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Llanberis Pass

A4086 · Llanberis → Capel Curig · Wales

Length
11 miles
Drive time
20–25 min
Type
Mountain pass
Region
Wales

A dramatic run through the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia), squeezed between Snowdon and the Glyderau. Boulder-strewn slopes tower over the road as it climbs from Llanberis to Pen-y-Pass and drops to Capel Curig.

The A4086 from Llanberis to Capel Curig is a proper A-road squeezed between Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and the Glyderau. Boulder-strewn slopes come down to the tarmac; the carriageway is two-way and well-enough sighted except where parked cars and walkers narrow it. You climb to Pen-y-Pass, then drop past Pen-y-Gwryd toward Capel Curig. Surface is good. The traffic is the story: buses, climbers, and people who have missed their parking slot.

Pen-y-Pass car park is pre-book only in season (JustPark, roughly late March to 1 November) and it is a walker car park, not a driving viewpoint. If you only want to drive the pass, do not plan to stop there unless you have booked. The photograph of the pass itself is often better from a signed lay-by on the Llanberis side, looking up the cwm, or from Pen-y-Gwryd if you are eating. Fuel at Edwards Garage in Llanberis. The Vaynol Arms in Nant Peris and Caffi Siabod in Capel Curig bookend it.

Pair it with the Crimea Pass and Aberglaslyn if you are doing Snowdonia in two days, or just turn round at Capel and run it the other way when the light has moved.

This is the road up to the Pyg Track and Miners' Track, which is why it crawls by ten on a Saturday. Drive it at eight, or on a weekday, and do not leave a car on the double yellows for a ten-minute photo. Nant Peris has a park-and-ride toward Pen-y-Pass if you only wanted the walk; as a driver, treat the pass as a through-road and eat at Pen-y-Gwryd or Capel instead of circling the summit car park. The Glyderau side sheds water and gravel after rain. Buses have little choice about their line — give them the hairpin.

Highlights of the Llanberis Pass

Where to stop on the Llanberis Pass

Drive the Llanberis Pass

Open Llanberis Pass on the map → ⬇ Download GPX

GPX works with Garmin, TomTom, Beeline and most bike sat-navs. Free, no sign-up — these are indicative waypoints, so follow the road signs, not the arrow.

Plot it, add it to a club run with a meeting point and pit stops, then share the whole trip as one link. Free, no account, works offline.

Route research: Bob Davies Car Sales Hub

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