🧭 Club Trip #3: Snowdonia 🗺️

UCL Hiking Club is proud to bring to you TWO club trips this February 2026!! We're going all-out this winter to host TWO trips during reading week that you can get involved in:

You can register your interest for both trips, or just choose one. Places on each trip will be allocated randomly, and applying for one will not affect your chances for the other. However, you will only be able to attend one of the two trips, so we will use the preference you specify in the form to try to allocate you to your preferred choice. Stay on this page to read about the Snowdonia trip, or go to this page to read about the Isle of Wight trip.

1/7 - AT A GLANCE

2/7 - ABOUT THE TRIP

For our third UCL Hiking Club trip of the year, we’re heading to the Snowdonia National Park for three nights, giving us two full days to explore this mountainous escape from London. It’s the perfect chance to step away from academic pressures, slow things down, and spend time outdoors in a truly unique landscape. During the day, we’ll split into groups and hike along a variety of routes across the area, before returning each evening to our warm, cosy hostel for home-cooked hot dinners, games, and relaxed socials. Overall, the trip will include two travel days, two full days of hiking, and three evenings of fun and good company.

Snowdonia National Park is renowned for its dramatic and rugged landscapes, from towering mountain peaks and ridgelines to glacial valleys, lakes, and fast-flowing rivers. In winter (February), the park has a quieter, more atmospheric feel - crisp mountain air, snow-dusted summits (weather permitting), and vast, open views across some of the wildest terrain in Wales. We’ll explore some of Snowdonia’s most iconic scenery, including classic mountain routes and panoramic viewpoints, while also experiencing its rich natural and cultural heritage, shaped by ancient geology, Welsh history, and a long tradition of hill-walking and mountaineering.

3/7 - HIKING & DIFFICULTY

ROUTES & DIFFICULTY

In order to give you a little more insight into what to expect, we have plotted a few hiking routes that we might end up following. We don't know exactly which routes we'll end up choosing on each day of the trip, and we may end up plotting and using additional routes. This depends on the weather and local conditions - be prepared for a bit of adventure!

Please note: the difficulty grading label we apply to our hikes is somewhat subjective, and depends on a wide range of factors, including distance, elevation, terrain, gradient of ascent/descent, weather and ground conditions, and overall environment. Given this, some hikes that might be classed as moderate (🔵) in optimal (warm/dry) conditions, may be classed as challenging (🔴) or difficult (⚫) in winter (cold/wet/icy) conditions. Please refer to the stats and the attached maps to make your own educated choices.

For each day of hiking on the trip, we will typically split into different groups, based on desired hike difficulty. Some groups will follow the moderate routes below, whilst others will be able to do the challenging routes if they choose. We will always ensure that there are enough Walk Leaders in all groups.

Route Difficulty Breakdown (🟢🔵🔴⚫)

The following is our club's difficulty scale that we use to evaluate all our hikes. This is only intended as an approximate guide, since everyone has a different standard what what they consider easy and difficult.

🟢 Green – Beginner
 Short, gentle walks on easy terrain (5–15 km, low elevation). Perfect for first-timers and anyone wanting a relaxed introduction to hiking. 

🔵 Blue – Moderate
 Moderate distance or slightly more uneven ground (15–25 km, rolling hills, varied terrain). Great for those who’ve done a couple of hikes and are ready for the next step. 

🔴 Red – Challenging
 Challenging routes with longer distances (20–30 km), bigger climbs, or sustained hills. Best suited to hikers with good fitness and some prior experience. 

⚫ Black – Difficult
 Demanding residential hikes with mountain terrain, technical sections, or long days (30–40 km). Previous hiking experience is essential. 

⚫⚫ Double Black – Extreme
 Rare, “epic” challenges such as marathon-length days, exposed mountain ridges, or multi-day treks with tough conditions. Only suitable for highly experienced and well-prepared hikers. 

