Beddgelert is one of the most visited villages in Eryri, but it belongs to the evening. After the day-trip coaches have left and the car parks have emptied, the village (the confluence of the Glaslyn and the Colwyn, stone bridges over clear water, wooded hills above) becomes something different: quiet, inhabited, genuinely beautiful. This is Experience #31 of the Snowdonia 100.
The Village
Beddgelert occupies one of the finest positions in Eryri: the junction of two valleys, surrounded on all sides by mountains, the rivers running clear through the village centre. The buildings are mainly 19th-century stone, the village shaped by its long role as a visitor destination: it has drawn tourists since the late 18th century. But in the evening, when the visitors are gone, the village is what it always was: a settlement in a mountain valley, practical and beautiful in equal measure.
Where to Eat and Stay
| Eating | Several inns, cafes and restaurants around the bridge; check evening opening out of season |
| Glaslyn Ices | Popular ice cream parlour in the village |
| Sygun Copper Mine | Day attraction just up the valley, worth the detour |
| Accommodation | Inns, B&Bs and guest houses in the village, and a youth hostel up the valley at Bryn Gwynant |
The Evening Walk
After dinner, cross the river and walk south along the Aberglaslyn path for fifteen minutes, then return. In the fading light, with the valley darkening and the river loud below the path, the quality of the evening is at its most apparent. The confluence in the village centre, with the last light on the hills above, is one of those places where Eryri shows its best.
Plan Your Visit
Beddgelert sits where the A498 and the A4085 meet. There are no National Trust car parks in the village itself; the Trust’s nearest are at Craflwyn, about a mile away, and Nantmor, about two miles away. Public toilets are close to the bridge.
The village is well connected. The Sherpa’r Wyddfa S3 runs from Caernarfon via Rhyd Ddu, and the S4 from Porthmadog continues up Nantgwynant to Pont Bethania. In the main season, Welsh Highland Railway steam trains call at Beddgelert on their way between Caernarfon and Porthmadog. For an evening visit, though, check the last bus or train first, or plan to stay the night.
An Easier Evening Stroll
The National Trust’s Gelert’s Grave walk is about a mile, an easy riverside path from the footbridge south of the village centre, suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. It suits a gentle wander after dinner better than the rougher Aberglaslyn path, and passes the grave of the legendary hound: Bedd Gelert means Gelert’s grave.
Good to Know
- Out of season, some places close early or on certain days: check before you set your heart on a particular meal.
- Take a torch if you walk the Aberglaslyn path at dusk; the riverbank is uneven and the river is fast.
- Summer evenings stay light until late, so the quiet hour after the day visitors leave is long and golden.
Nearby
- Gelert’s Grave, Knowingly (Experience #80)
- Dinas Emrys (Experience #43): the dragon hill just up the valley
- Otter on the Glaslyn (Experience #68)
- Beddgelert village guide
FAQ
Can I get to Beddgelert without a car?
Yes. Sherpa’r Wyddfa buses run from Caernarfon and Porthmadog, and the Welsh Highland Railway calls at the village in season. Check times for evening returns.
Is the Gelert’s Grave walk accessible?
Yes. The National Trust describes it as suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs, on a defined riverside path.
Experience #31 of 100, Villages and Towns category. See also the Aberglaslyn Pass walk (Experience #18).