Bank Holiday Adventures: Conquering Snowdon (with Snacks and Questionable Decisions)

There are two types of people on a bank holiday: those who sit on the sofa in stretchy pants binge-watching telly, and those who think, “You know what would be fun? Climbing the highest mountain in Wales with half the population of Britain.” Naturally, we at Wildfolk Collective fall into the second category.

Snowdon, standing at a proud 1,085 metres, had been calling our names like a mythical beast whispering, “Come forth, weary wanderer, and don’t forget your waterproofs.” So, we answered the call and packed up for the Snowdon Ranger’s Path — the quieter cousin of the more famous Llanberis route. Quieter, of course, being relative. By the time we arrived, the car park looked like Glastonbury without the music.

Armed with snacks, a questionable map print-out (who needs phone signal anyway?), and the eternal optimism of people who overestimate their fitness, we began the trek. The first stretch lulled us into a false sense of security. “Oh, this isn’t too bad,” we said, cheerily munching on flapjacks. Sheep eyed us with mild disdain, as if to say, “Amateurs.”

Then came the incline. The Ranger’s Path doesn’t mess about. One moment you’re strolling along like a countryside rambler, the next you’re scrambling over rocks wondering whether gravity has a personal vendetta. Each time we stopped to “admire the view” (read: catch our breath and wonder if we’d made a terrible mistake), the horizon stretched wider, the mountains rolling out like an ancient, crumpled green quilt. And honestly? That view alone was worth the lactic acid.

Reaching the summit felt like stumbling into another realm. The clouds parted just long enough to reveal a sweeping panorama of lakes and ridges, as if the mountain itself had said, “Alright, you’ve earned it.” We whooped, high-fived, and ceremoniously ate the last of our snacks (because victory tastes like crushed crisps at 1,000 metres).

The descent, of course, was its own comedy. Knees creaked, boots slipped, and we realised going down is just as much an endurance test as going up — but with added opportunities for accidental bum-sliding. By the time we reached the car park again, we were muddy, windswept, and grinning like fools.

Climbing Snowdon on the Ranger’s Path might not be the most relaxing way to spend a bank holiday, but it was a wild, unforgettable adventure. And that’s exactly the point. Because sometimes the best way to celebrate a long weekend isn’t with a BBQ or a lie-in, but by chasing the horizon, one soggy step at a time.