Camping in Llanberis

Wild camping is not a legal right in Wales, and pitching a tent on private land without permission – which covers the vast majority of the countryside around Llanberis, including most of Eryri National Park – technically counts as trespass. That said, there is a long-standing informal tolerance among landowners and the mountain community for discreet, one-night wild camps high on the open mountain, well above the farmed valley land, provided walkers arrive late, leave early and take everything away with them. Snowdon's upper slopes see this kind of high-camping tradition every summer, though it remains a matter of goodwill rather than legal right, and campers should always default to a proper site if one is available nearby.

For a more straightforward stay, Llanberis and the surrounding villages have a good spread of proper campsites and glampsites, from simple grassy fields with mountain views to smarter set-ups with pods and yurts, many run by farming families who have worked this land for generations. Facilities range from basic to well-equipped, and a number of sites sit close enough to the village to walk in for a pint or a plate of chips after a day on the hill. Given Llanberis's position right at the start of the Llanberis Path up Snowdon, and its closeness to Llyn Padarn for lake walks and watersports, a tent or pod here puts you within easy reach of some of the best walking in Wales without ever needing the car.

Late spring to early autumn is by far the best season to camp around Llanberis, when the days are longest and the Snowdon Mountain Railway is running its full seasonal timetable for those who'd rather not walk both ways. Nights can still be cold even in summer this close to the mountains, so it pays to come prepared regardless of the forecast down in the valley. Booking ahead for weekends is strongly recommended, as sites here fill quickly once the walking season gets going.