Discover our assessors recommended campsites and visitor attractions in Snowdonia.
Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park covers 823 square miles of upland North Wales on the western coast of the United Kingdom. It's the fourth largest National Park in the United Kingdom.
Known as Eryri in Welsh, the name is now thought to relate to the Latin 'Oriri', roughly meaning 'Highlands'. Though people believed it to mean 'Land of the Eagles' for many years, either way, it's appropriate for the rugged mountainous landscape.
The tallest peak of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon in English) stands at over 3,500ft and can be reached by the famous Snowdon rack and pinion railway.
Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) Pronounced "Er-with-va"
Eryri (Snowdonia) Pronounced "Eh-ruh-re"
Found in the Conwy and Gwynedd regions of northern Wales, Snowdonia National Park reaches from sea level at Porthmadog and Barmouth all the way to the peaks of Snowdon and Cader Idris. The park gained National Park status in 1951, shortly after the Peak District and Lake District.
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For many visitors, the main attraction will be a trip to the top of Snowdon, the highest peak in the UK south of the Scottish Highlands. However, keen ramblers and hillwalkers shouldn't miss the other mountain ranges, including the Glyderau range and the Carneddau range. The largest natural lake* in Wales can be found at Bala, with the nearby reservoir at Llyn Trawsfynydd being slightly larger. Views of the Llyn Trawsfynydd reservoir can be enjoyed on an eight-mile circular walk, including crossing the reservoir on the specially built quarter-mile long footbridge (no cycles). The bridge was built after locals objected to the building of the reservoir because it would interrupt their rights of way.
Top 3 Snowdonia Attractions
Narrow Gauge and Heritage Railways
Explore Snowdonia's Narrow Gauge Railways
North Wales is home to an abundance of Narrow Guage, Miniature and heritage railways. Highlights include the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways, which runs for 25 miles from Caernarfon on the coast near Anglesea, via Beddgelert in the foothills of Snowdon and on to the coast at Porthmadog.
The former Padarn (or Llanberis Lake) Railway runs for 2.5 miles alongside Llanberis Lake and gives fine views of Snowdon. The Bala Lake Railway is a charming 4.5-mile journey along the southern shore of Llyn Tegid.
Other routes worth exploring are the Talyllyn Railway, Fairbourne Miniature Railway, and if your legs aren't up to the climb, you could always reach the top of Snowdon via the Snowdon Mountain Railway.
Slate and mining heritage
Discover underground Wales
When you think about mining in Wales, you may think of the South Wales coal-mining valleys of the Rhondda or Taff, but North Wales and Snowdonia, in particular, has a rich industrial heritage based around slate; copper and even gold!
The National Slate Museum is located in the former Dinorwic Quarry above the village of Llanberis. It is home to the largest diameter working waterwheel in mainland Britain (at just over 15m in diameter, it's not quite as impressive as the Laxey Wheel on the Isle of Man, but impressive nonetheless.)
Llechwedd Deep Mine allows you to take the vertigo-inducing trip 500 feet down into the heart of Slate Mountain on Europes steepest cable railway. If that does take your fancy, then the Llanfair Slate Caverns near Harlech might appeal.
If slate isn't your thing, why not experience life as a Victorian miner at Sygun Copper Mine, once one of the main mineral producers in Wales. If you prefer a little more bling, then gold has been mined in Wales since at least 75AD, and whilst there are no mines that you can visit at present, Welsh Gold, as worn by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, continues to be mined at Gwynfynydd Gold Mine.
Get Extreme in Snowdonia
Get Extreme
If you think of yourself as an adrenaline junkie or thrill-seeker, then Snowdonia could be just the destination for you.
Zip World is spread across 3 locations in and around the national park. The Fforest location offers tree-top adventures and self-controlled roller coaster rides. The quarry location is home to quarry carts, off-road, downhill, go-carting. If that's not enough, then it's also home to the world's fastest zip line (reaching speeds of over 100mph!) Finally, their slate cavern location is home to 'Bounce Below', an enormous underground trampoline park.
Go Below is described as the 'ultimate underground adventure', and with zip-lining and climbing available on your way to the deepest point in the UK, we think it's got a pretty good claim to the title.
Set within the Snowdonia National Park, this excellent site was totally rebuilt for the 2009 season to a standard that others will strive to achieve. It is a level site with first-class facilities and has 100 well drained touring pitches (some seasonal), all on hardstanding and fully serviced. Tents are not accepted. In a separate area there are 112 caravan holiday homes. The site has three miles of golden sand beaches nearby and the Snowdon mountain range as a backdrop. It overlooks the famous Royal St David’s Golf Course, and Harlech town, dominated by its 13th-century castle, is within walking distance. A great deal of thought has made this site ideal for disabled visitors, with each pitch fronting onto smooth, level, tarmac roads which continue to the toilet and shower facilities where there are wide reserved parking bays. Key cards are required for all the facilities. Children will enjoy a secure play area, a bike track and a games field on site.
