Snowdonia

Snowdonia's coast and mountains offer a striking mix of settings. Caernarfon and Bangor are the region's main hubs, with castle walls and university-town bustle respectively, while Pwllheli and Abersoch draw sailing and beach crowds along the Llŷn Peninsula. Barmouth and Criccieth make classic seaside stops, each with a castle or promenade to anchor an afternoon, and Harlech adds another formidable fortress above its dunes. Portmeirion, the Italianate village overlooking the estuary, remains a curious detour from the ordinary.

Inland, the character turns quieter and greener. Dolgellau sits beneath the Cadair Idris range, a good base for walkers, while Bala's lake attracts watersports and lakeside strolls. Llanbedr offers a low-key village stop near the coast and hills alike, and Blaenau Ffestiniog, ringed by slate, gives a glimpse of the region's industrial past. Together these places suit both lively breaks by the sea and slower, mountain-bound retreats.

With 222 hotels and B&Bs across Snowdonia, the choice runs from farmhouse bed and breakfasts to characterful country houses, and where you base yourself makes a real difference to the trip. Llanberis suits anyone tackling the mountains, with its proximity to the paths up Yr Wyddfa, while Dolgellau and Bala offer a quieter, market-town feel with the Mawddach and Cambrian ranges close at hand.

The coastal towns have their own character: Barmouth and Criccieth combine sea views with easy access to the hills, and Harlech pairs its castle with beaches and golf. Portmeirion is a category apart, with the village itself part of the appeal.

Places like Abercelyn Country House, Borthwnog Hall and Plas Tan-yr-Allt Country House show the strength in period properties with grounds, while Tyddyn Perthi Farm and Heulwen Guest House represent the simpler, working-farm style of stay found throughout the region.

Snowdonia's attractions split roughly into mountains, quarries and coast. Llanberis is the obvious base for anyone drawn to the high ground, with the Snowdon Mountain Railway climbing from the town and Beacon Climbing Centre nearby for something more hands-on. Over in Blaenau Ffestiniog and Bethesda, former slate workings have been turned into zip lines and underground adventures, Zip World Penrhyn Quarry among them, giving the industrial landscape a second life.

The coast offers a slower pace by comparison. Barmouth Beach, Hells Mouth Beach near Abersoch, and Morfa Bychan Beach towards Harlech are good for a day away from the peaks, while Bala's National White Water Centre suits those wanting to be on the water rather than beside it. Caernarfon and Bangor add castles and town-based diversions, and family days out like The Childrens Farm Park or Xscape Rooms sit alongside the wilder pursuits for when the weather, or the children, demand something indoors.

Eating out in Snowdonia tends to follow the day's walking or driving rather than the other way round, and the choice reflects that. Bangor offers the widest concentration of options, from cafes doing a solid breakfast before the hills to bars and restaurants for the evening, such as the Imperial Bar and Ty Glyndwr & Su's Cocktail Bar.

Elsewhere across Gwynedd you'll find smaller, more individual places tied closely to their villages and farms, like Fferm Ty Cynan Farm or the Hendre Hall Coffee Shop | Bar, alongside straightforward pubs and restaurants such as Poachers Restaurant, Y Sgwar Restaurant and The Captains Table.

With 492 places listed, there's plenty of scope to mix a proper sit-down meal with something quicker and more casual, depending on whether you're stopping mid-route or settling in for the night.

Snowdonia offers an enormous range of places to pitch a tent or settle into a pod, from simple farm fields to fully kitted-out glamping retreats. Around Dolgellau and Bryncrug, sites tend to sit beneath the southern peaks with easy access to the Mawddach estuary and Cadair Idris, while the coastal stretch through Barmouth, Tywyn and Pwllheli suits campers wanting beaches within reach alongside the mountains.

Further north, Bangor and Trefor put you closer to the Menai Strait and the Llŷn coastline, and Blaenau Ffestiniog is a useful base for the quarried valleys and Ffestiniog railway country. Options range from certificated locations like Rhedyn CL and small farm pitches such as Caerhun Farm to glamping setups including Stabal Cottage and Pods, Snowdonia Hideaway and Feather Down Farm Days at Glanmor Isaf, so it is worth deciding whether you want a quiet rural field or something more comfortable before booking.

Self-catering is the backbone of a Snowdonia holiday, and the choice runs from stone-built farmhouses to converted chapels and coastal retreats. Gwynedd holds the bulk of the options, with cottages scattered through the mountains around Beddgelert, along the Llŷn coast, and in villages within easy reach of the Snowdon massif itself. Places like Riverside Cottage Beddgelert and South Snowdon Wharf put you close to the main walking routes, while others such as Wendon Holidays - Sea View look out over the sea rather than the hills.

What suits you depends on the kind of trip you want. Period properties like Henborth Mawr Period Cottage or Ysgol Jos Bach offer character and a sense of place, while newer developments and estates, including Plas Talgarth's mansion house apartments, work well for larger groups or families wanting more shared facilities. Vineyard settings, converted coach houses and simple bolt-holes like Ty Hir all sit within reach of each other, so it is worth thinking about whether you want to be based near the peaks, the coast, or somewhere in between.