Jaw-dropping scenery, incredible hikes, and breathtaking nature is what you can find in Snowdonia National Park.
There is never enough time to see everything in one place, but with some planning, you can make the most of your time.
I learned that going to Snowdonia means you will spend more time travelling from one place to another than enjoying a particular place.
So, take a deep breath and take in whatever is in front of you.
We divided our six-hour driving time from home into half to give us a good start.
Rather than starting the journey early in the morning, we left the evening before and stayed in a hotel halfway through.
This doesn’t have to be an expensive hotel; it’s just a place to spend a night and get some rest. We stayed in Bromsgrove Hotel & Spa.
Day 1
Our first day consisted of driving the rest of the journey to Snowdonia National Park, with a quick stop at Rhug Estate– an Organic Farm with a shop to buy some yummy treats.
This was a lovely surprise spot; just at the right time, we needed some “pick me up”. Located only around 35 minutes drive from our first stop in Snowdonia.
Betws-y-Coed is a lovely little village that’s becoming a famous tourist destination and a place to start your Snowdonia adventure.
Surrounded by Gwydyr Forest that offers something for everyone, hiking and biking trails, waterfalls, and so much more.
Inside the village, you can discover historic StMichael’s Church with an alluring interior and the title of the oldest building in Betws-y-Coed.
Railway lovers can look inside the Conwy Valley Railway Museum located at the Betws-y-Coed Station.
Our second stop of the day in Snowdonia National Park was Cwm Idwal.
Only twenty minutes drive from Betws-y-Coed, you find a moderate walk to Llyn Idwal Lake, fenced with beautiful mountainous scenery.
The loop walk starts to the left of the Canolfan Cwm Idwal Visitor Centre, where, besides information about the local area and its trails, you can also find a snack bar to refuel and restrooms to refresh.
Note that the parking space is probably not big enough for how busy it can get.
The walk takes around an hour and can be extended if you find a beautiful spot for some lunch or snack break to enjoy the fresh air and gorgeous views.
Before we headed towards our accommodation in Talsarnau, we stopped at Llanberis and its neighbouring lakes, Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris, for a little stroll.
We were also on a mission to locate the Lonely Tree, which is the most famous photo location in this area. It lives on the shores of Lake Padarn embraced by stunning mountain views.
Some directions to this tree can be pretty confusing if you read some of the older posts, but the reality cannot be any easier.
Simply park at the Maes Parcio Padarn (not the Maes Parcio Llyn Padarn) car park and walk off the beaten path to the left of the car park.
The location of our accommodation wasn’t the best considering what we planned to do; however, we were so happy with the comfort of our room, the tranquil nature around it and the friendliness of our host.
And if you are planning to stay around this area I would definitely recommend Bryn Derw Talsarnau – found on Booking.com
Our host also suggested a number of places to visit; however, with our already busy schedule, we did not make it far down the list.
Nature places to visit:
Coed y Brenin Forest Park
Aber Falls
Cader Idris
Bodnant Gardens
Historical places to visit:
Harlech Castle
Criccieth Castle
Conwy Castle
Chirk Castle
Day 2
The main reason for visiting Snowdonia National Park was to climb Wales’s tallest peak, Snowdon Mountain.
Six main trails lead to the top of the mountain with different levels of fitness required.
Llanberis Path: 6.8 km (to the top)/Easy
One of the easiest and probably busiest paths which runs side by side to the Snowdon Mountain railway.
Start: in the village of Llanberis
Pyg Track: 5.2 km (to the top)/Easy
The shortest route to the top of Snowdon is therefore considered the first choice for many.
Start: at Pen-y-pass Car park
Miner’s Track: 6.2 km (to the top)/Easy
It runs parallel to the Pyg Track and merges with it before reaching the summit. Starts moderately alongside glistening lakes, then ascends steeply to reach the top.
Start: Pen-y-pass Car Park
Snowdon Ranger Path: 6 km (to the top)/Easy
One of the oldest paths to the summit of Snowdon. As with any of the Snowdon trails, this one also displays the surrounding scenery as mesmerising and mysterious.
