What to do in Snowdonia

Our first trip into Wales together we spent in Snowdonia. We explore gardens, castles, villages and the national park.

Bodnant Gardens

Covering 70 acres, Bodnant Gardens has plenty of space to explore and to find your own private idyll. There are paths that meander through wildflower meadows, lakes, and woodland. We explolred all over the property not quite covering all of it as we were on the way home when we stopped. Bodnant Gardens is a National Trust property that is free to members and £14 for adults / £7 for children.

Even if you miss the Bodnant Gardens Laburnum Arch, there are plenty of other floral attractions during the year – daffodils start off the show in early spring and are followed by rhododendrons and azaleas. In summer, Bodnant Gardens is abloom with the best of British gardens – roses, clematis and hydrangeas. Then roll on the fabulous colours of autumn with the Acers.

Betws-y-Coed

Betws-y-Coed is a lovely old village surrounded by forests and one of the main gateways to the Snowdonia National Park. It started out as home to an artists’ colony, inspired by the lovely sylvan scenery. Betws has its own local beauty spots, such as Swallow Falls and Fairy Glen. We weren’t blown away by this village, it was good to stop and grab a drink or outdoor gear but the village itself hasn’t got much going on.

Fairy Glen

Fairy Glen is a secluded gorge on the River Conwy and is located only a short distance from Beaver bridge on the outskirts of the village of Betws y Coed. The picturesque gorge is a great favourite with both photographers and artists. The River Conwy drops through a Victorian fish ladder and is channelled through a narrow ravine forming rapids and cascades. It was a wet walk down once you reach the river but was worth the views once you got there. We recommend wellies so you can get the best view, we used the drone instead.

Fairy Glen is reached via a path from the Fairy Glen Hotel beside the A470. A small entrance charge of £1 for adults, 50p for children and £1 per car is payable and a car park is provided. We were met by the owner who was quite nice and gave us change as we only had notes.

Mount Snowdon

We didn’t climb Snowdon as Phoebe’s lungs have still not recovered from covid so it would be too difficult and unfortunately Barney can’t go on the Snowdon Mountain Railway. The railway climbs 4.7 miles from Llanberis to the summit of Snowdon. You can get a ticket for a 2.5 hour round trip to the summit and back. Book your tickets in advance if you’re planning to visit in July or August as the railway can get a little busy! We plan on returning without Barney as a day trip to go up Snowdon on the train, we will update then.

Snowdonia National Park

There are so many places you can walk or hike in the park, we choose Cwm Idwal walk which takes you into a normally inaccessible upland environment, and through beautiful ice-sculpted Cwm Idwal – a bowl-shaped hollow filled with the crystal clear waters of Llyn Idwal. The site is world famous for its rock formations and its rare and fragile plant life. This is a beautiful location and was by far our favourite place. Barney loved jumping in the waterfalls. You need to wear waterproof shoes, the path is regularly flooded as you go around.

Zip World

Zip World is a well known place within Wales, we didn’t visit but thought it was worth the mention.

Penrhyn Quarry – Velocity 2, Prepare for a truly unique and exhilarating experience, the fastest zip line in the world. Soar over Penrhyn Quarry where you could travel at speeds of over 100mph while you take in the breath-taking views and feel the freedom of flight.

Penrhyn Quarry – Big Red, Prepare for BIG RED, the ultimate mobile zipping experience! Fly up to 270ft (almost the same length as an American football pitch!) alongside your friend on the largest mobile zip in the world.

Slate Caverns – Titan, Sit, back and zip away as you and your friends fly down Europe’s largest zip zone! Take flight on 3 exhilarating zip lines and soak up the amazing quarry views during the experience of a lifetime. (This seems the best to me as my face isn’t to the ground).

Fforest - FForest Coaster, The UK’s only alpine coaster, the Fforest Coaster is an unbeatable adrenaline experience, boasting twists and turns aplenty as you speed through the trees down one kilometre of track. A toboggan style roller coaster on the edge of Snowdonia, it’s located particularly close to the ground, so you get an incredible sense of speed, reaching up to 25 mph. Not just an adventure for thrill-seekers, however, you can control the brakes, meaning you can go as fast (or as slow) as you dare! Three goes are included with each ticket, so you can really push the course to its limit on your final run!