by Anna Hann
posted on 26 November 2024
Spend three action-packed days exploring North Wales’ outstanding Snowdonia National Park on a memorable road trip.
Snowdonia National Park covers 827 square miles of unspoilt North Wales scenery with rocky mountains, clear lakes, and thick forests. It’s named after Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales. However, since November 2022, park authorities have referred to Wales’ highest mountain solely by its Welsh name, Yr Wyddfa, rather than the English equivalent. Eryri National Park has replaced Snowdonia National Park as the region’s official name, using the longstanding Welsh language names for the famous landmarks instead.
North Wales and Eryri National Park are incredible locations for memorable road trips, offering an abundance of hiking trails and other activities like kayaking and ziplining. But it’s not all outdoor adventures that North Wales offers: the area has many festivals and events celebrating Welsh culture throughout the year.
Eryri road trip itinerary
The Eryri 360 scenic route spans 360 miles and follows the main routes and road trips encompassing the mountains of Eryri National Park, Anglesey, and the Llŷn Peninsula.
This three-day driving route only follows part of the Eryri 360. Instead, this road trip focuses on the most scenic routes to Yr Wyddfa, including Llanberis Pass and Pen-y-Pass, famous mountain passes. It prioritises spectacular views, contrasting epic mountains with visits to some beautiful beaches.
This Eryri road trip itinerary can be easily adjusted to suit your own pace, particularly if you want to spend more time around the attractions of Llanberis, fancy lingering longer in the famous castles of North Wales, or dedicate more time to the rural area of the Llŷn Peninsula. Taking a Eryri road trip more slowly allows you more time to discover hidden gems and decide for yourself which is the most scenic route in Eryri National Park.
Day 1: Llandudno to Ynys Lawd
North Wales has several well-connected towns that serve as entry points to Eryri National Park, but this trip uses Llandudno as the springboard to an adventure in Eryri. Spend a day exploring the Welsh coastline of North Wales and Anglesey Island today before venturing deeper into Eryri National Park on day two.
Llandudno
Before setting off too quickly, get to know Llandudno a little better, a lovely town on the North Wales coast, famous for its Victorian seafront lined with pastel-coloured hotels. Perhaps you’ll take the Great Orme Tramway, reminiscent of San Francisco’s iconic cable cars, or pop to nearby Colwyn Bay for the Welsh Mountain Zoo.
Conwy
It’s just a short hop from Llandudno to the medieval town of Conwy. Its narrow streets are enclosed within the original town walls, overlooked by the moody Conwy Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered one of Europe’s most impressive fortresses. Climb the spiral staircases and wander the battlements to catch the views across the estuary. It’s one of the iron ring of fortresses built around Eryri by Edward I.
Bangor
Next, take the A55 to the university town of Bangor, the oldest city in Wales. You could pop inside Penrhyn Castle, a 19th-century mansion built for a wealthy industrialist, or take a walk to Garth Pier, considered one of the prettiest piers in Wales with its shops and cafés housed in Victorian kiosks.
Beaumaris
From Bangor, continue the North Wales road trip by crossing the Menai Strait, which separates Anglesey Island from mainland Wales, via either the modern Britannia Bridge or the historic Menai Bridge.
A little way up the coast, Beaumaris is a handsome seatown with another outstanding castle. Thanks to its near-perfect symmetry, Beaumaris Castle is considered the most accomplished of all the 13th-century castles built by Edward I in Wales. Although it is famously unfinished, it is still well worth a look.
Amlwch
Route around the north coast of Anglesey Island, along the Irish Sea coast. You could call in at Amlwch, a small town with a long history of working traditions. Walk along the coast from Point Lynas to Amlwch Port, where copper was exported worldwide.
Llanrhwydrus
If you’ve got time, take the fantastic three-mile circular walk from Bryn Aber car park to see some of North Wales’ ancient spiritual sites and wildlife.
Holyhead
The road trip routes to Holyhead next. Stena Line Ferries from this busy port take people and vehicles to Dublin, but you could explore the town or take one of the local coastal walks. Try the audio-guided trails at Breakwater Country Park on the site of an old quarry, and as you roam among the heather and gorse, see if you can glimpse a peregrine falcon overhead.
Ynys Lawd
A ten-minute drive from Holyhead brings you to Ynys Lawd, Welsh for South Stack. Ynys Lawd is home to one of the most dramatic spots in North Wales: the sea cliffs and the South Stack Lighthouse.
Visitors and nature lovers come here to admire the stunning scenery and spot colonies of guillemots and razorbills from the RSPB visitor centre. In the summer, you can take the 400 steps down to the South Stack Lighthouse to see puffins nesting on the cliffs. Just remember the only way back up is the way you came.
