Explore The Area

Betws-y-Coed

Betws-y-Coed itself is located right at the eastern edge of Eryri | Snowdonia National Park, hence it is commonly known as ‘the gateway to Eryri | Snowdonia’.

Surrounded by Gwydir Forest Park, the village features traditional Victorian stone buildings and sits where the Llugwy and Conwy rivers meet – this unique natural setting gives the area a distinct Alpine character, making it one of the most recognisable and welcoming destinations in Wales!

The village centre is a lively hub that combines local history with modern amenities – visitors can explore a wide range of independent shops, galleries, and outdoor gear stores, whilst the station buildings, the 15th century Pont-y-Pair bridge, Cae Llan village green and St. Marys Church are well known landmarks.

It is also home to excellent local cafés, tearooms, pubs and restaurants, offering plenty of options to relax and sample Welsh food after a day outdoors.

As a basecamp for adventure, Betws-y-Coed provides immediate access to the region’s best outdoor activities, whilst famous natural landmarks like Swallow Falls and the Fairy Glen ravine are just minutes away.

The surrounding Gwydir Forest offers everything from gentle woodland walking trails and lakes for wild swimming to mountain biking tracks, zip-lines and forest coasters!

Eryri | Snowdonia National Park

Betws-y-Coed is the gateway to the magnificent Eryri | Snowdonia National Park which will hopefully be one of the main reasons you are visiting North Wales!

It covers 823 square miles and is the largest national park in Wales, and includes both 9 mountain ranges and 23 miles of coastline, meaning the scenery you will see can vary dramatically.

Many people come for walking up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) itself but of course there are many other popular mountains and peaks to conquer if you enjoy hiking including:

• Tal Y Fan
• Tryfan
• Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach
• Moel Siabod
• Yr Garn
• Pen yr Ole Wen
• Carnedd Llewellyn
• Cnicht
• Cadair Idris

… to name but a few, whilst dramatic landscapes featuring imposing mountains and vistas, lakes, rivers and waterfalls, historic sites and old slate mines can be found throughout the national park.

Tourist Information Centres

Within Betws-y-Coed itself the Eryri National Park Information Centre (set in the old Royal Oak stables in the heart of the village) is a great place to get information – the perfect place to learn about what makes the national park so spectacular as well as advice on visiting sustainably.

Other information centres for the national park are located in Beddgelert and Aberdyfi.

Trefriw

The pretty village of Trefriw is just 5 miles north of Betws-y-Coed and has a long established woollen mill which produces a beautiful range of distinctive Welsh tapestries and tweeds.

The mill used to be powered by the Fairy Falls waterfall behind it, and other scenic walks commence from the village up to Llyn Crafnant (ideal for fishing) and further on to Llyn Geirionydd (popular for wild swimming and watersports).

You’ll also find a variety of accommodation in the village plus a number of great places to eat including a cafe, two pubs and two restaurants!

Get the most out of the village’s idyllic surroundings by following the Trefriw Trails – a series of waymarked walking trails all starting from the centre of the village.

Llanrwst

Llanrwst is a handsome, historic market town just north of Betws-y-Coed, documented as early as 954AD and famous for its pretty pack horse bridge over the River Conwy and believed to be designed by Inigo Jones in 1636.

Next to the bridge is the famous Tu Hwnt I’r Bont – a famous, historic 15th-century traditional Welsh tearoom covered in Virginia creeper ivy, and globally famous for changing from bright green in the summer to a vibrant, fiery red every autumn.

The 6th Century St Grwst’s Church is in the centre of the town, adjacent to which is the stone built Gwydir Chapel which houses the purported sarcophagus of Llewelyn the Great.

On the outskirts of Llanrwst you can visit Gwydir Castle – a historic Tudor and Jacobean fortified manor built around 1500.

There are also a variety of independent shops and eateries in Llanrwst to enjoy, plus scenic riverside walks along the River Conwy.

Dolwyddelan

The peaceful village of Dolwyddelan sits in the Lledr Valley at the edge of the Gwydir Forest, just west of Betws-y-Coed.

It is the birthplace of Prince Llewelyn the Great, the builder of Dolwyddelan Castle which stands on a rocky ridge high above the village.

Dolwyddelan straddles the banks of the Afon Lledr, with the stone bridge of Pentre-Bont.

Enjoy lovely walks in the foothills of Moel Siabod or the dramatic drive over the ‘Crimea Pass’ to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Penmachno & Cwm Penmachno

Penmachno lies east of Betws-y-Coed in the Machno Valley headed by the spectacular Conwy Falls.

It is home to the popular Penmachno Mountain Bike Trails and is also famous for the National Trust’s “Ty Mawr”.

This old farmhouse gives a glimpse into 16th and 17th Century rural Welsh life and was the birthplace of Bishop William Morgan who first translated the Bible into Welsh.

Further along is Cwm Penmachno which lies on the Eryri | Snowdonia Slate Trail walking route.

Capel Curig

Capel Curig is the first place you will encounter when you leave Betws-y-Coed and travel further into Eryri | Snowdonia National Park – a wild and beautiful location in the foothills of Moel Siabod, Y Glyderau and Y Carneddau, whilst Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) – the highest mountain in England and Wales – is just to the west.

The pretty Afon Llugwy tumbles through the village to the beautiful waterfall at Pont Cyfyng with its lovely old pack horse bridge.

The walks here are stunning and the varied weather means you will never see the same view twice!

Capel Garmon

Capel Garmon is a small hamlet nestled above Betws-y-Coed and is renowned for the neolithic burial chamber that is located on the outskirts of the village.

Located high above the Conwy Valley the village offers marvellous views of the Conwy Valley itself and Eryri | Snowdonia National Park.

The village is well worth a visit for the delightful views from the winding country lanes.