How to Plan a Visit to Snowdonia

Named after Snowdon, its highest mountain, and covering an area of 840 sq m (2147 sq km), Snowdonia in Wales is the second largest National Park in the U.K. It lies on the remote Northern coast, amidst breathtaking mountains, glacial valleys and ancient forests.

Things You'll Need

• Waterproofs
• Comfortable clothes
• Sturdy footwear
• Warm jacket
• Maps
• Compass, if you plan on hiking
• Accommodation reservation
• Credit card
• Phone

Instructions

1. Get maps of Wales, Ordnance Survey maps of Snowdonia National Park and guidebooks on Snowdonia National Park. You can get these from any U.K. or Wales tourist outlet or from any Snowdonia National Park information center. Contact by phone or post. Acquaint yourself with the towns and villages in the National Park. It is important to gain an idea of local area and conditions.

2. Find out how to get to Snowdonia National Park. Public transport buses run regular services from all over U.K. If you're coming from abroad, the nearest International Airport is Manchester. Or you can arrive in London and make travel arrangements from there.

3. Choose from the wide variety of accommodations available in Snowdonia National Park. You can stay in hotels, bed and breakfast places, family-run lodges, self-catering cottages, log cabins, farm houses, sea-front apartments, chalets, caravans, camping sites and even castles. Campers can obtain a list of licensed camping sites from the National Park Authority. Wherever you decide to stay, call to make reservations.

4. Take the famous rack and pinion Snowdon Mountain Railway from Llanberis Station to the top of Mount Snowdon. It's very popular, so make your reservations a day in advance. Also check out the steam-powered Ffestiniog Railway that goes from Portmadog to Blaenau Ffestinogg and the Welsh Highland Railway from Caernarfon to Rhyd Ddu. You can take another great train ride on the Talyllyn Railway, starting at Tywyn and heading for Abergynolwyn and Nant Gwernol.

5. Plan a visit to the historical Welsh castles: Caernarfon Castle, Harlech Castle and Conwy Castle. King Edward I built all three in the thirteenth century to subdue the Welsh. Conwy town, incidentally, is surrounded by town walls with 22 guard towers.

6. Visit the many museums in Snowdonia National Park: Regimental Museum of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, Segontium Roman Museum and Welsh Slate Museum. Go to Electric Mountain and visit the nearby Dinorwig Power Station to see how hydroelectricity works. Visit the Trefiw Woollen Mill to see the Weaving Center.

7. Go bird-watching in the Aber Valley, Porthmadog, the Migneint moorland, Aberdysynni and Ynys-hir. Try the Hiking Trails along Y Garn, Mynydd Tal-y-Mignedd, Moelwyn Mawr, Pen Llithrig y Wrach, Y Llethr and Cader Idris. There are also many excellent cycling trails.

8. To get around in Wales, you can rent a car or use the extensive local transportation system. Check Traveline for schedules of intercity buses and trains, station names, and walking maps. Get information about railways from National Rail.

9. Try some sports activities: surfing, horse riding, golfing, white water rafting and fishing. Make a list of all the equipment you will need for the activities you have planned. Inquire if you can hire it at your destinations or you may need to purchase it before you leave.

Tips & Warnings

• You can book accommodation online from Visit Wales website.

• To explore Wales off the beaten path, you can hitch rides on the Post Bus for a small fee. There are 15 bus routes serving some lovely, remote areas.

• Keep in mind that you cannot camp anywhere else in the National Park without prior permission of the landlord or farmer.The National Park Authority cannot give you this permission or give contact details for the landowners.

Resources

• Snowdonia National Park
• Electric Mountain
• Traveline Cymru
• The Snowdonia Mountain Railway
• National Slate Museum
• Visit Wales