Attractions - Wales

Attractions - Cardiff

Snowdonia, Wales

Northern Wales is dominated by the stunning Snowdonia mountain range that loom spectacularly over the coastline. Snowdonia is the second-largest national park in Britain as well as being home to the highest mountain in Britain south of the Scottish Highlands. At 1085m, Mount Snowdon provided the training ground for the climbers who made the first successful attempt on Mt Everest and today attracts thousands of aspiring climbers each year.

Snowdonia National Park stretches over 2200 square kilometres of North and mid-Wales. As well as the spectacular mountains, the park boasts a wide variety of other natural features – forests, glacial valleys, moorlands, waterfalls and an attractive coastline. The area has been settled since ancient times with Stone Age burial chambers at Dyffryn Ardudwy, Bronze Age burial cairns at Bryn Cader Faner and Roman forts at Caer Gai and Tomen-y-Muir.

Climbing Mt Snowdon is certainly well worth an attempt. Views from the summit are simply breathtaking. There’s even a café on the summit to recuperate in! There are several routes to the top with the easiest being the Llanberis and Snowdon Ranger Paths. The Snowdon Horseshoe path is quite arduous but compensates by offering a dramatic ridge walk. Take a break from walking and hop in the saddle for some pony trekking. There are many centres offering escorted and unescorted rides. If you’re truly lacking in energy climb aboard the Snowdon Mountain Railway. First opened in 1896, it climbs the 5 miles from Llanberis to the summit. The village of Beddgelert is one of the most picturesque of the Snowdon villages and is worth a visit. Check out the Sygun Copper Mine on its outskirts which has been mined since Roman times. Journey on to Blaenau Ffestiniog and take the narrow-guage Ffestiniog Railway along the coast to Porthmadog. Visit the town of Harlech and its dramatic castle dating to 1283 and enjoy a bracing walk along the beach at the seaside resort of Barmouth.

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