Plan to stay overnight on Anglesey Islands, perhaps glamping at Two Peas in a Pod. If you want to sleep under canvas or hire a campervan for your road trip, there are lots of camping park options on Anglesey Island.
Day 2: Ynys Lawd to Portmeirion via Llanberis
There’s a fairly long drive ahead today and a fantastic trip on the Snowdon Mountain Railway in store, so you’ll want to start early to take full advantage of some of the places you’ll visit. You’ll leave Anglesey Island, venture into the Eryri mountains, drive around the Llyn Peninsula and finish the day in Portmeirion.
Caernarfon
From Holyhead, head east and plan to return to the mainland as quickly as possible via the North Wales Expressway. You might still want to stop and explore Caernarfon Castle, a gigantic fortress that took 47 years to build and one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages.
Llanberis
From Caernarfon, take the 8-mile drive along the A4086 to Llanberis, with some wonderful views along the way. The A4086 road leads to the Pen-y-Pass, where three main routes for climbing Yr Wyddfa begin.
When you reach Llanberis, you’ll spot hikers ready to start the Llanberis Path, the most popular of six routes to the summit of Yr Wyddfa, taking around seven hours to complete. The Llanberis Path is considered the longest but least strenuous walk to the summit.
Instead of joining them, take a heritage train ride. Two depart from this lakeside town: the Llanberis Lake Railway and the Snowdon Mountain Railway. The Snowdon Mountain Railway provides a route for those wishing to ascend the mountain without hiking. It effortlessly takes you to the summit of Yr Wyddfa, giving you some epic views of viaducts and waterfalls, gorges and ancient settlements. You’ll need to allow a few hours to complete the round trip, which includes stopping at the UK’s highest visitor centre.
The Llanberis Pass
One of the most scenic driving roads in Eryri is the Llanberis Pass. It runs just over five miles from Llanberis to Pen-y-Pass, the starting point for the Pyg Track and Miners’ Track, both popular trails for climbing Yr Wyddfa.
If you have time, you could drive or walk some of the Llanberis Pass today, but you’ll approach Pen-y-Pass from a different direction tomorrow. Then, from Llanberis, you’ll need to head back on the road you came from – a loop around the Llŷn Peninsula is next.
Llŷn Peninsula
You’ll return the way you came and swap mountain scenery for beaches around the Llŷn Peninsula Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Take a driving route anticlockwise around the peninsula, stopping at the remote Traeth Penllech beach before heading to the long sandy bay of Whistling Sands.
Next, on your way to the south coast, you could stop at Abersoch and Llanbedrog, sheltered coves with shallow waters and gently lapping waves.
Portmeirion
This pretty Italianate village, designed by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, is quite unlike anywhere else in North Wales. Visit the Central Piazza to see colourful buildings inspired by the Italian Riviera and pretty gardens.
Stay at the Portmeirion Hotel tonight and enjoy some delicious food at the restaurant. Or, if you’re on a campervan trip, The Portmeirion Motorhome Campsite provides various pitch sizes and includes access to amenities like showers and toilets.
Start your Eryri road trip with ease by picking up a car from a trusted host on Turo. Choose a convenient location near you for a smooth start to your journey and explore a wide range of options—from compact cars to luxurious SUVs or rugged 4WDs—Turo has the perfect vehicle for every adventure.
Day 3: Portmeirion to Betws-y-Coed
Today, you’ll take one of North Wales’ most scenic drives, ascending through mountain scenery to Pen y Pass, where hikers set off to the Yr Wyddfa summit on the Miners’ Track or Pyg Track. There are other routes through the scenery too, without having to embark on these challenging and lengthy trails.
Black Rock Sands
This morning, you might want to start by heading to the coast to see Black Rock Sands, a beach on Cardigan Bay where visitors can drive their cars onto the sand.
Beddgelert
Take the road from Porthmadog to Beddgelert from Black Rock Sands, passing through the narrow Aberglaslyn Pass. Make a quick stop at this picturesque village, perhaps popping into the local tourist board centre for more information about attractions and activities in the area.
Beddgelert is a popular base for hikers looking to explore the Aberglaslyn Pass to the south, Nant Gwynant to the east, and Yr Wyddfa to the north. If you want to linger, consider hopping aboard the Welsh Highland Railway. You could just take a quick ride to Rhyd Ddu and back, although longer routes as far as Porthmadog are available on these little trains.
A scenic route through Eryri
Once you leave Beddgelert, take the A498, which provides access to some of the most scenic drives in North Wales.