Challenging (🔴) Hike Routes

Route A1 - NE Quarry Loop [shorter]

• 📐 DISTANCE: 16km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 602m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: 🔴 Challenging 🔴
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

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Route A2 - NE Quarry Loop [longer]

• 📐 DISTANCE: 20km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 819m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: 🔴 Challenging 🔴
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

 

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Route A3 - SE Lower Hills and Lakeside Circle [shorter]

• 📐 DISTANCE: 22km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 653m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: 🔴 Challenging 🔴
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

Difficult (⚫) Hike Routes

Route B1 - N 1 Peak & Quarry Loop

• 📐 DISTANCE: 19km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 1107m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: ⚫ Difficult ⚫
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

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Route B2 - N 1 Peak & Forests Circle

• 📐 DISTANCE: 23km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 1305m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: ⚫ Difficult ⚫
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

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Route B3 - SW Forest & Hills Loop

• 📐 DISTANCE: 23km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 953m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: ⚫ Difficult ⚫
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

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Route B4 - SE Lower Hills and Lakeside [longer]

• 📐 DISTANCE: 32km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 880m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: ⚫ Difficult ⚫
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

Extreme (⚫⚫) Hike Routes

Route C1 - N Peaks & Lakes Loop

• 📐 DISTANCE: 28km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 1494m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: ⚫⚫ Extreme ⚫⚫
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

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Route C2 - N 2 Peaks Loop

• 📐 DISTANCE: 28km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 1656m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: ⚫⚫ Extreme ⚫⚫
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

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Route C3 - SW Coast to Camp Trek

• 📐 DISTANCE: 31km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 1372m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: ⚫⚫ Extreme ⚫⚫
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

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Route C4 - SW Lake & Ridges Loop

• 📐 DISTANCE: 33km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 1265m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: ⚫⚫ Extreme ⚫⚫
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

SAFETY & CONDUCT

Walk Leaders & Safety Equipment

All hikes on this trip are led by our trained UCL Hiking Club Walk Leaders. Walk Leaders are volunteer members who have received navigation training, first aid training, and experience leading groups in outdoor environments. Their role is to plan and lead routes, monitor the group’s pace and wellbeing, and ensure that everyone completes the hike safely.

At least one Walk Leader will be positioned at the front and one at the back of each group, with others distributed throughout as appropriate. Walk Leaders are equipped with:

• First aid kits
• Radios for communication between leaders and groups
• Maps and digital navigation tools
• Emergency contact details and procedures

Walk Leaders are there to support you. If you are struggling physically, feeling unwell, or have any concerns at any point during a hike, please speak to a Walk Leader as soon as possible.

Participant Responsibilities & Group Conduct

To ensure everyone’s safety and enjoyment, all attendees are expected to follow these basic rules while hiking:

• Stay with your assigned group at all times
• Follow instructions from Walk Leaders, particularly in poor weather or difficult terrain
• Do not walk ahead of the group or wander off alone, even if you are familiar with the area
• Inform a Walk Leader immediately if you are struggling, injured, or need to stop

These expectations are essential to prevent people becoming separated, lost, or unsupported — especially in winter conditions. We ask all participants to look out for one another and help maintain a supportive, inclusive, and cooperative group environment throughout the trip.

Emergencies, Navigation & Route Information

If something goes wrong during a hike — such as an injury, illness, navigation issue, or safety concern — you should find a Walk Leader immediately and explain the situation. Walk Leaders will assess the issue and decide on the safest course of action, which may include adjusting the route, slowing the pace, splitting groups, or arranging alternative transport if required. Raising concerns early is always the safest option.

All attendees will be asked to install the what3words app on their phone before the trip. This app allows precise locations to be shared quickly and is commonly used by UK emergency services. Walk Leaders may use what3words to share meeting points or locations, and it may be used if emergency services need to be contacted.

Shortly before the trip, all planned hiking routes and digital maps will be shared with attendees so you can familiarise yourself with the terrain and distances in advance. Final route choices will always be made by Walk Leaders on the day, based on weather conditions, daylight hours, and group ability. Safety will always take priority over completing a planned route.

