Snowdonia's Best Kept Secret

If you’ve ever travelled through the mountains of Snowdonia, you will have likely come across Beddgelert. A picturesque, stone-built village set right at the heart of some
of Wales’ oldest and most famous folklore. The traditional Welsh charm, dramatic backdrops, and flowing waterfalls along with the rich history of the area make it one of our favourite places in Wales- we believe everyone should go there at least once in their lives!

The name Beddgelert translates to Gelert’s grave, derived from the tale of Wales’s most faithful hound. In the 13^th century, Prince Llywelyn The Great was a hunter living in the area with his Princess and baby. Llywelyn owned many hounds to help with hunting but his favourite hound of all was Gelert. Trusting his loyal comrade, Llywelyn took his Princess out hunting, leaving their baby in the care of Gelert while he rested. Upon their return, Llywelyn found an empty cradle and a very bloody Gelert. Realising that his best friend had turned on him Llywelyn instantly raised his sword and slayed his hound. Moments later he heard cries from the far corner of the room, where his baby lay crying alongside a mauled wolf. It is then that Llywelyn realised that Gelert did not harm his child, but instead saved his life, killing a wolf that tried to attack them. Stricken with remorse Llywelyn gave his faithful hound a ceremonial burial near the river, where a statue and a grave lay to this day. The tale lives strongly throughout Wales in the 21^st Century, teaching us to refrain from letting our anger overcome us as things may not be as they seem at first glance. Gelert’s grave is located along a circular riverside walk which takes between 40 mins and 1 hour. The walk is also accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs making it perfect for the whole family!

Planning on tackling Snowdon? Beddgelert is the ideal place to stay - it’s just a 5-minute drive from the Rhyd Ddu path (a challenging yet quiet way up), 15 minutes’ drive from Pen-y-Pass (the shortest and most popular route) and a 10 minutes’ drive from the Snowdon Ranger Path (quiet and fairly easy). With three Robinsons pubs in the village, Tanronnen Inn, Prince Llewelyn, Saracens Head, all with rooms, you can kick your feet up and enjoy a pint in the sun after accomplishing a challenging hike!

Another nearby walk attached to ancient folklore is Dinas Emrys. In the fifth century, Celtic King Vortigern chose Dinas Emrys as the site to build his lavish castle. The construction of the castle however, did not go to plan, with tools going missing and walls falling down over night, it was clear something very unnatural was happening on the site. The King desperately sought the help of sorcerers and magicians, who claimed a child wizard was needed to lift the curse. The King found a very young Merlin who discovered that there was a hidden pool beneath the mountain, and that there were two dragons battling in the pool- one white and one red. Eventually the red dragon won the battle and returned to rest leaving the King to continue to build his castle. That red dragon is the one used on the Welsh flag, after becoming a symbol of the fight against the Saxon foe. The dragon is said to still be sleeping beneath the legendary hillside, but even if you don’t spot a mighty beast on your walk, you’ll pass beautiful waterfalls and ancient woodland.

Beddgelert sits along the Welsh Highland Railway- one of the most picturesque journeys in the UK. Historic carriages travel from Caernarfon to Porthmadog then Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog on the world’s oldest narrow gauge railway. With journeys that pass the foot of Snowdon, climb 700 feet above sea level, drop down to the sea front then back up through forestry, this train line is one of a kind!

If you’ve got curious kids who love interactive experiences then why not visit Sygun Copper Mine, which has transformed Wales’s industrial heritage into an outstanding attraction. The mines are filled with winding tunnels, stalactites and stalagmites and copper ore veins which contain traces of gold, silver and other precious metals. The site also offer gold panning lessons, where your children can see if they can find their own gold- it’s a great way to learn the Welsh industrial history.