Eryri rewards proper planning. The national park is large (823 square miles), the weather is highly variable, and the range of experiences on offer — from serious mountaineering to castle-hopping in the rain — means that the right preparation makes an enormous difference to your visit. This section covers everything you need to know before you arrive.
What's Covered in This Section
First Time in Eryri
How many days you need, which bases to consider, transport options, and the essential top 10 things not to miss. If this is your first visit, start here.
Where to Stay
Seven bases covered in detail: Llanberis, Betws-y-Coed, Beddgelert, Capel Curig, Dolgellau, Harlech, and Barmouth. Who each suits, what accommodation is available, and how to choose.
Weather Guide
Eryri receives over 3,000mm of rain a year in the uplands. Understanding the weather — what to expect in each season, how to read forecasts, what conditions mean for your plans — is one of the most useful things you can know.
Rainy Day Eryri
What to do when the mountains are in cloud and the rain is horizontal. Eryri in the rain is still Eryri — you just need different plans. Railways, museums, castles, distilleries, cafes, and more.
Snowdonia with Kids
Zip World, underground adventures, narrow-gauge railways, beach days, and walks that won't end in mutiny. The complete guide to Eryri with children.
Accommodation Guide
Hostels, B&Bs, hotels, self-catering, camping, and glamping — the full range of accommodation options across the national park, matched to your needs and budget.
Food & Drink
The best cafés, pubs, and restaurants in Eryri — from a bowl of cawl after a wet day on the hills to the destination restaurants drawing visitors from across Wales.
Parking & Transport
The Snowdon Sherpa bus network, car parks at every trailhead, cycling routes, and how to reach the park without a car. Practical logistics for every type of visit.
Mountain Safety
What to wear, what to carry, how to read the weather, and what to do in an emergency. The safety essentials every visitor to Eryri should know before heading into the hills.
Sunrise Guide
How to time a sunrise ascent of Yr Wyddfa — dates, routes, logistics, and what to expect from one of the most rewarding mountain experiences in Britain.
What to Wear
The layering system, waterproofs, boots, and the kit that makes the difference between a great mountain day and a miserable one. No jargon, just practical advice.
Quick Reference: Key Facts for Visitors
| Park area | 823 square miles (2,130 km²) |
| Highest point | Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon, 1,085m |
| Annual visitors | ~4 million |
| Resident population | ~26,000 |
| Welsh speakers | ~62% of residents |
| Nearest airports | Manchester (2hrs), Liverpool John Lennon (1hr45m) |
| Nearest mainline rail | Bangor (on the North Wales Coast line) |
| Emergency mountain rescue | Call 999, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue |