Hotels in Snowdonia

Snowdonia: Wales's High-Mountain National Park

Snowdonia National Park covers 2,176 km² of northwest Wales, anchored by Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the highest peak in England and Wales at 1,085 m. Established in 1951, the park draws over 4 million visitors a year to its glacial lakes, narrow-gauge railways, and medieval castles. The market town of Dolgellau sits at the park's southern edge; Betws-y-Coed serves as the main eastern gateway, 20 km east of Llanberis on the A5.

Where to Stay

Accommodation clusters around Llanberis — the base village for the Snowdon Mountain Railway — and in Beddgelert, a stone-built village at the confluence of the Glaslyn and Colwyn rivers. Betws-y-Coed offers the widest range of hotels and B&Bs, including properties beside the Conwy Falls. Budget hostels operate inside the park at Pen-y-Pass, 359 m up the Llanberis Pass.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Trains from Manchester reach Llandudno Junction in 2 hours; local buses connect to Betws-y-Coed.
• Best months: May–September for mountain paths; October for autumn colour along the Mawddach Estuary.
• Pack layers: Summit temperatures average 5°C below valley readings year-round.
• Permits: No charge to walk park trails; the Snowdon Mountain Railway requires advance booking in peak season.