Explore Snowdonia

The Snowdonia mountain and coast region is in the county of Gwynedd and also partly in the County Borough of Conway. The area attracts more than six million visitors each year. Named Yr Wyddfa in Welsh, the most famous attraction in the Snowdonia National Park is Snowdon.  It stands at 1,085m and is the highest mountain in Wales - it's also higher than any mountain in England.

Snowdon

The highest point in the Snowdonia mountain range has six main routes to the summit for those willing and able to hike their way up. It can take at least five or six hours to climb to the top and back.

The Snowdon Mountain Railway is a more genteel way of reaching the summit and is an experience in itself. There’s a visitor centre and café at the summit for those who wish to take in the spectacular views.  That's if the weather permits, as Snowdonia has the highest annual rainfall of anywhere in the UK.

Snowdon Mountain Railway

Since 1896 the Snowdon Mountain Railway has transported visitors to the summit. You can start your journey at any of the station stops on the route, starting from Llanberis Station.

Photo: The Ancient Brit, Llanberis 0176 (Flickr)

Setting off from Llanberis station, you will start your ascent across one of the two viaducts over Afon Hwch. There's a waterfall and ancient forests to pass until you rise up into the open with views of even more spectacular scenery. You also pass Hebron, the site of a small ruined Chapel before reaching the half way point. The next stop is Rocky Valley which is a magical site with huge boulders and ancient rock formations. If there are high winds this is the termination point for the service, so it's a good idea to check before setting off. The penultimate stop is Clogwyn Station which is named after the dark, volcanic crag of Clogwyn du’r Arddu. Clogwyn is approximately a mile from the summit so it is possible to walk the final ascent.  You can take a look back over the Llanberis Pass which is a view not to be missed. Once you reach the summit you’ll find a newly opened visitor centre. And more importantly unimpaired, panoramic views across the Snowdonia range.

Royal Town of Caernarfon

Why not visit the Royal Town of Caernarfon for the day? This market town is dominated by the impressive medieval fortress, built by Edward I. There’s also the remains of the Roman fort and museum of Sgontium. It is the ancient administrative centre for the region and the settlement from which Caernarfon began. However there is also evidence of prehistoric life in this area of North Wales. Another small but interesting museum of note is the Caernarfon Maritime museum. It celebrates the region’s rich nautical history. Caernarfon has a good mixture of shops, restaurants and pubs, as well as a host of other activities. The nearby National Watersports Centre is the place to learn a new watersport, from kayaking, windsurfing, canoeing to white-water rafting.

Llechwedd Slate Caverns

The Slate Caverns of Blaenau Ffestiniog are part of a working slate mine that has been in operation since 1836. Here you can take a tour and explore underground, seeing for yourself what it would have been like for a Victorian miner. Explore the huge hand-dug chambers almost 150 metres underground, accessed by the cable railway. You’ll be guided on the tour by the ‘ghost’ of a young miner, Sion Dolgarregddu. And wind your way through 25 miles of tunnels. There is also a Miner’s Tramway for a slightly less energetic tour which ends in a slate workshop where you can view how the slate is split. 

Bodnant Garden

Just west of Colwyn Bay is one of the most beautiful National Trust gardens in the UK. Bodnant Garden features around 80 acres of terraced gardens, lawns, trees and wild gardens. The gardens are situated above the River Conwy and look across to the Snowdonia range. A wide range of beautiful and interesting plants are grown here from all over the world. Wander the gardens and stop off at the Pavillion Tea room for a break. At certain times of the year you can also enjoy events, festivals and even open-air theatre within these impressive grounds.

Photo: andrew_j_w, Canal Garden in Bodnant Gardens