Snaefell Station and Cafe with the summit marked by the transmitter on the right
Also known as: Sniaull (Manx). Snaefell comes from old Norse, meaning Snow Mountain or snaufjell - “area above the tree line”.
Significance: Country and Island High Point for the Isle of Man
Member of: Marilyn, Hardy, Island High Points, European Country High Points
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Iron Cragg (Cumbria, England)
Elevation: 621m
Date climbed: May 3rd 2024
Coordinates: 54° 15' 47'' N, 4° 27' 42'' W
Route Start: Snaefell Mountain Railway - Summit Station
Route Finish: Manx Electric Railway - Laxey Station.
Route Distance: 8.2 km (5.1 miles)
Route Elevation change: +29m / - 593m. Net - 564m
Subsidiary tops on route: None
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (walk): Isle of Man Cycle Route 6
OS Trig Pillar: TP6035 - Snaefell
Pubs / Cafes on route: Snaefell Summit Restaurant & Café
Map: Isle of Man Map | Port St Mary, Castletown & Ramsey | Ordnance Survey | OS Landranger Map 95
Guidebook: Walking on the Isle of Man: 40 walks exploring the entire island (Cicerone)
Links: Wikipedia: (Isle of Man / Snaefell, Laxey, Snaefell Mountain Railway, Snaefell Mine), Peakbagger, Hillbagging
The Snaefell walk was the highlight of an especially enjoyable 4 days on the Isle of Man. Having completed Nobles parkrun on the morning we set off for Laxey to bag the island’s High Point. In our first plan for the walk we looked at doing a circular route starting at Mountain Box on the A18 that crosses the side of Snaefell. We got excited by taking the old electric train up so we decided on a train-up, walk down combination. It was an amazing day and I’m very happy that we chose that option.
The Snaefell Mountain railway starts at Laxey Station near the island’s west coast. There’s good options for free parking or you can also get there via the Manx Electric Railway from Douglas or Ramsey. We weren’t able to book online so we got tickets from Laxey Station and waited for about an hour for the first train with availability. From Laxey the train takes around 30 minutes to climb up the valley to the summit station. Sit on the right hand side of the train going up for the best views of the Laxey Wheel and the valley. The left hand side has better views as you approach the summit.
Although we were there on a dry sunny week, the summit was extremely windy so take warm clothes to the top whatever the weather is like in Laxey. We stopped in the cafe for a while before completing the short walk up to the Trig Pillar at the summit.
From the summit take the path due south to The Bungalow Station (Mountain Box) at the A18 crossing. The safest way to cross over the road is to take the footbridge then follow the path that returns to cross the railway to the east of The Bungalow. Once on the northern side of the railway follow the path down the valley in a north-westerly direction to the Great Snaefell Mine. Watch the video below to learn about the history of the mine and the disaster that closed it.
After passing the mine take a right onto the old mine road and follow it for 3 km to the small village of Agneash. Take a right at the T-junction and continue following Mines Road to the Laxey Wheel. We stopped here for an hour to explore the Wheel and the old mine entrance. After the Wheel it’s less than 1 km walk back to Laxey Station