Start: Llyn Cwellyn Car Park
Watkin Path: 6.1 km (to the top)/Moderate
As you embark on this somewhat challenging path, you come across breathtaking views of majestic peaks, stunning waterfalls and enchanting woodlands.
Start: at the Nant Gwynant Car Park
Rhyd Ddu Path: 5.8 km (to the top)/Moderate
Although it may seem like an easy path at the start, it continues through challenging sections all the way to a rocky ridgeline with steep drops and yet does not deprive you of stunning scenery along the way.
Start: Rhyd Ddu Car Park
Our initial plan was to climb up the Pyg Track and down the Llanberis Path.
Hiking up the Pyg Track means parking near the parking lot where the path starts; however, we learned that you must book this well in advance.
Pyg Track is one of the popular trails with probably the best views; therefore, it is understandable that it will also be the busiest.
If you are not able to park at a car park of your choice, as some can get quite busy and fully booked, you can catch a bus that are regularly running to and from these trails to make it accessible for all.
Visit the Sherpa Bus service website for fares, timetables and connections.
So, we set up at 6 am from Llanberis as there are plenty of car parks to use.
We parked at Parking For Snowdon Car Park (opposite the Snowdon Railway Station) – using the Pay and Display card machine – for £12 to pay for all-day parking.
To start your hike, turn your back to the railway station and turn right. Walk up a small hill towards The Royal Victoria Hotel. Opposite the hotel, you will see a little street called Rhes Fictoria that will lead you to the Llanberis Path.
Bear in mind that weather in Wales can be as unpredictable as in the rest of the UK.
I recommend good waterproof hiking boots with a grip and a waterproof jacket. We climbed the Snowdon with constant rain and no visibility at the top of the peak.
Although we could not feast our eyes on spectacular views at the top, we admired the vastness and beauty all around us whilst climbing.
The journey took 3 hours up and 2.5 hours down. It may take longer if you stop for breaks. The bad weather was pushing us to make it a fast round trip.
Check the weather forecast the night before to give you an idea of what to expect. Even though the forecast for us wasn’t bright, we still wanted to climb and make the most of it.
After our climb, we stopped at the Snowdon Trading Post (Rhes Fictoria)– a small gift shop to seal the memory.
Drenched and tired, we opted for a chilled rest of the day with lovely food at Dylan’s Restaurant (which our host recommended to us).
Fantastic seafood restaurant located in Criccieth 15 minutes drive from our accommodation. We tried their Spiced Welsh Lamb Tacos, Seafood Languine and Herb and Parmesan Crusted Hake Fillet.
It has a great atmosphere, great food, and a beautiful location to take a lovely walk by the beach with views of the Criccieth Castle.
We also discovered Castle Fish and Chips shop that provided fresh comfort food at the end of another busy day exploring.
As part of our Welsh traditional food and drinks to try was Gwynt y Ddraig – Gold Medal Farmhouse Cider which we enjoyed so very much – so much so that we bought a case of it to take home.
Day 3
This day was dedicated mainly to driving back home – a six-hour drive, which we were not looking forward to, but it had to be done.
But before we embarked on that journey, we visited one more place. One that is on most people’s list when visiting Snowdonia National Park.
Port Meirion – Italian-inspired village created by a Welsh architect to showcase a natural beauty with a big splash of brightly coloured buildings.
This masterpiece includes Central Piazza, Clifftop and Chantry Row, Town Hall, Hotels, Cafes and Gift Shops.
You can spend a whole day exploring woodland paths, beautiful coast views and the picturesque village. Take a picnic or visit the numerous cafes for refreshments to soak up the vibes.
I had not done much research about this place before visiting, so the £20pp admission shocked me and made me think twice about whether it would be worth paying.
But at the end of our 4-hour stroll, we could not recommend it any more highly.
And that is how we ended our three-day trip to Snowdonia National Park in Wales.
Wales is a beautiful place with so many hidden jams to explore; therefore, we will be back for sure!
Have you visited Wales before? What is your favourite place?