Whilst at the hostel, multiple committee member will always be available in the evenings for welfare or safety concerns.

4/7 - HOSTEL, FOOD, & TRAVEL

ACCOMODATION (HOSTEL)

Address: Plas Dol-y-Moch OEC, Maentwrog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 3YT

For all three nights of the trip, we’ll be staying at Plas Dol-y-Moch Outdoor Education Centre (GMaps, W3W), located in the heart of Snowdonia National Park in Wales. The hostel sits a little south of Snowdon summit, surrounded by mountains and forests, making it an ideal base for a winter hiking residential.

We have exclusively hired the entire hostel for our stay, meaning it will be UCL Hiking Club only throughout the trip. From the hostel, we have direct access to the hiking routes we’ll be covering, including national trails, steep rocky ascents, and many mountain lakes - so there’s no need for daily travel to reach the start of our walks.

Type of Accommodation

Plas Dol-y-Moch is a purpose-built Outdoor Education Centre, designed for large groups stays with 12 dorm-style rooms in total.

• Accommodation will be in shared rooms.
• We will reserve a mix of single-gender and mixed-gender rooms, depending on preferences.
• You’ll be able to indicate your room preference on the sign-up form, and we’ll allocate rooms accordingly where possible.
• Beds are typically bunk-style.

Facilities & Amenities

The hostel is fully equipped for a winter residential and includes:

• Heated bedrooms and communal areas
• Hot showers and indoor bathrooms
• Free Wi-Fi (note: signal may be patchy in some areas)
• A large shared self-catering kitchen
• Communal dining and social spaces (including a fireplace!)
• A dedicated drying room for wet clothes and shoes

Sleeping Arrangements & What to Bring

• Bedding and linen are provided by the hostel.
• Towels are not provided, so please bring your own.
• You should also bring your own toiletries and any personal items you’ll need for the trip.

Please see the full kit list for more details.

Cooking, Cleaning & Responsibilities

This is a fully catered residential. All food will be provided by the club, and meals will be prepared, cooked, and cleaned up as a group.

• We’ll be using one large shared kitchen.
• Everyone will be assigned a simple cooking and cleaning rota during the trip.
• No cooking experience is needed - tasks will be shared and kept straightforward.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

UCL Hiking Club has also exclusively hired a private coach with 47 seats to take us directly from UCL Student Centre directly to the front door of the hostel (Plas Dol-y-Moch OEC)!

Journey Details & Arrival

Please arrive at the UCL Student Centre by 07:30 latest on Thursday 19th February 2026. We will board the coach at 07:45 and conduct a register to confirm who is present. After this, the coach will depart and will take us all the way to the hostel, Plas Dol-y-Moch OEC.

The coach will make a short stop at a service station mid-way along the route, where everyone will have a chance to get themselves food and stretch their legs. We recommend preparing a packed lunch for this first day for travel, as dinner will only be provided in the late evening (once we cook it ourselves).

The exact time of arrival at the hostel will depend on traffic on the day, but we expect the journey to take 5-6 hours, arriving at the hostel around 15:00.

Alternative / Independent Travel

While we strongly recommend the provided transport option above, you’re very welcome to travel independently or via alternative routes — particularly if you’re travelling from a different starting location.

If you do choose to travel independently:

• You should meet us at Plas Dol-y-Moch OEC.
• Please aim to arrive between 16:00 and 18:00.
• Please be aware that there are very limited options for local public transport in the area, and we will not have any vehicles available whilst on the trip.

Note: The cost of the coach is included in your ticket, and you will need to pay full price regardless of your choice of travel.

Return Journey

The return journey is simply the reverse of the outbound route.

• We will check out by 10:00 on Sunday 22nd February
• After check-out, we will board the coach that will be waiting for us. We will then travel back to London.
• We expect to arrive back in London around 17:00-18:00, but this will depend on traffic on the day.

