Eryri (Snowdonia) contains more than any single guide can cover. Beyond the famous mountains and well-known villages lies a landscape of extraordinary depth: quiet valleys, forgotten viewpoints, secret lakes, ancient standing stones, legends attached to specific rocks and streams, and experiences that most visitors never encounter. This section is the key to going deeper.
The pages here are lists and reference guides rather than single-place articles. Use them to plan a trip, to find something new on a familiar patch, or to settle an argument about which view is best. Many entries link through to a fuller guide elsewhere on the site.
Which Guide Should I Use?
| If you want… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Ideas for a first visit or a bucket list | 100 Greatest Experiences |
| Somewhere quieter than the honeypots | 50 Hidden Gems |
| Viewpoints for photography or a picnic | 100 Best Views |
| To look up a place you have heard of | Eryri A-Z |
| Days out that work with children | Family Guide to Eryri |
The Guides
100 Best Views
The finest viewpoints in Eryri: summit panoramas, lakeside reflections, valley vistas. Many need no more than a short stroll from a car park, so the list is as useful on a showery afternoon as on a clear summit day. Pair it with our photography guide for timing and light.
50 Hidden Gems
Secret valleys, forgotten lakes and remarkable places most visitors never find. Expect smaller roads, limited parking and fewer facilities, and treat these places gently: park considerately, close gates and take litter home. Many cost nothing to visit; our guide to free things to do in Eryri has more.
Eryri A-Z
The index to mountains, lakes, villages, castles and more. Handy when you have seen a name on a map or a road sign and want to know what it is, where it is and whether it is worth a detour.
100 Greatest Experiences
A curated bucket list of essential Eryri moments. Mountains, lakes, castles, railways, food, wildlife, adventure and Welsh culture all feature. For a detailed page on individual experiences, see the Snowdonia 100, arranged in ten categories. To string the highlights together, try our seven-day Eryri itinerary.
Family Guide to Eryri
The best of Eryri for families: walks, attractions, bases and rainy days. For shorter planning notes see Snowdonia with kids.
Going Beyond the Obvious
The best-known parts of Eryri (Snowdon, Betws-y-Coed, Beddgelert, Swallow Falls) are famous for good reason. But the national park is large and varied, and many of its finest experiences lie away from the main tourist routes. The pages in this section are designed to push beyond the obvious: to reveal the lakes that even local walkers forget, the viewpoints that produce more striking images than the classic spots, and the experiences that capture Eryri’s character rather than just its scenery.
A good rule of thumb: the further south you go, the quieter it gets. The Rhinogydd, the Arans and the country around Dolgellau and Bala see a fraction of the visitors who crowd Pen-y-Pass on a summer weekend. Browse the Explore Eryri section for the lakes, villages, mountains and waterfalls behind each list entry, or start with our shorter pick of 11 local favourite places to visit.
Planning Through the Seasons
- Spring: waterfalls are full, lambs are in the fields and paths are quieter before the school holidays.
- Summer: long days for viewpoints and lakes, but popular car parks fill early. Start early or use public transport; see parking and transport.
- Autumn: some of the best light of the year and colour in the oak woods of the Conwy and Mawddach valleys.
- Winter: snow on the tops makes the valley views spectacular. High ground needs winter skills, so keep to low-level spots unless you have them.
Whatever the season, check the Eryri weather guide before you set out, and in an emergency on the hills call 999 and ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the 100 Greatest Experiences and the Snowdonia 100?
The 100 Greatest Experiences is a single-page bucket list you can scan in a few minutes. The Snowdonia 100 is a separate list in which every experience has its own detailed page, grouped into ten categories, so it is better for planning individual days.
Are the hidden places suitable for everyone?
Not always. Some are short walks from the road; others involve rough, pathless ground and need navigation skills. Check the details and a map before you go.
Can I visit the viewpoints without walking far?
Yes. The list includes a whole section of road and railway viewpoints, such as the A498 above Llyn Gwynant and the A5 through the Ogwen valley, plus lakeside spots close to car parks.
