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Mountain
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Highest mountain in Wales at 1,085 metres (3,560 ft); the park authority says more than 600,000 people hike it every year.
Directions Website Report a problem with Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
A mini guide to
Eryri (Snowdonia)
Yr Wyddfa, mountain railways and slate heritage in the first national park in Wales
Photos
1 / 10Welcome to the area
Yr Wyddfa, mountain railways and slate heritage in the first national park in Wales
Eryri (Snowdonia) is a national park in north-west Wales and was the first of the three Welsh national parks to be designated, in 1951. The park authority says more than 600,000 people hike up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the highest mountain in Wales, every year. Llanberis, at its foot, is the base for the Snowdon Mountain Railway, the National Slate Museum and Dolbadarn Castle.
Betws-y-Coed, on the eastern edge of the park, grew as a tourist village after the Holyhead road and a railway station arrived in the 19th century, and Swallow Falls and the Gwydir Forest are close by. Beddgelert, Capel Curig and Pen y Gwryd are smaller bases, and Llyn Ogwen and Cwm Idwal lie along the A5.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Heritage railway
Snowdon Mountain Railway (Rheilffordd yr Wyddfa)
Narrow gauge rack-and-pinion railway of 4.7 miles (7.6 km) from Llanberis to the summit, with heritage steam and diesel trains.
Directions Website Report a problem with Snowdon Mountain Railway (Rheilffordd yr Wyddfa)
Summit visitor centre
Hafod Eryri
Building at the summit of Snowdon, described by the railway as the UK's highest visitor centre.
Castle
Dolbadarn Castle (Castell Dolbadarn)
Fortress built by Llywelyn the Great in the early 13th century above Llyn Padarn, at the foot of the Llanberis Pass.
Directions Website Report a problem with Dolbadarn Castle (Castell Dolbadarn)
Museum
National Slate Museum (Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru)
Free museum in the former Dinorwic quarry workshops at Gilfach Ddu, about the history of slate and the quarrymen.
Directions Website Report a problem with National Slate Museum (Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru)
Heritage railway
Llanberis Lake Railway (Rheilffordd Llyn Padarn)
Narrow gauge heritage railway that runs 2.5 miles (4 km) along the northern shore of Llyn Padarn.
Directions Website Report a problem with Llanberis Lake Railway (Rheilffordd Llyn Padarn)
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Eryri (Snowdonia) and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Leave the car if you can
The park authority encourages visitors to use the Sherpa'r Wyddfa or TrawsCymru buses, especially in the busy months, and publishes a page on parking for Yr Wyddfa.
2
Plan your route up Yr Wyddfa
Paths start at Llanberis, Pen y Pass, Snowdon Ranger, Rhyd Ddu and Pont Bethania (Watkin Path). The park authority has pages on climbing, safety and winter ground conditions.
3
Ride the railway
The Snowdon Mountain Railway runs from Llanberis to Hafod Eryri near the summit, with heritage steam and traditional diesel services. Book through the railway.
4
Use the slate museum on a wet day
The National Slate Museum at Llanberis says entry is free and describes authentic workshops, machinery and a steam train.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Wales
More areas to explore
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Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Eryri (Snowdonia) (area photo): Julian Herzog (Website), CC BY 4.0, source
- Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa): User:Gdr, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Snowdon Mountain Railway (Rheilffordd yr Wyddfa): Denis Egan, CC BY 2.0, source
- Hafod Eryri: Chris Andrews, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Dolbadarn Castle (Castell Dolbadarn): Cadw, OGL v1.0, source
- National Slate Museum (Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru): Talsarnau Times, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Llanberis Lake Railway (Rheilffordd Llyn Padarn): The original uploader was Mick Knapton at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Electric Mountain (Dinorwig Power Station): Denis Egan, CC BY 2.0, source
- Pen-y-Pass: Takver from Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Llyn Ogwen: Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cwm Idwal: Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Swallow Falls (Rhaeadr Ewynnol): Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Gwydir Castle (Castell Gwydir): Tom Parnell, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Llyn Crafnant: Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Pont-y-Pair: Clintheacock66 (talk) (Transferred by Hogweard/Originally uploaded by Clintheacock66), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Gelert's Grave: Jeff Buck, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Sygun Copper Mine (Gwaith Copr Sygun): Ceri Thomas, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Conwy, Llandudno & the North Coast Castles: Source: Llywelyn2000Derivative: User:MathKnight, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Pembrokeshire Coast (St Davids & Tenby): Ввласенко, CC BY 4.0, source
- Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons): Dave.Dunford at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Gower & Swansea (Abertawe): Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cardiff (Caerdydd) & the Bay: Tevfik Teker, CC BY 3.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits