Eryri (Snowdonia)
The mountain heart of Wales, and the reason most people come. Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and the shattered ridges of the Glyderau and Carneddau draw the walkers; the wooded valleys around Betws-y-Coed and Nant Gwynant give waterfalls, paddleable lakes, campsites and the lonely keeps of the Welsh princes. Big country — plan the parking and the weather.
25 places covered · 4 towns to stay.
🗿 Ancient sites
🏰 Castles & history
🥾 Walks & hills
Carneddau Ridge (Bwlch y Ddeufaen) Wild ponies & standing stones plateau Quick ref 
Cwm Idwal Darwin's glacial amphitheatre Quick ref 
Glyderau (Glyder Fawr & Fach) Shattered moonscape summits Quick ref 
Moel Siabod The best view OF Snowdon Quick ref 
Roman Steps & Cwm Bychan Medieval packhorse trail through wild Rhinogs Quick ref 
Tryfan Britain's best scramble mountain Quick ref 
Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) Wales' rooftop — 1,085m 🛶 Lakes & paddling
💧 Waterfalls & views
🏖️ Beaches & coast
⛺ Campsites & camping
Getting Eryri right
Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) has six main paths: the long, steady Llanberis Path; the dramatic Pyg and Miners' tracks from Pen-y-Pass; and the quieter Rhyd Ddu, Snowdon Ranger and Watkin routes. Pen-y-Pass parking is tiny and must be pre-booked — most people use the Sherpa'r Wyddfa bus instead, or ride up on the Snowdon Mountain Railway and walk down.
There is far more here than the one mountain. Tryfan and Cwm Idwal in the Ogwen Valley give Britain's finest hands-on scramble and a gentle glacial-cwm loop respectively; the Carneddau are wild, high and empty; and Betws-y-Coed makes a wooded all-weather base with Swallow Falls and the Fairy Glen close by.
This is serious ground where the weather turns fast and high. Check a mountain forecast, carry layers and a map whatever the valley looks like, and treat finding a parking space as the day's first challenge — the popular trailheads fill before breakfast in summer.
Build a day out here
The free Explore Wales planner chains any of these into an itinerary with drive times, weather and campsite suggestions — and works offline once installed.