How to spend a weekend in Sensational Snowdonia National Park, Wales
- MemoirsofaMountainGirl
- Sep 1, 2020
- 6 min read
Hard to believe that being based between the UK and Ireland for the majority of my life, I have only ever ventured to Wales once before and that was to visit friends studying in Cardiff. How it is taken me so long to go and explore the wonders of Snowdonia National Park, I will never know - but I am so glad I ventured to North Wales last weekend in what was the most wondrous and unexpected trip. This post is my little testament to how to spend 48 hours getting the best out of Snowdonia's hidden (and not so hidden gems).
Tip: You will need to Hire a car if coming from overseas or take your own if it is accessible to you. We drove up from South West London and the Journey took about 6 hours door to door. Make sure to pack some snacks for the Road Trip!
Accommodation:
There are many options to choose from and where you decide to base yourself for a few nights will all depend on the type of adventure you are seeking.
If Camping under the stars is your thing - Book into Garth Farm, Capel Curig in Betws-y-Coed and set up camp for a few nights. Also known as R O Jones & Sons Farm – this campsite has to be one of the best in Snowdonia for close proximity to neighbouring villages and stunning views of Mount Snowdon in the distance. Facilities are cleaner than most campsites and there is a swimming lake on the farm. The ground is quite hilly so be prepared to pitch tent on a Hill which makes for an interesting night’s sleep – but all the better views for it.
If Glamping is more your vibe – check out Snowdonia Glamping Holidays, also in Betws-y-Coed who have cute Shepherds' Huts & Boutique Glamping Barns situated on the edge of Snowdonia National Park. You could also try Waenfechan Glamping & Camping, slightly further North of Snowdonia situated in Conwy Valley with stunning panoramic views of the mountainous backdrop and the sea. They also have hot tubs onsite depending on which Glamping experience you opt for.
If you would prefer less wilderness and would rather be in the hub of all the activity you should stay in the village of Llanberis, which is at the foot of Mount Snowdon or alternatively, if you would prefer a slightly livelier base – stay in the village of Betws-y-Coed, known as the gateway to Snowdonia where you will find a plethora of Guesthouses, B&B’s and boutique hotels to chose from.
Where to Eat:
There is something about being in the mountains that just makes me crave hearty, mountain food and that is before we even did one step of hiking! On our first evening we arrived quite late – it was a Friday so we went to Tyn-Y-Coed Inn which was a short drive from our campsite in Capel Curig. Bonus – it is also a B&B with guest rooms. This is a no-frills pub serving up hearty mountain grub with some outside seating and benches for enjoying some beer in the sun on warmer days. Burgers, Bangers and Mash and Pizza are some of the popular dishes on the menu and they also serve up local craft beer on tap. If you are after something a bit more refined check out
Chandler’s Brasserie in in the village of Trefriw, Conwy. If it is Pizza you are after, try Hangin’ Pizzeria in Betws-y-Coed – we opted for take out and sat with a few drinks overlooking the lake and watching the sun go down after a long day on the mountain or if you are in search of a good local chippy for take out – pop to Allports Fish & Chips in Llanberis and dine like a local.
Things to do & See:
Climb Mount Snowdon – It really goes without saying that one of the main attractions of Snowdonia National Park is to climb / hike / walk to reach the Summit of Mount Snowdon. At 3,560 feet, this giant is one of the three highest peak’s in the UK. There are multiple routes to take to the summit with varying grades of difficulty with the Llanberis path or the Pyg Track being the most commonly trodden. More information on the various routes to the summit can be found here. I would recommend packing suitable footwear and plenty of water for your journey (at least two litres per person) and a packed lunch to enjoy at the summit. If you summit on a clear day the views are spectacular with the most stunning mountainous backdrop soaring above the clouds. There is a café at the top of the mountain (Bizarrely) but it was closed due to Covid-19 and there is a refreshments station on the way down from the summit where you can purchase some refreshments to go – but again check before you set off as I don’t believe it is open all year round. Be sure to check the weather before you set off and try and pick the day with clear visibility to get the most out of your experience.
Scrambling Crib Goch – Crib Goch is described as a ‘knife-edged’ arête in the Snowdonia National Park in Gwynedd, Wales. The name means ‘red ridge’ in the Welsh language and is Not for the faint hearted or novice walker. This is an alternative way to summit Mount Snowdon, known as the Snowdon Horseshoe and should only be attempted by experienced hikers. Don’t attempt if conditions are poor with high winds and poor visibility. I went on this route to Summit Snowdonia and was underprepared and inexperienced for the climb. Albeit I made it to the summit but it was one of the more difficult scrambles I have ever done. The ‘ridge’ is expose on both sides so you need to be sure of your footing. I crabbed it the whole way along! The reward was worth the Risk in the end, thankfully!
Snowdon Mountain Railway – If you don’t fancy a climb to the Summit of Mount Snowdon you can actually catch a steam train to the top and barely break a sweat. The price of a ticket is approx. £20 - £25 pp each way in peak season. There is breath-taking scenery the whole journey. We walked back along the track on our decent just to check it out.
Chasing Waterfalls – There are lots of stunning waterfalls hidden around Snowdonia National park with cute little trails to reach them. We went to Conwy Falls forest park and walked the short little loop trail, grab a coffee and some breakfast in Conwy Falls café who have a lovely seated terrace out the back. I’m told there are also waterfalls to be found on one of the trails up to Mount Snowdon but I was too busy on my ridge climb to explore these alternative options. If you have more time than we did I would suggest doing a little research into the falls en route to Mount Snowdon.
Snowdon Honey Farm and Winery – Located in Llanberis Village Centre, nestled at the foot of Mount Snowdon this quaint family run business should be on everyone’s Snowdonia bucket list. There is a free tasting bar where you can sample the local delicacies – honey, cheese and wine before you buy.
Go Wild Swimming in the Lakes – After the hike to the summit of Snowdonia what better way to decompress than a dip in one of the beautiful lakes. During summer months they can heat up to what I consider to be a comfortable temperature. We went for a dip in late August and were pleasantly surprised. For convenience we had a swim in the lake at our campsite on Garth Farm but there were also some beautiful blue lakes in Snowdonia on one of the main paths up to Mount Snowdon we could see people swimming in from the top which looked pretty spectacular. You can find more info on the best swimming lakes in Snowdonia here. Be mindful that some of the lakes are very deep and can be cold and most of which are not manned by lifeguards so don’t attempt unless you are accustomed to swimming in colder waters and are a strong swimmer.
Top Tip: Come prepared for all seasons in your trip to Wales, especially if planning to summit Mount Snowdon. The weather is very changeable. On two out of our three days it rained insistently but on one of the days it was the most glorious summer days with some of the top temperatures Wales has ever witnessed. Don't be caught short.
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