welsh pronounced highest mountain wales elevation metres sea level highest point british isles outside scottish highlands located national park described probably busiest mountain britain designated national nature reserve rare flora fauna rocks form produced period extensively sculpted forming peak cliff faces including significant rock climbing mountain training ascent summit reached number known paths mountain railway rack railway opened carries passengers miles summit station summit houses cafe called open railway operating built replace built 1930s railway generally operates summit station october daily running schedule depends weather customer demand snow hill welsh means refer thrown legendary giant defeat figures legend mountain linked legendary water monster height survey estimated summit height feet quoted later estimate sea level recent surveys height summit making highest mountain wales highest point british isles outside scotland mountains climbed environment flora unique environment particularly rare plants led designation national nature reserve addition plants widespread home plants rarely found britain famous lily found alps north_america discovered wales genus included later named honour lies northern national park provided legal protection park establishment geology rocks today neighbouring mountains formed period time modern day wales near edge submerged beneath ancient stage million years ago age volcanic formed produced ash flows formed deposits metres thick current summit near northern edge ancient extent unclear extended far summit south west surrounding peaks described true examples alpine topography surrounded rounded valleys erosion glaciers adjacent caused characteristic peak glacial seen include glacial climate english comes old english meaning snow hill covering snow snow winter varies significantly snow fell slopes climates great_britain receiving annual average inches precipitation lakes number lakes found range feet high acres lies eastern deepest lakes deep explanations forward including ash deposits shore brittany contains evidence settlement location foot canoe described lake significantly coloured copper mines nearby hydroelectric power station opened lake crossed causeway built raised 20th century prevent causeway flooding frequently feet high acres lies higher originally called depth feet long time believed location myths feet high acres lies north western passed path enlarged use reservoir use slate level lowered lake volume reduced cubic metres lakes include feet high acres near pen pass feet high acres smaller pools rock climbing includes number spectacular cliffs holds important place history rock climbing united_kingdom colloquially known site recorded climb britain carried searching rare plants considered best cliffs britain rock climbing explored early subject climbing guide climbs britain group preparations successful expedition climb recorded ascent botanist 18th century welsh historian mentions fair chief mountains following edward conquest wales indicate possibility earlier offers extensive views british isles exceptionally clear days ireland scotland england visible counties lakes islands view southern scotland longest theoretical line sight british isles miles described probably busiest mountain britain number established engineered lead summit sides combined ways circular walk starting ending pen pass route route called considered finest ridge walks britain routes arranged starting path leading winter conditions routes significantly dangerous state additional skills equipment knowledge required inexperienced killed years attempting climb mountain main paths path path longest route summit gradient follows line mountain railway considered easiest interesting route summit route annual record time minutes recorded start summit section path railway near summit called killer convex conditions convex slope send cliffs people died february ranger path welsh begins youth west mountain served railway station renamed ownership mountain guide probably oldest path summit route begins lush green turf reaching area path climbs snakes ridge summit path meets railway path path combined track miners track short distance summit path path called path leads village west gently broad ridge dropping west summit considered easier routes summit advantage summit visible start routes climbs shallow gradient shortly southwest summit climbs meeting path site marked large standing stone metres summit alternative start begins head road path path demanding route direct summit starts lowest elevation main routes conceived railway owner attempted build railway tunnel summer home near start path originally designed track opened start path described beginning routes begins climbs initially old woodland leaving woods path climbs past glacial crossing disused abandoned slate quarry reaches home quarry manager later target practice second world war near large boulder known bears plaque commemorating speech given year old prime minister subject justice wales slate workings opened closed expense transporting slate sea buildings including barracks dressing sheds remain slate path north east reach col marked large orange brown heads west meet standing stone shortly summit scenes carry filmed lower path path representing pass film stars film unveiled plaque precise location filming took place commemorate location filming forms run route frequently descent ascent forms second half walk ascent reached following path continuing ridge twin path drops join miners track pen pass miners track miners track welsh begins car park pen pass altitude metres popular route summit begins climbing slightly cross causeway follows lake shoreline climbing joined ascent reaching summit ridge united path derelict buildings encountered parts path track track pig track encountered leads pen pass track climbs eastern flanks traversing ridge lower slopes joined miners track climb website states knows certain path called track possible named pass leads translated pigs pass path spelled pig track maybe carry black tar copper mines possible explanation path named nearby pen hotel popular early mountain route traverse finest ridge walks britain forms known circuit peaks surrounding path follows track separating leading east ridge routes tackle considered routes mountain railway welsh narrow gauge rack mountain railway travels miles summit public rack railway united_kingdom years operation remains popular tourist attraction single carriage trains pushed mountain steam locomotives diesel locomotives previously diesel multiple units railway constructed december cut locomotive named february total cost equivalent view summit offers extensive views british isles exceptionally clear days ireland northern_ireland scotland england wales visible counties lakes islands possible mountains south surround manchester view southern scotland longest theoretical line sight british isles miles practice atmospheric conditions sightings extremely rare reported sightings mountain viewed approach manchester airport liverpool clear days dublin ireland summit buildings building summit erected sell licence sell liquor granted basic accommodation provided visitors opened added accommodation sales outlet near summit 1930s complaints received state facilities summit new station building erected phases designed sir included rooms visitors café operators bought collection buildings summit cleared flat roof intended viewing platform photographs way photographs taken café roof leaked probably explains practice stopped summit taken government agencies war accommodation restricted staff use having increasingly dilapidated building described highest wales state led campaign replace building april support agreed deal start work new café visitor centre complex mid october old building largely demolished new award winning million visitor centre designed conjunction built officially opened june minister composed new new building displayed entrance windows reads nes summit nearer heaven chosen forward competition held bbc welsh summer residence welsh folklore welsh folklore summit said tomb giant claimed reason welsh literally meaning wore men slain king arthur claiming arthur beard sites connections include ridge arthur said died erected site standing late longer exists according folklore arthur throw sword arthur body later placed boat carried away arthur men retreated cave slopes said sleep time needed supposed hidden golden throne britain cliffs north invaded final resting place water monster known welsh word beaver plagued people valley tempted monster water young girl securing chains dragging large stone known supposed magical powers like sites wales said people spend night great poet insane associated including version fairy bride legend
Snowdon