Pocket Rough Guide Staycations Snowdonia & North Wales (Travel Guide eBook)

By Rough Guides

Rough Guides Staycations Snowdonia & North Wales

Make the most of your time on Earth with the ultimate travel guides.

Inspirational and informative new pocket guide, making the most of holidaying at home in the UK through clearly laid-out walks and tours.

Explore the best of Snowdonia & North Wales with this unique travel guide, packed full of insider information and stunning images. From making sure you don't miss out on must-see, top attractions like Llechwedd Slate Caverns, Zip World and Mount Snowdon, to discovering cultural gems, including the thirteenth-century Caernarfon Castle with its distinctive limestone and sandstone banding, twisting loops that make up the Ffestiniog Railway and the distinctive seaside 'village' of Portmeirion, the easy-to-follow, ready-made walking and driving routes will save you time, and help you plan and enhance your staycation in Snowdonia & North Wales.

Features of this travel guide to Snowdonia & North Wales:
- 9 walks and tours: detailed itineraries feature all the best places to visit, including where to eat along the way
- Local highlights: discover the area's top sights and unique attractions, and be inspired by stunning imagery
- Time-saving itineraries: carefully planned routes will help inspire and inform your on-the-road experiences
- Historical and cultural insights: learn more about the Snowdonia's rich history with fascinating cultural insights throughout
- Insider recommendations: where to stay and what to do, from active pursuits to themed trips
- Rainy day recommendations: uncover plenty of options, whatever the weather throws at you
- Practical full-colour maps: with every major sight and listing highlighted, the full-colour maps make on-the-ground navigation easy
- Key tips and essential information: from transport to hours of operation, we've got you covered
- New for 2021: the latest guidance to all the places you should discover in Snowdonia

- Covers: The North Coast and Carneddau Mountains, Anglesey, Beddgelert and Porthmadog, Snowdon from Caernarfon, the Lleyn Peninsula, Tremadog Bay to Mawddach Estuary, Wrexham to Bala, Dolgellau to Cadair Idris and the Aran Mountains, Cadair Idris to Machynlleth

Looking for a comprehensive guide to Wales? Check out the Rough Guide to Wales for a detailed and entertaining look at all the country has to offer.

About Rough Guides: Rough Guides have been inspiring travellers for over 35 years, with over 30 million copies sold. Synonymous with practical travel tips, quality writing and a trustworthy 'tell it like it is' ethos, the Rough Guides list includes more than 260 travel guides to 120+ destinations, gift-books and phrasebooks.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Insight Guides
• Release date: Jun 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781789197167

Rough Guides

Rough Guides are written by expert authors who are passionate about both writing and travel. They have detailed knowledge of the areas they write about--having either traveled extensively or lived there--and their expertise shines through on every page. It's priceless information, delivered with wit and insight, providing the down-to-earth, honest read that is the hallmark of Rough Guides.

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How To Use This E-Book

This Staycation has been produced by the editors of Rough Guides, world-renowned ‘tell it like it is’ travel publishers. Make the most of your time on Earth with the ultimate travel guides.

Walks and Tours

The clearly laid-out walks and tours in this book feature options for walking or using public transport wherever possible. The emphasis is on family fun, wholesome outdoors activities, local festivals, and food and drink. There are loads of great holiday ideas: kids’ stuff, best beaches, historic pubs, literary connections, unique shops, and – crucially with our Great British weather – what to do on a rainy day.

We recommend reading the whole of a route before setting out. This should help you to familiarise yourself with it and enable you to plan where to stop for refreshments – options are shown in the ‘Eating Out’ box at the end of each tour.

Introduction

The routes are set in context by this introductory section, giving an overview of the destination to set the scene, plus background information on food and drink.

Directory

Also supporting the walks and tours is a Trips Tips section, with clearly organised practical information. There is a comprehensive round up of sports and activities in the destination, recommendations for themed holidays, plus our pick of the best places to stay.

Getting around the e-book

In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.

Maps

All key attractions and sights mentioned in the text are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map] just tap this to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.

Images

You’ll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of the destination. Simply double-tap on an image to see it full-screen.

About Rough Guides

Rough Guides have been inspiring travellers for over 35 years, with over 30 million copies sold globally. Synonymous with practical travel tips, quality writing and a trustworthy ‘tell it like it is’ ethos, the Rough Guides list includes more than 260 travel guides to 120+ destinations, gift-books and phrasebooks.

