Nestled amidst the breath-taking landscapes of North Wales, where rolling hills meet rugged mountains and crystal-clear lakes wind their way through ancient woodlands, there exists a place of unparalleled beauty. Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, a true gem of the United Kingdom, & one that must be on your bucket list!
We recently spent a weekend, exploring some of the delights on offer here with Visit Wales. & learnt why it is a haven for nature lovers, hikers & adventurer’s alike.
So, pack your curiosity and a sense of adventure, because the journey into Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park begins here. As we dive into the beauty, mystery, and magic of this captivating Welsh region.
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When is the best time to visit?
Whilst many visitors flock to the area during the summer months to make the most of the favourable weather & long days. We personally think that visiting Eryri (Snowdonia) during the Spring or Autumn, is a much more pleasurable time of year.
The primary reason being that you’ll experience fewer crowds, allowing yourself to enjoy this corner of Wales relatively to yourself. However, you’ll also likely be able to bag yourself some bargains on accommodation, outside of the holidays.
How to reach Eryri (Snowdonia)?
Firstly, the best way to reach & explore the region is by car, it is the perfect location for a road trip! With winding picturesque roads & mountain passes to drive through, the views out of the window will certainly not disappoint.
Therefore, if you are an overseas visitor or someone without a car & are keen for a road trip, we would recommend that you rent a car for this adventure.
However, if for whatever reason you don’t have access to a vehicle. You’ll be glad to know that Eryri (Snowdonia), despite it’s rural location, is still well connected to the rest of Wales & the UK via public transport.
In fact, you can reach the area from London in around 4 hours via train. If you are travelling via train you can utilise the Blaenau Ffestiniog or Betws-y-Coed train stations. These are central villages, with many attractions within walking distance & they have good networks to surrounding towns.
Where to stay?
Eryri (Snowdonia) is fortunately pretty geared up for visitors, so there is no shortage of places to stay. Ranging from hotels, B&B’s to holiday rentals & glamping.
In order to be close to everything that is worth visiting, we would suggest that you base yourself in the towns of either Blaenau Ffestiniog, Betws-y-Coed or Llanberis.
On our visit to Eryri (Snowdonia) we had the pleasure of staying at Llechwedd Glamping. Located just outside the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, this site offers luxury self catering glamping tents, perched on the edge of a mountain. Which makes for a pretty spectacular stay, as you wake up to sweeping views each morning.
Moreover, if glamping doesn’t sound up your street, they also have an onsite hotel Plas Weunydd, equipped with a lovely restaurant, serving delicious pub grub. That you can also visit even if you are glamping.
Day 1: Arrival day
Now that you’ve made it to Eryri (Snowdonia) & once you’ve settled into your accommodation, it’s time to get stuck into all the fun on offer here. Kicking it off at…
Underground Golf at Zip World Llechwedd
If you aren’t already familiar with Zip World, they are the home of unique & adventurous activities in the UK. Ranging from ziplining to Bounce Below & Underground Golf. There’s no doubt that you’ll find something for everyone here.
The Underground Golf, is what we decided to give a go. To paint the picture for you, this experience involves playing a round of crazy golf 500ft underground in a disused cave.
Firstly, to reach the cave you’ll take a ride on Europe’s steepest cable railway to descend into the cave. Once there, you’ll tackle an 18 hole gold course that spans over 4 levels & even includes a death slide! Make sure you bring a coat, as it gets cold down there.
This is such a unique experience, as it is the world’s first underground golf inside a cave. Plan to spend a couple of hours here enjoying the activity & having a whole lot of fun.
Prices start at £22 per person. See the website for more information. & check out our ‘Unique Experiences in the UK’ TikTok to get a feel for the experience.
By now you’ve probably worked up an appetite. So why not grab yourself a table at Plas Weunydd to fuel up before heading back to the comfort of your accommodation. If you’re staying at Llechwedd Glamping, you’ll only have a short walk back to your bed.
Day 2
After tucking into some breakfast at your accommodation, note that Llechwedd Glamping offer a breakfast included option (that is wonderful)! This day is all about discovering the natural beauty of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, by getting out on some of the many hiking trails you can find here.
Yr Wydffa (Snowdon) climb
Of course, this wouldn’t be a Eryri (Snowdonia) guide without mentioning Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), Wales’ highest peak. At an elevation of 1,085m above sea level, the mountain dominates the landscape & is very popular among hikers seeking a challenge.
You can absolutely summit Yr Wyddfa independently & we encourage you to do so if you are able. However, if you would feel more comfortable with a group or guide then RAW Adventures offer bespoke summit days. Not only that, but they also offer special mountain skills courses & training. For those who wish to learn more about getting out in the mountains & staying safe at the same time.
