No special access issues
Approach:
On foot: The most common approach is up the Llanberis path. Park in Llanberis and walk towards the Royal Victoria Hotel, where a right turn leads you up a steep and well sign-posted road to the main footpath. Follow this track for approximately 3.5km, passing Halfway House, where drinks and snacks can be purchased, to an open view of the cliff. Turn right off the Llanberis path, where the main path trends left and steeply upwards away from the fence, onto a grassy miners’ track. This track contours round to the cliff past the old copper mines.
It is also possible to approach the cliff from the Llanberis Pass, walking steeply up the Cwm Glas ridge to Clogwyn Station. Following the Miner’s Path from Pen y Pass is a longer, though scenic route in and a reasonable means of access to routes on the Far East Buttress and The Pinnacle. A good approach from the west is to ascend via the Snowdon Ranger Path from Llyn Cwellyn (on the A4085 Beddgelert to Caernarfon road); pass through Bwlch Cwm Brwynog and contour rightwards to the cliff.
By bike: The advent of e-bikes has made approaching the cliff much easier and faster; however, please note that at the time of writing there is a voluntary bike ban from the 1st of May to the 30th September between the hours of 10.00 and 17.00 to avoid biker/walker conflict. The main access is up the Llanberis path and you can leave your bike, with a sturdy bike lock attached, some way along the old miner’s track. It’s also possible to cycle up to Llyn Glaslyn and up the Ranger Path to a steepening of the path above Llyn Ffynnon-y-Gwas.
By train: For those leg-weary and with a healthy bank balance, it is possible to get the train one-way from Llanberis to Clogwyn Station or the summit of Yr Wyddfa and then descend to the cliff. In summer and on bank holidays it is best to book tickets in advance and keep rucksack sizes down to a minimum.
Descent:
Descents are described within the descriptions for each buttress.