© 2021 Apa Digital AG

License edition © Apa Publications Ltd UK

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Table of Contents

10 Things not to miss

Introduction to Snowdonia and North Wales

Location and topography

Climate

Economy

Environment

Food and Drink

Welsh dishes

Snowdonia specialities

Welsh beer and wine

Tour 1: The North Coast and Carneddau Mountains

The Vale of Clywd

Llanrhaedr

Denbigh

St Asaph

Bodelwyddan Castle

Llandudno

Conwy

Vale of Conwy

Llanrwst and Gwydir

Betws-y-coed

Capel Curig

Llyn Ogwen

Penrhyn Castle

Sychnant Pass

Tour 2: A Tour of Anglesey

The Britannia Bridge

Plas Newydd

Newborough Warren

Aberffraw to Holy Island

Holy Island

Holyhead

North Coast

Moelfre

Llangefni

Beaumaris

Penmon Priory

Feature: Bards and Legends

Tour 3: Beddgelert and Porthmadog

Betws-y-coed

Llyn Gwynant

Sygun Copper Mine

Beddgelert

Tremadog

Porthmadog

Maentwrog

Blaenau Ffestiniog

Dolwyddelan Castle

Ty Mawr Wybrant

Tour 4: Snowdon from Caernarfon

Caernarfon

Caernarfon Castle

Llanberis

Llanberis Lake Railway

Pass of Llanberis

Tracks to Snowdon

Beddgelert Forest Park

Penygroes

Inigo Jones Slateworks

Feature: Welsh Language

Tour 5: The Lleyn Peninsula

Criccieth

Llanystumdwy

Pwllheli

Llanbedrog

Abersoch

Llanengan to Rhiw

Aberdaron

Bardsey Island

Porthdinllaen

Nant Gwrtheryn

St Beuno’s Church

Tour 6: Tremadog Bay to the Mawddach Estuary

Portmeirion

Llandecwyn Church

Harlech

Morfa Harlech

The Rhinogs

Llandanwg Church

Barmouth

Ty Crwn and ty gwyn

Mawddach Estuary

Cymer Abbey

Trawsfynydd and Tomen- y-mur

Tour 7: Wrexham to Bala – and Back

Wrexham

Erddig Hall

Chirk and the Ceiriog Valley

Llangollen

Plas Newydd

Valle Crucis Abbey

Bala

Bala Lake

National White Water Centre

A Drowned Village

Rhaeadr Cynfal

The Migneint

Feature: Snowdonia National Park

Tour 8: Dolgellau to Cadair Idris and the Aran Mountains

Dolgellau

Cadair Idris

Corris

Centre for Alternative Technology

Dyfi Valley

Dinas Mawddwy

Bwlch y Groes

The Torrent Walk and Precipice Walk

Coed-y-Brenin

Glasdir

Waterfalls

Tour 9: Cadair Idris to Machynlleth

Cadair Idris

Cregennen Lakes

Arthog

Llwyngwril

Llanegryn Church

Castell y Bere

Llanfihangel-y-Pennant

Talyllyn Railway

Tywyn

Aberdyfi

Carn March Arthur

Pennal

Machynlleth

Ynys-hir Nature Reserve

Active Pursuits

Walking

National Park walks

Climbing

Mountain Biking

Horse Riding

Water sports

Themed Holidays

Art

Conservation

Cookery

Outdoor Adventure

Railway Breaks

Retreats

Welsh Language

Practical Information

Getting There

By road

By coach

By train

By plane

By ferry

Getting around

Public transport

By car

Cycling

Facts for the Visitor

Travellers with disabilities

Emergencies

LGBTQ travellers

Maps

Opening hours

Tourist information

Accommodation

Ruthin and the Vale of Clywd

Llandudno

Vale of Conwy and Conwy

Around Betws-y-Coed and Snowdon

Ceiriog Valley

Anglesey

Lleyn Peninsula

Portmeirion and Ffestiniog

Aberdyfi

Southern Snowdonia

10 Things not to miss

From its rugged mountains, dark forests and glorious coastlines, to its medieval castles, slate caverns and vintage railways, here are the top attractions of this beautiful corner of Wales.

Blaenau Ffestiniog and Slate Caverns. Atmospheric Victorian village high in the mountains, where visitors can go deep underground to explore the slate caverns. For more information, click here.

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Snowdon. This iconic mountain is the highest peak in both England and Wales, and a magnet for climbers and hill walkers. For more information, click here.