On the way to Pen y Pass, you’ll pass Llyn Dinas Lake, home to salmon and trout, with a mile-long path that circles the lake. Then, you’ll take the Nant Gwynant road that climbs 600 feet upwards in just two miles, offering scenic viewpoints. It passes beautiful Lake Gwynant, known for its calm waters that reflect the surrounding mountains and sky. Pull over to admire the mountain peaks and take your time on this section of the road trip.
Pen y Pass
From the A498, turn right to the Pen y Pass car park. Two famous routes, The Miners’ Track and Pyg Track, lead to the summit of Yr Wyddfa, although they’re just for the most accomplished hikers with good navigation skills. If you’re lucky enough to find a spot in the car park, take some time to explore this gorgeously scenic area — it’s a great location to take some memorable photos of Wales’ highest mountain.
Once you leave Pen y Pass, rejoin the A4086, which ends at the village of St Curig. From here, turn right onto the A5 that leads out of Eryri towards Betws-y-Coed and continues to other scenic destinations.
Betws-y-Coed
Betws-y-Coed is a popular hub town in Eryri National Park and a historic village known for its picturesque scenery and charming shops.
How you spend your time in Betws-y-Coed is up to you. There are plenty of walking trails to explore from the town, although there are independent craft shops and gift stores to pick up some souvenirs. However, if you’re looking for a high-octane adventure, you’re in luck. Head to Zip World Betws-y-Coed for the Fforest Coaster ride through the treetops or try Europe’s highest giant swing, or continue to its sister site, Zip World Penrhyn Quarry, to try the fastest zipline in the world, set in what was once the world’s largest slate quarry.
Travel tips for exploring Eryri
Driving is one of the most convenient ways to reach Eryri National Park, although you could combine your drives with adventures onboard the Sherpa’r Wyddfa, which is public transport to some of the most scenic spots and helps alleviate some of the busy car parks.
Go by car
Many visitors to Eryri choose to explore the area by car for convenience and flexibility. The roads in Eryri offer a mix of straight stretches and curvy bends surrounded by stunning landscapes, making it a fun driving experience, as well as being incredibly scenic.
The roads around Eryri
Before you set off on a road trip, familiarise yourself with UK driving rules, particularly if you’re visiting from overseas. It’s good to know the national speed limits, as they’re not always clearly marked on every road you’ll drive on.
Across Eryri National Park, you’ll encounter single-track roads where you may have to pull into passing places and lay-bys to allow access to oncoming traffic, especially on popular routes.
Be aware of local wildlife and slow down for sheep and pedestrians. Road signs in Eryri are often bilingual, in the Welsh language and English. And it’s important to know that you’re far more likely to see Eryri National Park referred to by its official name, Eryri, on road signs. Eryri will be signposted by its Welsh language name, Yr Wyddfa.
Go in the spring or summer
The best time to visit Eryri’s mountains is between April and September for better weather. Peak season in Eryri is July and August when it is warmest, although visiting in spring and autumn is quieter with beautiful scenery. Whatever time of year you travel, bear in mind that Eryri is known for its rain and is one of the wettest parts of the UK, so go prepared for inclement weather regardless of the season. If you can, plan your visit to avoid school holidays to minimise crowds on the popular routes.
Book your accommodation
Accommodation options in Eryri include hotels, guest houses, campsites, and unique lodging experiences. Peak season in Eryri is July and August when accommodation is often booked well in advance.
Download your map and route
Sat nav and in-car maps are brilliant—until you don’t have connectivity! Plot your route then download your map before setting off, as some remote locations may lack signal. Before you set off, plan the exact route you want to take using an interactive map to find the best routes for your road trip.
Car park planning
Arrive early if you want a prime parking spot, particularly in popular places like the Pen y Pass car park. In fact, all car parks in Eryri National Park fill up quickly during peak times.
Go prepared for climbing
Eryri has several climbing and outdoor adventure companies offering equipment and guidance. If you’re looking to climb Yr Wyddfa, you’ll need to adjust the timings of this Eryri road trip to allow plenty of time for your adventure.
Find the perfect car rental
Most roads in Eryri are tarmacked and smooth, but rural areas may require a 4×4, so some drivers may prefer to choose a suitable rental car to make the journey more enjoyable. The roads around Yr Wyddfa are narrow but generally well-maintained, so some drivers prefer to book a slightly smaller car to explore Yr Wyddfa on a road trip.
Book car hire on Turo and choose from a wide choice of vehicles to pick up in a location that suits you, whether you’re driving from England, starting your adventure in South Wales, or want to book a local car in Eryri.
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