Luggage & Practical Information

• You are welcome to bring 1 larger bag / rucksack / suitcase for the coach, in addition to a small rucksack.
• You’ll have space to store your bags in your rooms at the hostel.

We recommend bringing:

• One small rucksack for day hikes
• One larger bag / rucksack / suitcase for everything else

Please see the full kit list for more details.

FOOD & COOKING

All food for the trip is fully provided by the club. You won’t need to bring any essential food with you, unless you’d like additional snacks of your own. Groceries will be delivered directly to the hostel at the start of the trip, and used to make:

• Breakfasts
• Packed lunches
• Snacks
• Dinners

How meals work day-to-day

• Breakfast is self-serve, with cereals, toast, jams, etc. Breakfast will usually be around 6–8am to allow for an early hike start.
• Lunches are packed lunches, with sandwiches, fruits, snack bars, etc.
• Dinners are cooked fresh each evening after returning from the day’s hike (around 5-8pm).
• Lots of extra snacks, sweets, and drinks will be provided that everyone can help themselves to throughout the evenings at the hostel.

Note: On the first day of the trip, dinner will be the only meal provided. On the last day of the trip, breakfast and packed lunch materials will be provided.

Cooking, responsibilities & rota

Dinners are self-cooked as a group, with a simple cooking and cleaning rota to make sure responsibilities are shared fairly.

Each evening:

• A small group helps with food prep and cooking
• Others may help with cleaning and washing up
• Teams rotate so no one is doing the same job every night

While a small group is cooking, others will have time to shower, relax, and socialise before dinner is served.

On the sign-up form, you’ll be asked what duties you’re happy to help with. The final rota will be shared shortly before the trip.

Dietary requirements & extras

If you have any dietary requirements, you must list these clearly on the sign-up form.

We always provide:

• Meat and vegetarian options
• And have previously catered for vegan, halal, gluten-free, and other dietary needs

Please be as detailed as possible. If we need clarification, we’ll get in touch before the trip.

Following feedback from our last trip, we’re placing extra emphasis on making sure meals are filling, nutritious, and suitable for everyone. Once dinner menus are finalised, we’ll share them in advance and adapt where possible.

You’re also welcome to:

• Bring your own snacks or extra food
• Bring your own alcohol, to be consumed responsibly at the hostel

5/7 - ITINERARY OVERVIEW

6/7 - TICKETS & SIGN-UPS

TICKET INFORMATION

Isle of Wight Trip - £75

• There are 40 spots available for the Isle of Wight trip.
• Cost: £75.00
• Included in price:
  • 🏠 Hostel accommodation (all 3 nights)
  • 🍽️ All food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks).
  • 🗺️ Guided routes and trained walk leaders
• Not included in price:
  • 🚂 Transport to/from the hostel
  • 🚌Local buses/transport (if needed)
• This trip is designed to be 🔵 moderate 🔵 difficulty and above. If you have not completed a hike at this difficulty before, this trip may not be suitable for you. Please see the grade difficulties above.
• Spots are allocated using a lottery (random selection), NOT first-come-first-serve!
• You MUST have a £10 Discoverer or £15 Explorer membership in order to be eligible for this lottery. You must get this before signing up for a spot!

Snowdonia Trip - £125

• There are 47 spots available for the Snowdonia trip.
• Cost: £125.00
• Included in price:
  • 🏠 Hostel accommodation (all 3 nights)
  • 🚍 Transport to/from the hostel
  • 🍽️ All food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks).
  • 🗺️ Guided routes and trained walk leaders
• Not included in price:
  • 🚌 Local buses/transport (if needed)
• This trip is designed to include both  🔵 moderate 🔵 and 🔴 challenging 🔴 routes. If you have not completed a hike at this difficulty before, this trip may not be suitable for you. Please see the grade difficulties above.
• Members will be asked to describe their hiking experience when signing up. Members with more experience will be prioritised for selection due to the advanced difficulty of the routes on this trip. Remaining spots will be allocated using a lottery (random selection), NOT first-come-first-serve!
• Note: we are not asking for extensive applications about your entire history of hiking or anything similar. We simply need to hear enough to know that you can confidently hike in challenging terrain and weather and that you will not be a danger to yourself or to others in the group due to inexperience. If you have been on lots of hikes with the club in the South East UK, you are most likely experienced enough to step things up and join this trip.
• You MUST have a £15 Explorer membership in order to be eligible for this lottery. You must get this before signing up for a spot!

