The Highest Mountain In Wales Offers Picturesque Hiking Trails From Nearly All Sides

While the U.K. attracts travelers from around the globe for its vibrant cities, deep culture, and historical sites — such as this stunning Scottish capital that makes for a captivating solo travel adventure — it's also home to a treasure trove of terrific outdoor destinations. From this underrated tourist attraction in Northern Ireland to England's highest mountain peaks, the four countries that make up the U.K. possess more than enough unspoiled nature to satisfy any outdoor enthusiast.

This is especially true in Wales, a place that sees far fewer visitors than some other parts of the nation. Sticking out into the Irish Sea like a pig's head in the U.K.'s southwest, this underappreciated land boasts deep green valleys, stony mountains, and a rugged, windswept coastline. This makes it a hiker's paradise, as Wales can be explored via a number of wild walks, with Snowdon — Wales' tallest peak — being the crown jewel.

Known as "Yr Wyddfa" in the Welsh language, this 3,560-foot mountain is not only famous for its towering height in a nation of low mountains, but also for the fact that it's a perfectly-proportioned peak that looks terrific from every angle.  A road circles the mountain, making it accessible from all sides, with six different trails leading to the top, where hikers are rewarded with views of the surrounding lakes, hills, and little streams that will surely drop jaws and cause hearts to soar.

Situated in the ultra-scenic Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in far north of Wales, the word Snowdon comes from the Old English term "Snawdune," which means "snowy hill." This is due to the fact that the mountain often enjoys a dusting of the white stuff during the colder months of the year, given its relatively lofty elevation. In fact, getting to the top can be so challenging that, before summiting Mt. Everest in 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay trained on the rocky slopes of Snowdon. To visit, the closest airport is Anglesey Airport, but for a more convenient travel hub, Manchester Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport are both about a 2-hour drive away, while also offering train options.

Snowdon was formed around 450 million years ago, though the mountain — especially its pyramid-shaped peak — was also shaped by the glaciers of the last ice age, some 12,000 years back. It is said that the mountain was first summited in 1639 by botanist Thomas Johnson, who scaled the peak while doing research for a book on local plants. Today, more than 500,000 people visit Snowdon each year to stroll along its idyllic paths, attempt a climb, or just bask in the unspoiled natural surroundings of the national park it calls home.

Of the six trails that lead to the top of the mountain, the Llanberis Path is clearly the most popular. This is largely because it's seen as the easiest ascent, though make no mistake: this 9-mile out-and-back route can still be grueling in spots, so take it slowly. While it may offer the most gradual elevation gain, it also has a lot of it. You'll climb 3,198 on the Llanberis Path, which is nearly the full height of the mountain.

Other routes include the Pyg Track — which at 7 miles roundtrip is the shortest way to the summit — but beware: The path is very rugged. The Miners' Track, Rhyd Ddu Path, and Snowdon Ranger Path offer intermediate-difficulty climbs ranging from 7.5 to 8.5 miles, while the Watkin Path is said to be the most arduous, given its combined length and elevation gain. For very experienced hikers who don't mind a bit of scrambling, there is also Crib Goch, a 7.6-mile ascent that takes you along a narrow, jagged ridge that's not for the faint of heart.

Whichever route you choose, the raw beauty of Snowdon will surely work its magic on you. Just come prepared, as the weather in this part of Wales is notoriously unpredictable, which more than often means wind and plenty of rain. And if you're not feeling up to the challenge of climbing Snowdon on foot, you can always jump on the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Pushed by old-time Swiss steam locomotives, this sightseeing provides breathtaking views of the unparalleled Welsh landscape that may have you wondering how this enchanting corner of Britain managed to escape your attention for so long.