The Snowdon base camp! Once the haunt of famed Victorian climbers. Pen-y-Pass YHA is 1,000ft above sea level and at the start of the ascent of Snowdon. A great base to experience the stunning landscape and many activities that Snowdonia has to offer. Local attractions include the Welsh Slate Museum and Caernarfon Castle.
This former mountain lodge is ideally placed for the waymarked trails up Snowdon, as well as being a great base to explore the wilder side of Snowdonia. Fantastic full breakfasts, tasty packed lunches, delicious evening meals and a licensed bar. Accommodation is in 2-6+ bedded rooms and facilities include self-catering kitchen, games room and evening meals.
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How is YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass rated on booking websites?
YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass Reviews
Verified Reviews by our Community
The first impression of Hostel YHA Pen-Y-Pass is that it could do with a lick of paint and a bit of a tidy up -- this impression is reinforced by the bathrooms. However, once you scratch below the surface, it is an appealing, old-school-style YHA, popular with walkers and outdoors enthusiasts.
The Location
The location makes this hostel -- it is tucked back off the Llanberis Pass in the heart of Snowdonia. If you look out of the dining room, the formidable shape of Crib Goch looms above you, and if you sit outside with a coffee or a beer, you can watch a seemingly endless stream of hikers coming and going along the Pyg and Miner's Tracks to the Snowdon summit. There are only a couple of car parking spaces; otherwise it is the (expensive) car park across the road, but buses run from Llanberis and drop you outside. The remoteness and mountains surrounding the hostel means there is no Wi-Fi or mobile phone signal.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms are standard YHA dorms. The eight-bed dorms are reasonably spacious and the bunks are clean and comfortable. There aren't as many plug points as would be ideal in a room of this size and the storage space is quite limited, but the overall impression is positive. The bathrooms are the biggest drawback to this hostel. There is no doubting there cleanliness, but they are very old fashioned, and the showers in particular are in serious need of an update. There are plenty of them, but they are the main area that lets the hostel down.
Common Spaces
Considering the number of beds the hostel has -- sixty -- there is a great deal of really good common space. There is an education room, which can be used by groups, and a games room with a selection of board games and a pool table. There are two dining rooms (self catering and catered) and a small bar area selling excellent local beers as well as wine. The common areas do seem to be quite quiet and this doesn't seem to be a hostel that attracts the party crowds! Additionally there is a small patio area with picnic tables at the front of the hostel. The staff seem to operate from the bar area, which is used as reception rather than the desk right in front of the entrance. There is a small collection of maps and books about the area that can be used within the hostel, plus a small selection for sale. The kitchen is small but functional and clean and has all the crockery and cutlery needed to produce a meal.
Summary
This hostel is situated in a beautiful area and has historical associations with climbing, including Everest climbers, which makes it an excellent place to stay for those with an interest in the great outdoors!
Howellsey
2013-07-03
UK
Stayed there for a school trip, for hiking, and it was great!! you can get everywhere from it, and the place is really nice.
The rooms are really good, just what you need after a hard day in the mountains.
Rachel.
2006-12-13
YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass Reviews from the Web
What a great experience!
The hostel was extremely clean and the staff were amazing. When we arrived the manager Naomi was a real help with helping us to check in and answering any questions me and my friends had regarding our stay and also parking. She also helped us getting a free space close by which was also another bonus to our stay!
Another member of staff helped us with getting a taxi back from Llanberis to the hostel too. Myself and friends would highly recommend this place.
GHandley
2022-02-07
Amazing location and friendly staff. Parking 40 for 24 hours (not Yha) is painful!
helen7031
2021-10-19
We stayed a night ready to climb Snowdon the next day. Great location, the staff were lovely and friendly and the hostel had everything we needed.
We didn't get much sleep due to the noise of the people in the room above us but that's what you'd expect being in a hostel.
It hasn't put me off staying again
anitajd18838
2021-09-09
Fantastic location, great staff, rooms clean but basic. We were lucky to get a parking space right out side but there are only about 5 spaces. Otherwise its40 a night in the car park opposite or park and ride for a fiver every 24hrs. The food was a bit disappointing Good but not necessarily what you want after yomping up and down a mountain all day
markroberts303111
2021-08-22
Excellent location, probably the best. Clean and comfortable rooms, friendly staff. Covid-19 precautions were clear. The bar service was good, and food acceptable. My vegetarian sausage bap was pre-ordered with tomatoes and was delivered without. It was very quickly remedied, but the presentation of a vegetarian sausage on a dry bun, was rather unappealing! Yes, I would happily stay again.
arbocop1246
2021-07-31
Hostel is great, however unless you park elsewhere and use the bus service which doesn't run in the evening, it will cost you a fortune in parking or taxis!!
cstoneuk8291
2021-07-14
The food and drink is really bad value for money. The cooked breakfast is nearly 8 quid and not good at all. Undercooked tomatoes, horrible sausages and just not good in general.
The bedsheets are also horrible but its in such a great location to climb snowdon.
annabaynes6606
2021-07-04
Great place, staff, and good value caf into the evening - vital whilst COVID restrictions tule out some facilities. Note if you have your own car then parking can be a problem - if the limited number of hostel spots are full then parking is either a 2km hike/run, a bus/taxi ride away... just as well I didnt mind a late evening uphill run some days!... If youre on public transport then this is a perfect mountain spot to stay.
daicarpenter2852
2021-05-25
Ideal for trekking
cjbbradley2142
2021-05-24
Sadly no self catering available and no gluten free options available. Luckily I have my own food with me
physioascent7570
2020-10-08
The stay was perfectly moderate. My biggest bug bear was that it wasn't made clear on the website that towels would not be supplied. This should be made very clear so people know to bring their own! Other than that, the stay was reasonable.
nadiya919325
2020-08-27
Can't fault the hostel and the friendly and helpful staff. The only downside I experienced was that the car park across the road began getting arrivals by 2 am and from then on there was considerable noise from car doors banging, people chatting, dogs barking etc which kept me awake. This might be a consideration for other light sleepers. The car park was full by about 4.30 am and then there was a steady stream of cars and minibuses driving around trying find a space. Other rooms may be quieter.
petewhite583490
2020-08-06
Description
Location and Contact
Location
• Bus: #96 from Llanberis stops outside the hostel• Parking: Public car park opposite the hostel, limited number of permits.
• Location: 9km south east of Llanberis
• Rail: 28km Bangor
Map
Address: Pen-y-Pass, Llanberis, Nant Gwynant, Gwynedd, Wales
YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass is listed on the following booking sites:
Hostelworld Booking.com Not listed at HostelsClubWebsite
www.hihostels.com/hostels/yha-snowdon-pen-y-pass
Phone Number:
(+44) 1286 870428
To add or correct information for this listing, please use the Listing Correction Form.
Facilities and Amenities
Party Hostel
Bedsheets
Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons
Lockers in Lobby
Luggage Storage
Towels
Bar
Credit Card Payments
Food/Restaurant
Hot Showers
Kitchen
TV
Wheelchair Accessible
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