did receive a 6 week training plan but only 2 weeks before the trip. We were told poles were optional but then on the 2nd day that they would definitely be needed. We also experienced the first heatwave of the year - again, nothing on the kit list prepared us for this type of weather. My friend struggled with the pace of the group, which wasn’t accommodated and she was made to feel bad that she couldn’t keep up. This obviously impacted on myself as I tried to bridge the gap and effectively help the guide do his job. I think the trip has the potential to be excellent but the wording on the website pre booking, the kit list and the training plan all needs to be reviewed to avoid people booking in error.

Loubna(July 2021)

Fantastic weekend, stunning views and Sam an amazing guide ! Excellent organisation and friendly team. The perfect way to discover Snowdonia! Would definitely recommand ! 🤩

Richard(July 2021)

Can not go wrong with the Welsh mountains. Local host and guide were excellent

Amy(July 2021)

Great trip, wonderful guides, can't wait for another adventure

Paul(June 2021)

What an amazing adventure. Went on some great climbs: our guides were excellent, and it was with a great group. The highlight was Day 2 - would highly recommend this trip and many thanks to all involved.

We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.

What's the number?
It works out on average at 42kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.

The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.

But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:

  • Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
  • A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.

Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

You should have some previous hiking experience and ideally be used to walking back to back long days. A good level of fitness will see you through the days - some days may be as long as 9 hours on your feet, so make sure you are ready. There is a significant elevation increase and decrease every day so if you know you have problems with your knees, please pack walking poles.

Most of the approaches and descents will be on good trails, but once you’re on the ridges the terrain gets rocky and there’s not always an established path. Footing is often loose and unsteady and there are some sections of scrambling, however, everything should be doable for the average fit hiker. The biggest challenge will be the elevation gain and long days.

You will leave the Lodge at 08:00 each day, and return between 17:00-18:00.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

This challenge is run with experienced and friendly mountain leaders. While en-route you can learn about map reading and how to navigate with a compass, as well as local history, flora and fauna. They'll also keep you safe with their first aid training and VHF radio backup.

It is not possible to book pre or post-trip accommodation at Lodge Dinorwig as they will only be accepting private group bookings of 8+. If you would like an extra night in the area your host will be happy to help you - just message them via your booking.

Daytime temperatures in Snowdonia average from 11 – 14 °C in the spring and 16 – 18 °C in the summer. It’s sunny and clear about half the days each month.

Yes any extra bags can be left in the hostel or in the vehicle during the day.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

  • 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
  • 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
  • 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.

TRIP DEPARTURE DATES

Private trip

Go private and split the bill with ease.

Forget complex logistics, we've taken care of all the details to ensure a hassle-free get together. All of the adventure, none of the faff.

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