Eryri (Snowdonia)
The highest mountains south of the Highlands, with a coast on three sides.
High point: Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), 1085 m
Where to base yourself
Barmouth
The beach, the viaduct, and a flat path to Cadair Idris.
Station: Barmouth
Beddgelert
A quieter route onto Yr Wyddfa, with Moel Hebog at the door.
Station: Porthmadog
Betws-y-Coed
The one Eryri base you can reach without a car.
Station: Betws-y-Coed
Conwy
A UNESCO castle and an easy summit, both a walk from the station.
Station: Conwy
Dolgellau
Cadair Idris at the door, the Mawddach Trail running from the town.
Station: Morfa Mawddach
Llanberis
Wales's main gateway onto Yr Wyddfa, on foot or by rail.
Station: Bangor
Hot tubs in Eryri (Snowdonia)
Dinas Mawddwy, near Machynlleth, North Wales
Beudy Erw'r March
Sleeps 8 · 4 beds
- Hot tub
- Wood burner
- No dogs
Walks
Aberglaslyn Pass
A short, level riverside walk through a wooded gorge on the Afon Glaslyn, one of the easiest scenic outings near Beddgelert.
- 2 km
- Easy
Cadair Idris by the Minffordd Path
The most dramatic of Cadair Idris's paths, climbing past the corrie lake Llyn Cau to the summit, Penygadair, at 893 metres.
- 9 km
- 788 m up
- 6 hr
- Hard
Conwy Mountain (Mynydd y Dref)
An Iron Age hillfort tops this small summit above Conwy, with views to Anglesey, the estuary and the Carneddau foothills.
- 8 km
- 279 m up
- 3 hr
- Moderate
Llyn Elsi
A reservoir lake in Gwydir Forest above Betws-y-Coed, reached by a steep climb from the village through mixed woodland.
- 6.4 km
- 300 m up
- 2.5 hr
- Moderate
Mawddach Trail
A flat, fifteen-kilometre trail along a disused railway line beside the Mawddach estuary, linking Barmouth to Dolgellau.
- 15 km
- 0 m up
- Easy
Moel Hebog
A steady mountain ascent directly above Beddgelert, quieter than Snowdon, with views over Cardigan Bay and the Nantlle Ridge.
- 8.9 km
- 758 m up
- 5 hr
- Moderate
Views without the walk
Cregennan Lakes
Two National Trust lakes on the slopes of Cadair Idris, reached by car, with views to the estuary and the mountain's cliffs.
- Drive to it
- View all round
Dolbadarn Castle
A ruined 13th-century round tower above Llyn Padarn, a short but steep climb from Llanberis with views along the Llanberis Pass.
- Drive to it
- 10 min from the car
- View all round
Swallow Falls (Rhaeadr Ewynnol)
A 42-metre waterfall on the Afon Llugwy, reached by a short paid path with steps from a car park just off the A5.
- Drive to it
Sychnant Pass
A road pass west of Conwy Mountain, with a car park used as an alternative starting point for walks onto the hillfort summit.
- Drive to it
Adventure
Snowdon Mountain Railway
Rack-and-pinion railway from Llanberis to the summit of Yr Wyddfa, the highest point in Wales reachable without walking.
- cable car
- Snowdon Mountain Railway
- from £45
Zip World Llechwedd (Bounce Below)
Trampoline nets strung through a slate cavern at Blaenau Ffestiniog, reachable from Betws-y-Coed by road or the same railway line.
- caving
- Zip World Llechwedd
- from £26.25
Zip World Penrhyn Quarry (Velocity 2)
Twin zip lines across a flooded slate quarry near Bethesda, marketed by the operator as the fastest zip line in the world.
- zip line
- Zip World Penrhyn Quarry
- from £99