Snowdownia Attractions

Snowdownia National Park is a recent creation and covers a much wider area than the traditional Snowdownia, extending inland from the coast between Penmaenmawr and Caernarfon by way of Bethesda to Bala Lake and Llanfairfechan. Access to a beautiful part of this area, including Snowdon itself, is made easier by the Snowdon Mountain Railway, which starts from Llanberis.'Eryri' is the Welsh name for Snowdonia, the Land of the Eagle. This park is one of the most popular hiking and climbing places in Britain. Not only does it offer rugged mountain scenery, but also beaches, dunes and valleys. It contains over 50 lakes and smaller pools. The park features a rich cultural heritage; roman remains, prehistoric circles, stone walls and sheep farms.

Llanberis (pop. 2,330) lies in a magnificent setting at the beginning of the Llanberis Pass. The twin lakes of Padarn and Peris have one of the largest pumping stations in Europe for the purpose of supplying water. Between them is Dolbadarn Castle, with an early 13th century round tower, and 2mi/3km to the south is Bryn Bras Castle.

The workshops of the National Slate Museum in Gilfach Ddu were built in 1870 for the slate quarry of Dinorwic, which at the time was the largest in the world, and consists of a huge amphitheater carved directly into the slopes of the Elidir mountains.

The easiest method of ascending Snowdon from Llanberis is provided by the tiny Snowdon Mountain Railway. It steams up to the summit of Snowdon at a speed of little more than 5mi/8km an hour, passing through Hebron, Halfway and Clogwyn stations. There is a bus service, the "Snowdon Sherpa", serving Porthmadog, Beddgelert, Llanrwst, Betws-y-Coed, Capel Curig, Caernarfon and Llanberis, all good starting points for trips into Snowdonia. There are National Park information centers at Llanrwst, Llanberis, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Harlech, Bala, Conwy, Aberdyfi and Dolgellau. A variety of waymarked trails, each only a few miles long, enable visitors to become acquainted with the scenery, flora and fauna and geology of the region. There are five waymarked and relatively safe and easy routes to the summit, starting from Llanberis, Pen-y-Pass, Beddgelert, Nant Gwynant and the Snowdon Ranger. The most direct route, albeit the least attractive, is the one from Llanberis; the best ascent is to start from Beddgelert and return to Pen-y-Pass, or vice versa.

Snowdon itself (Welsh: Eryri) comprises many peaks, the highest of which Yr Wyddfa (3,560ft/1,085m) affords incomparable views in all directions. But there are a large number of other mountains in the area which are also well worth climbing. All over Snowdonia there are good walks and climbs, offering far-ranging views of beautiful mountains and valleys.

Beddgelert (pop. 500), the village at the confluence of the rivers Colwan and Glaslyn, is one of the most charming little places in Wales, a favorite starting point for walks and climbs, situated as it is at the junction of three main roads. From Moel Hebog, a 2 hours' climb from here, there is a splendid panoramic view extending out into Cardigan Bay. One road from here descends to Caernarfon, another runs northeast through Nant Gwynant, the valley of the Glaslyn and one of the most beautiful in Wales.

The road running through the valley of the Glaslyn leads to the delightful little town of Bettws-y-Coed (pop. 770) ( "temple in the wood"), situated in Gwydyr Forest at the junction of the Conwy, Lledr and Llugwy valleys. This is a very popular holiday place, crowded with visitors in summer. The ruin of Pany Mill and the 15th century Pont-y-Pair bridge are attractive to look at. The immediate surroundings are very beautiful, with the Fairy Glen, the Swallow Falls and the Conwy waterfalls.

Llyn Ogwen is a beautiful mountain lake with a waterfall (Benglog Falls). 0.5mi/1km to the south is Llyn Idwal, in which the son of Prince Owain Gwynedd is supposed to have been drowned by his stepfather.

The holiday village of Capel Curig is a good base for mountaineering and walking in the Snowdonia area, and is also popular with anglers and painters.

On the eastern edge of Snowdonia the A 4212 leads to Bala Lake, with the little market town of Bala (pop. 1,600), a lively holiday place at the foot of the Aran and Berwyn Mountains. Its main attractions are the 4mi/6km long lake, which offers ideal conditions for sailing and angling, and the Bala Lake Railway, a narrow-gauge railroad which runs along the shore of the lake.