Both Trips:

HOW TO APPLY

• You can register your interest for one or both February 2026 trips using this single form. The form will remain open until 12:00 (midday) on Friday 16th January.
• You may indicate your preference for which trip you would most like to attend. We will do our best to place you on your preferred trip, but if that trip is full, you may be allocated to your second-choice trip.
• Submitting the form does not guarantee a spot. Please see the details below for how places will be allocated.
• Registering your interest via the form is NOT confirmation of a spot on the trip. Please see below.
• Unfortunately, it is impossible to approximate your chances of getting a spot on one of our club trips, as this depends entirely on how many people register their interest. However, on our November trip to the Yorkshire Dales, there were ~150 people competing for 60 spots. Having said that, we are offering TWO trips this time, with a total of 87 spots available!

Note: In the event that not all spots are initially filled (for either trip), the sign-up deadline will be extended and converted into first-come-first-serve (all eligibility criteria still apply).

HOW TO CONFIRM YOUR SPOT

• The results of the lottery selection will be released between Friday 16th Jan and  Wed 21st Jan.
• Everyone who signed up will receive an email. This email will either confirm that you were successful in getting a spot on the residential trip, or that you have been unsuccessful and automatically added to the waiting list.
• If you are added to the waiting list, please watch your emails carefully in the following few days, as many spots usually open up (due to people not buying their ticket on time). On previous trips, 1 in 3 of the final attendees were people who were initially on the waitlist.
• If you were successful in getting a spot on the residential trip, the email will contain a password and you will have 24 hours to purchase your ticket on this webpage. If you do not purchase your ticket in time, your place will be given away to someone on the waiting list. Please keep an eye out for this email.
• Once you have purchased your ticket, your spot on the trip is confirmed.

CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY

Once payment for a trip has been made, refunds are not guaranteed. Trip costs (including accommodation, transport, and bookings) are typically committed in advance, meaning we are often unable to recover costs after payment.

If you are no longer able to attend a trip, you must inform the club as soon as possible in writing to [email protected] and please clearly state "I wish to no longer attend this trip" in the email. This will be treated as a formal withdrawal from the trip.

If there is a waiting list, we will attempt to offer your place to another member up to 24 hours before departure. If a replacement is found and confirmed within this timeframe, we will issue a refund. If no replacement is found, we are unfortunately unable to offer a refund. The more advanced notice you provide us, the higher the likelihood of finding a replacement for your spot.

 If we are unable to find a replacement, you will still be considered withdrawn, and it may not be possible to re-join the trip at a later date. This is because we are required to confirm final attendee lists with the Students’ Union and external providers in advance, and last-minute changes cannot always be accommodated.

This policy applies to all trips and all members and is in place to ensure fairness, financial stability for the club, and the smooth running of trips for everyone involved.

7/7 - FAQS

What should I pack?

Please see this full kit list for details on what to pack.

Do I need hiking boots?

Yes. Hiking boots provide essential support for your feet, ankles, and legs on uneven terrain and help prevent serious accidents. This residential will have rocky and uneven terrain and therefore is only suitable for those with hiking boots.

Can I travel there/back separately?

You are welcome to make your own way to the area, but you'll still have to pay the full price of your ticket. Additionally, you may find that local transport options are quite limited, so please plan carefully if you are making your own way.

Address: Plas Dol-y-Moch OEC, Maentwrog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 3YT

For further questions, please ask these in our members-only WhatsApp chat, which can be accessed here. If your question is more sensitive, please email us at [email protected]. Please refrain from directly texting committee members without their prior consent.