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Centre for Alternative Technology. This fascinating centre may date back to the 1970s, but it now seems extremely modern, with its focus on green ways of living. See For more information, click here.

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Portmeirion. Fantasy Italianate village created by Clough Williams-Ellis and which featured in the original cult TV series, The Prisoner. For more information, click here.

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National Slate Museum. Discover the story of the Welsh slate industry at this museum located in former Victorian workshops. For more information, click here.

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Caernarfon. While best known for its magnificent castle, Caernarfon is also a busy holiday town with plenty of attractions and places to eat and drink. For more information, click here.

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Llandudno. This Victorian seaside resort is one of the jewels of North Wales, with a fine promenade, pretty gardens and some good shops. For more information, click here.

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Harlech. Harlech’s castle dominates the hillside town and overlooks a gloriously unspoilt swathe of sandy beach that is ideal for families. For more information, click here.

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Ffestiniog Railway. This nineteenthcentury narrow-gauge railway started life carrying slate through the Welsh mountains, but now gives tourists a wonderfully scenic journey. For more information, click here.

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Conwy. Charming little town with a mighty castle and well-preserved medieval walls, Conwy makes a lovely base for exploring. For more information, click here.

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Introduction to Snowdonia and North Wales

The craggy mountains and green valleys of North Wales combine to produce some of the most dramatic, and wildest, landscapes in Britain. At their heart is Snowdonia.

When the traveller and essayist George Borrow toured North Wales in 1854, he wrote: ‘Perhaps in all the world there is no region more picturesquely beautiful.’ A bold claim, yet one not hard to justify – and one that is surely shared by thousands of visitors today. Elsewhere there may be loftier mountains, deeper lakes, greater forests and swifter rivers but rarely are they found in such unique combinations.

Today, while Welsh Black cattle and the ubiquitous Welsh Mountain sheep share their hillsides with walkers and cyclists, climbers and hang-gliders, farming continues much as it has for generations. Dry-stone walls snaking over ridge and summit date from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, separating valley from ffridd (mountain pasture), one farm from the next.

North Wales may not boast the sunniest weather in Britain, but it might well boast some of the cleanest air, the most pristine countryside, the strongest sense of history – oh, and some of its loveliest beaches. It is undoubtedly a green haven for lovers of the outdoors, especially the northwest corner known as Snowdonia. Eryri’s peaks are a thrilling presence: inspirational to explore by road, challenging to those who walk and climb. The great crags and gullies have become associated with Britain’s best-known rock climbers and mountaineers. The northeast corner is less dramatic, but contains some gloriously unspoilt villages, pretty market towns and sublime, pastoral scenery.

Llyn Llydaw from the summit of Snowdon.

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Snowdonia and North Wales

Location and topography

Igneous rock along with volcanic ash, lava and shale from the Ordovician Period makes up much of the savagely beautiful geology around Snowdon and Cadair Idris. Older Cambrian rocks are most evident in the mountains of the Harlech Dome bordering Tremadog Bay. But by far the most striking influence on the entire Snowdonia landscape has been that of glacial ice.

Hiking up Snowdon.

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The Ice Age which began some 2 million years ago and ended around 10,000 years ago has left an extraordinary and highly visible legacy in Snowdonia. At times throughout that period of very cold climate cycles, great ice sheets thousands of feet thick spread from Scandinavia to Britain. Meanwhile, permanent accumulations of snow on higher ground spawned glaciers which slowly flowed downhill, grinding away the bedrock, smoothing out U-shaped valleys and depositing huge mounds of excavated material called moraines. Steeply hollowed basins known in Wales as cwms, usually now filled by lakes and surrounded by cliffs, were left behind in higher locations. The result is a mountain landscape little changed since the last glacier melted.

Storm clouds gather over the mountains.

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Climate

Hills and mountains create their own weather. Okay – it’s wet. In common with most of upland Britain, there is greater rainfall (snow in winter) here than over the adjacent lowlands. More than 185in (4700mm) of precipitation have been recorded on the Snowdonia mountains in one year and even in a drought year 100in (2540mm) is not uncommon. Temperature falls as altitude is gained – about 5°F (3°C) for every 1000ft (305m). Snow often lingers on north-facing slopes above 2000ft (610m) well into May. Winds are notoriously fickle, sometimes funnelling viciously through valleys and over passes, at other times disappearing altogether in sheltered locations.

Snowdonia’s climate – essentially a collection of mini-climates – is changeable throughout the year, with the best of the weather usually, though not always,