Fourteen peaks over 3,000 feet. Ancient glacial valleys carved by ice sheets. The kind of silence that makes you feel small in the best possible way.
Snowdonia is the beating heart of North Wales — and no matter how many times you come back, it never gets ordinary. The national park covers 823 square miles of mountains, moorland, forests, and coastline. It's a place that demands to be explored slowly, on foot, in all weathers.
Not to miss
- 01Summit Snowdon via the Pyg Track or Watkin Path
- 02Explore the Ogwen Valley and Tryfan's north ridge
- 03Visit Portmeirion, the Italianate village on the estuary
- 04Ride the Snowdon Mountain Railway for a different perspective
Best for
Hiking, climbing, wild swimming
Snowdon
At 1,085 metres, Snowdon is the highest peak in Wales and England — and one of the most climbed mountains in the world. Six main paths lead to the summit, ranging from the gentle Llanberis Path to the knife-edge scramble of Crib Goch. On a clear day, you can see Ireland. On a cloudy day, you're inside the cloud, which is its own kind of magic.
The Ogwen Valley
If Snowdon is the headline act, the Ogwen Valley is the soul of Snowdonia. Tryfan's jagged north ridge, the Glyderau plateau, and the perfect horseshoe of Cwm Idwal — this is mountain country at its most elemental. The Ogwen Valley is also where you'll find some of the best wild swimming in Wales, in the dark, cold waters of Llyn Idwal.
Portmeirion
One of the most extraordinary places in Britain: an Italianate fantasy village built on a private peninsula in the Dwyryd estuary by architect Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975. Pastel-coloured buildings, Baroque domes, and subtropical gardens — it's utterly surreal and utterly wonderful. Best visited early morning before the day-trippers arrive.
The Slate Landscape
Snowdonia's industrial heritage is as dramatic as its natural landscape. The Dinorwig quarry above Llanberis is one of the largest man-made excavations in the world — a vast amphitheatre of grey slate terraces carved into the mountainside. The National Slate Museum tells the story of the industry that built the modern world. In 2021, the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Plan your visit
Getting there
A5 from Shrewsbury or A55 from Chester; Betws-y-Coed and Llanberis are the main bases
Best time to visit
May to October for hiking; winter for snow on the peaks and empty trails
How long to spend
3 to 5 nights minimum; a week if you want to explore beyond Snowdon
Base yourself in
Betws-y-Coed for the valley, Llanberis for Snowdon, Beddgelert for charm