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Destinations > Wales > Snowdonia
Snowdonia
Snowdonia National Park
(Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri)
Mount Snowdon, Wales' tallest mountain, lies at the heart of Snowdonia National Park. This is the biggest and most visited national park in Wales and, after the Lake District, is the second largest national park in Britain. There are some excellent hiking trails in the park, but climbing Mount Snowdon is the main objective of most visitors.
Like much of Wales, the park is home to some brilliant little railways including the famous Ffestiniog Railway and also the Snowdon Mountain Railway, which runs from Llanberis to the summit of Mount Snowdon.
Practical Information
Betws-y-Coed Tourist Information Centre
Royal Oak Stables, Betws-y-Coed
Tel (01690) 710426
Website www.visitwales.com
Open winter 9.30am-4.30pm daily; summer 10am-6pm daily
Blaenau Ffestiniog Tourist Information Centre
Unit 3, High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog
Tel (01766) 830360
Website www.visitwales.com
Open summer 10am-6pm daily
Llanberis Tourist Information Centre
41b High Street, Llanberis
Tel (01286) 870765
Website www.visitwales.com
Open winter Wed, Fri, Sun 11am-4pm; summer 10am-6pm daily
Local Transport
The Snowdonia area is well served by Snowdon Sherpa buses, which are a handy way to travel between towns in the park. The Red Rover travel pass allows you to travel all day on bus routes 1 to 99 including buses to and from Aberystwyth.
If you can't be fagged climbing Mount Snowdon, you may want to take the Snowdon Mountain Railway (tel 0870 458 033; website www.snowdonrailway.co.uk) to the summit. This train costs £18 for a return ticket or £13 one-way.
Accommodation
The area around Mount Snowdon is home to a bunch of great little hostels.
BETWS-Y-COED
The Vagabond
Craiglan Road, Betws y Coed, LL24 0AW
Tel (01690) 710850
Woodlands Outdoor Centre
Vicarage Road, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy, LL24 0AD
Tel 0870 787 3326
YHA Betws-Y-Coed
Swallow Falls, Betws Y Coed, Gwynedd LL24 0DW
Tel (01690) 710796
CAPEL CURIG
YHA Capel Curig
A5, Plas Curig, Capel Curig, LL24 0EL
Tel (01690) 720 225 or 0870 770 5746
CORRIS
Braich Goch Bunkhouse & Inn
A487, Corris SY20 9RD
Tel (01654) 761 229
Canolfan Corris
Old School, Corris
Tel 0870 770 5778
DOLGELLAU
YHA Kings (Dolgellau)
Kings, Penmaenpool, Dolgellau, Gwynedd LL40 1TB
Tel (01341) 422 392 or 0870 770 5900
LLANBERIS
Heights Hotel
74 High Street, Llanberis, Gwynedd LL55 4HB
Tel (01286) 871 179
Jesse James’ Bunkhouse
A4244, Penisarwaen Nr Llanberis
Bus 76, 77
Tel (01286) 870521
Snowdon House
A4086, Nant Peris LL55 4UF
Tel (01286) 870 284
Snowdon Inn
Llanberis Road, Cwm y Glo, Llanberis LL55 4EE
Tel (01286) 870289
YHA Llanberis
Llwyn Celyn, Llanberis, Gwynedd LL55 4SR
Tel (01286) 870 280 or 0870 770 5928
NANT GWYNANT
Bryn Dinas Bunkhouse
A496, Bryn Dinas, Nant Gwynant LL55 4NH
Bus 97A
Tel (01766) 890 234
YHA Bryn Gwynant
Nantgwynant, Gwynedd LL55 4NP
Bus 97A
Tel (01766) 890 251 or 0870 770 5732
YHA Pen-y-Pass
A4086, Pen-y-Pass, Nantgwynant, Gwynedd LL55 4NY
Bus Sherpa
Tel (01286) 870 428 or 0870 770 5990
Sights
Welsh Slate Museum
Slate has been described as 'the most Welsh of Welsh industries' and slate quarries were common throughout the country in the 19th century. Remnants of the industry can be found today, particularly in the Snowdonia region in places like Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llanberis. The Welsh Slate Museum is set in the Dinorwig slate quarry and it features Britain's largest working waterwheel, restored workshops and slate-splitting demonstrations. There is also a 3D multimedia presentation about the lives of the quarry workers.
Padarn Country Park, Llanberis
Tel (01286) 870630
Website www.nmgw.ac.uk/wsm/
Admission free
Open Jan-Easter Sun-Fri 10am-4pm; Easter-Oct 10am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec Sun-Fri 10am-4pm
Porthmadog
Porthmadog, and neighbouring Tremadog, is a good base for exploring the southern part of Snowdonia National Park, but most visitors come here to travel on the Ffestiniog Railway.
The World Heritage Harlech Castle is located a half hour drive south of here.
Practical Information
Porthmadog Tourist Information Centre
High Street, Porthmadog
Tel (01766) 512981
Website www.visitwales.com
Open winter Thu-Tue 10am-5pm; summer 10am-6pm daily
Accommodation
Snowdon Lodge
Lawrence House, Church Street, Tremadog, Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL49 9PS
Tel (01766) 515 354
Stone Barn
Tyddyn Morthwyl, Criccieth, Gwynedd LL52 0NF
Tel (01766) 522 115
Sights
Ffestiniog Railway
This narrow gauge steam railway chugs its way through the Vale of Ffestiniog, terminating at the slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog where you can transfer to a regular train to Wales' northern coast.
Harbour Station, Porthmadog
Tel (01766) 516024
Website www.festrail.co.uk
Fare £14 all day rover ticket.
Harlech
This small town, about a half hour drive south of Porthmadog, is known for the World Heritage Harlech Castle.
Practical Information
Harlech Tourist Information Centre
Llys y Graig, Harlech
Tel (01766) 780658
Website www.visitwales.com
Open summer 10am-6pm daily
Sights
Harlech Castle
This spectacular castle was built between 1283 and 1289 for Edward I. It features four massive round towers at each corner and UNESCO has classified it as a World Heritage site.
Harlech
Tel (01766) 780552
Admission £3 (£2 students)
Open Jan-Mar Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm; 1 Apr-1 Jun 9.30am-5pm daily; 2 Jun-28 Sep 9.30am-6pm daily; 29 Sep-26 Oct 9.30am-5pm daily; 27 Oct-31 Dec Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm
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