Snowdonia (Eryri) — Wales' Wild Mountains★★★
The Snowdonia National Park — in Welsh Eryri (officially since 2022) — is Wales' hiking paradise: 2,132 square kilometers of rugged mountains, sparkling lakes, abandoned slate quarries, and the feeling of having reached the end of the world.
At its center towers Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa (1,085 m) — the highest mountain in Wales. Six different routes lead to the summit, from the leisurely Llanberis Path (14 km, 5–6 hours) to the challenging Crib Goch ridge walk (one of Britain's most exposed ridges — only for experienced mountaineers!). At the summit: A café (Hafod Eryri, the highest café in Britain) and — in clear weather — a view over all of Wales, the Irish Sea, and as far as Ireland.
For those who don't want to hike: The Snowdon Mountain Railway (rack railway, since 1896) runs from Llanberis to the summit (45 min., £39 return). A nostalgic experience with Victorian carriages and steam locomotives.
Next to Snowdon:
- Zip World Velocity 2 — The fastest zipline in Europe (160 km/h!) over a former slate quarry in Bethesda. Surreal and adrenaline-charged
- Beddgelert — One of the prettiest villages in Wales, at the confluence of two rivers. The legend of the faithful dog Gelert (wrongly killed by the prince) is heartbreaking
- Portmeirion — A surreal Italian fantasy village on the Welsh coast, built by the eccentric architect Clough Williams-Ellis (1925–1975). Known as the filming location for the TV series "The Prisoner". Like a dream from Amalfi in North Wales
💡 Tipp
Snowdon is brutally crowded on weekends and bank holidays — sometimes with queues on the summit path. Visit during the week or in September/October. Alternative: The Cnicht (689 m, "the Welsh Matterhorn") and the Glyderau (Glyder Fawr, 1,001 m) are equally spectacular and almost deserted.
