A hike in a UK national park felt like a tropical paradise, but not in the Lake District or South Downs. The national park is a hotspot for tourism, but this particular walk felt, at points, like hiking in a tropical destination with its bright green rugged cliffs.
Traveling around the UK, the natural beauty often overlooked by keen travellers is awe-inspiring. This spot feels like a real slice of paradise. You don't need to hop on a plane to experience the tropics; immerse yourself in bright green hues and walk along waterfalls in north Wales. Snowdonia National Park is no secret to avid hikers, cyclists, and explorers, but it was my first time visiting, and this specific route blew me away.
Cadair Idris, an 893-metre mountain in the southern part of the park, is renowned for its wild and rugged scenery. To me, it looked like its surroundings could belong in Peru or Southeast Asia, with tropical plants, waterfalls, and vibrant green grass. But like any beautiful place in Wales, it reminded me exactly where I was when I spotted sheep dotted around its cliffs, even on the steepest parts.
The Route
I was taken up the Minffordd Path route, described as the shortest yet steepest route to the mountain's summit, tackling a demanding 10 km walk. It takes up to four to five hours to complete, rewarding you with dramatic and captivating views of the national park's landscape.
The route begins at Dôl Idris car park and takes you past the Cadair Idris visitor centre, which quickly fills up. Getting there early in the morning around 8am meant we experienced the quietness of the route in all its natural wonder. Running parallel along the stream which leads to Llyn Cau, the lake at the heart of the base of the mountain, it immediately felt like being abroad. The sun was shining, water trickling down, tropical plants growing around us, as wild and wonderful as experiences in Thailand or hikes in Vietnam or Peru.
This continued as we made our way out of the forest area into the open air, with pure greenery around us and the mountain standing proudly ahead. The second phase levels lightly as you enter a rocky amphitheatre with up-close views of the lake. Pushing past slate and rocks, many loose and difficult to navigate, this section requires concentration and care with each step. A quick trip or fall could have you stumbling, which is why many hikers go armed with sticks to help gain balance.
By the time I made it to the top, the weather dramatically changed from sunny to high winds which were extremely cold. This can catch amateur hikers out, so it is best to go armed with windproof and waterproof layers, as they say 'don't dress for the car park'.
The real treat after that consistently steep hike upwards is the flat walk along the edge of the entire mountain before reaching its penultimate peak. Seeing it all from a circular angle gave a real treat at each point whenever I decided to stop and take a breath.
Wales is the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to my explorations, and Cadair Idris was no exception. If you are willing to take on the circular route and the real challenge of its steep and unsteady ground, you will be rewarded with a touch of paradise and views you will continue to daydream about.