Barcdy is partly in a sheltered vale, partly on a plateau top and partly in open fields edged by woods. There are fells to the rear and marvellous views across the Lleyn peninsula in one direction and towards the Snowdon range in another. The Roberts family opened to their first visitors over 60 years ago, and still welcome them today. The park provides for all tastes with level or sloping grass pitches, either secluded in the valley or enjoying the view from the plateau or the lower field. There are 110 pitches in total, including 40 serviced for touring caravans with electricity (10/16A) and 55 for tents, eleven with 10A electricity, plus 30 caravan holiday homes.
With sea views from almost every pitch and with a backdrop of the Welsh hills, Trawsdir Touring Caravan & Camping Park has something for everyone, both young and old. Entrance and exit via the site barrier, and access to the facilities are by a key fob. A well-equipped children’s play area with safety surface is close to reception. Of the 142 touring pitches, 70 are for tents (48 with electricity) while the remaining 72 are fully serviced and can take RVs.
Bryn Gloch Caravan & Camping Park is a tranquil, well maintained, family owned touring park in the impressive Snowdonia area. An unusual feature is the mountain railway which runs along one side of the park. Six flat, spacious meadows accommodate 231 units and afford some breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Tarmac access roads serve 151 touring pitches with 131 having hardstandings, 10A electricity, water and drainage. In addition, there are four caravan holiday homes and 24 serviced pitches for tents. The park has a barbecue and picnic area, a children’s play area, and a large field for ball games, dog walks and fishing borders the river.
This spacious 16-acre site lying alongside the southern end of Bala lake has its own small beach and boat launching area. The site is in a grassy, parkland setting, fairly open and reasonably level, but with natural terraces. There are 204 pitches, with 50 for seasonal units and 154 for touring; 150 have 10A electricity hook-up and there are 19 on hardstandings. A hardstanding area by the beach is a favourite with motorhome owners. Many pitches have views of the lake or the surrounding hills.
Located in the glorious lush surroundings of Snowdonia National Park, Coed-y-Llwyn Caravan and Motorhome Club site is a sight to behold for those visiting for the first time. The site is particularly geared up for outdoor lovers, who can venture up Snowdon (a short drive from the site), enjoy the range of water sports at Lake Bala, find safe sandy beaches on the Lleyn Peninsula, play golf at Porthmadog, and cycle in the mountain bike centre at Coed-y-Brenin. Cycling can also be enjoyed at Blaenau Ffestiniog. Zip World, home to the largest and longest zip lines in Europe is only a short drive away, there are two locations you can enjoy, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Bethesda. The site has 90 mainly hardstanding pitches (some seasonal) all with electricity 16 amp.
Llanberis Touring Park is located on the fringe of pretty Llanberis village, which nestles on the southern bank of Llyn Padarn and at the foot of Snowdon. Often, the touring sites North Wales offers can be very remote, however, the park is just a five-minute walk from the village, the acclaimed adventure capital of North Wales and a hive of activity with rich cultural heritage. With 35 hardstanding and 19 super pitches, the park has top class facilities including a luxury reception/shop and centrally heated toilets and laundry room.
Bird Rock is a relaxed family-run working farm site in Snowdonia National Park. Excellent area for hillwalking; two seaside resorts within 10 miles. The nearest pub two miles away in Abergynolwyn. The site is set in stunning Welsh landscape within the Snowdonia National Park, and lies six miles outside the seaside resort of Tywyn on the Cardigan Bay coast. Spectacularly located under the site’s namesake of Craig yr Aderyn or Bird Rock, and with splendid views of the surrounding Cadair Idris massif and open countryside, Bird Rock Campsite is a quiet and relaxed site, spaciously laid out over four grassy acres with 30 pitches, some serviced. As this site is scenically set-in national parkland, there is plenty of beautiful countryside to roam around, as well as waymarked walking trails to hike. One side of the site is bordered by the River Dysynni.
This is a delightful, peaceful, eight-acre site owned and operated by the Morris Leisure Group. It is set just a few minutes’ walk away from the beautiful village of Betws-y-Coed, a perfect location to visit the stunning Snowdonia National Park. Betws-y-Coed is widely acclaimed as one of the most attractive villages in Great Britain.
This attractively landscaped, adults only, five-hectare campsite is conveniently situated close to the A55 and positioned on a hillside with panoramic views across Conwy Bay to The Great Orme at Llandudno and Puffin Island. Offering peace and quiet in a superb location between mountains and the sea, and being within easy reach of Conwy, Snowdonia National Park and many historic regions of north Wales, this is an ideal base for exploring the area. Tarmac roads connect the three levels which are tiered to maximise the views for everyone. There are 87 touring pitches on either grass or hardstanding and all have 16A electricity. Chocks may be required.