Yr Wyddfa can take on average 6 hours (round trip) to complete & has a few distinct routes to the summit. The first being the Llanberis Track, which is considered the easiest route & the best for beginners, as it mostly follows the trainline along a not so steep gradient.
The Pyg Track is another popular route as it is the quickest way up, whilst still not being the most difficult to climb. It’s worth having a research of the different tracks at Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), to work out which is most suited for you, before you attempt to summit.
Waterfall chasing
On our visit to the National Park, we unfortunately didn’t experience the best weather & therefore missed out on summiting Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). However, do not fear if you experience the same, because there is always another hike to do in this region. & what’s better than chasing waterfalls on a rainy day?
Rhaeadr Cynfal (Waterfall)
After heavy rainfall this falls is so powerful & quite spectacular to see. It’s located about a 20 minute walk from the car park & there is an easy loop that you can do here, by crossing the river via one of the wooden bridges & walking along the bank.
Find the exact location here.
Rhaeadr Cymerau (Waterfall)
Another beauty spot only a 10 minute walk from the car park & nestled amongst the mossy banks of the river. This spot is truly like a fairy tale, it’s hard to believe that you’ll likely see no one else here.
Find the exact location here.
Lakes
Eryri (Snowdonia) is also home to plenty of lakes, that offer great walking trails & picturesque spots to admire. Taking a stroll around a lake is a great alternative on a slightly wetter day, as they’re usually located at a lower altitude. However, even on the brightest of days they are still just as beautiful, whatever the weather.
Llyn Mair
This lake is a super tranquil spot & there is a very easy circular walk that loops around the banks of the lake. This would be the perfect spot for a picnic as there is also some picnic benches located close to the entrance. Wander through the woodland, listening to the sounds of nature as you do.
Find the exact location here.
Llyn Cwmorthin
This has to be one of the most impressive lakes we have ever laid eyes on. Overlooked by the derelict cottages of Cwmorthin Uchaf & mountains of slate waste, it’s just less than a mile in length. Again there is an easy trail to follow here that loops around the lake & there is also another stunning waterfall here.
Find the exact location here.
Castles
Unfortunately, we only had time to visit one castle in the area. But we truly believe that this one shouldn’t be missed on a trip here.
Dolwyddelan Castle
Sitting west of the village of Dolwyddelan, you’ll find the partial ruins of this castle, was once one of a group of fortresses built to command the remote mountain passes. It stands as a lasting memorial to Prince Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, or Llywelyn the Great. He was the undisputed ruler of Gwynedd during the 1200’s.
Today, the castle remains perched upon a small hill with sweeping views out across the surrounding mountains.
You can find more information about the castle here.
After all that walking & exploring, we reckon you’ll no doubt enjoy a hearty meal at a local pub. Look no further than the Y Pengwern Hotel in Ffestiniog. The food is brilliant & the hospitality, even better! Just what you need after a long day in the wilderness.
Day 3
It’s your final day in Eryri (Snowdonia) & what better way to spend it, than by getting your adrenalin pumping on some world class mountain bike tracks. This is definitely one for you thrill seekers!
Mountain Biking at Antur Stiniog
Once again, if you stay at Llechwedd Glamping you’re only a very short walk away from Antur Stiniog, in fact the mountain bike tracks will run right past your tent.
Antur Stiniog mountain bike park is set in the stunning mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) & offers 14 incredible mountain biking trails, for all ability of rider, from novice to world cup racer. Moreover, the trails are graded from green to black & a lift to the start of the trails is included in all runs.
Being beginner mountain bikers ourselves, we felt nervous as we made our way to the start of the tracks. However, our nerves were soon calmed after the first run. As we had such a blast racing down the mountain, with the amazing scenery in sight the whole way.
You can either hire a bike from the onsite shop, or if you’re a keen mountain biker yourself, then just bring your own along. Bike hire is £75 for the whole day, which should include a helmet too.
This activity really does deserve a spot on your Eryri (Snowdonia) itinerary!
That brings this guide to an end, we hope this offered you some inspiration for your visit to Eryri (Snowdonia) or at least convinced you to add it to your Wales bucket list. If you would like some more information on this itinerary then you can head to our Instagram where we have a full highlight from this adventure, as well as multiple detailed posts.
If you found this blog post helpful, you might enjoy reading another UK travel guide, how’s about ‘The Best of Northumberland: 4 Day Itinerary‘.
Happy exploring 🙂
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