NORTH WALES - England 2012 and the Best of Wales - page 719

Mawr testifies to the later wealth of the region's merchants. The servant's floor at
stately home Erddig is like a domestic Victorian time capsule.
THE best TRAVEL
EXPERIENCES IN NORTH
WALES
W Hiking up the Aberglaslyn Gorge as the Welsh Highland Railway puffs past:
Between Beddgelert and Pont Croesor, the most famous stretch of this recently
rebuilt narrow-gauge line cuts through terrain that's been a beauty spot since the
1800s. See p. 722.
W Standing on Yr Wyddfa, Mount Snowdon's 1,085-m (3,560-ft.) peak: Whether
you've arrived on the rack railway or hiked any of the marked trails to the summit,
the view over the Snowdonia range and into the five countries of the British Isles
is equally spectacular. See p. 720.
W Enjoying the tranquil comforts of 21st-century Beaumaris: The more you
encounter fragments of life here from centuries past, the more you discover that it
wasn't always so genteel—although the contemporary cuisine at the Loft drags you
right back to the present. See p. 732.
W Riding the “great little trains”: Originally built to carry slate and copper from
mine to port, the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland steam railways now rattle through
some of Snowdonia's most breathtaking scenery. See p. 727 and 730.
W Driving and dining by the Ceiriog: This little-visited valley twists an idyllic,
15-mile path from rolling terrain around Chirk to the Berwyn Mountains on the
fringes of Snowdonia. The most beautiful stretch, around Llanarmon, is also home
to one of Denbighshire's best eating spots. See p. 741.

19

SNOWDONIA
Llanberis: 105 miles SW of Manchester, 7 miles SE of Caernarfon; Betws-y-Coed: 16 miles E of Llanberis,
44 miles SW of Liverpool
More than just the roof of Wales and the tallest British peaks south of Scotland, the
giant mountains of the 823-sq. mile Snowdonia National Park have also long been
places of myth. Legend has it that dragons, faithful hounds, and even (in the original
tales) King Arthur have all lived around here, but the principal attraction for visitors
is the endless miles of hiking trails and epic scenery. Paths up Mount Snowdon,
through the Aberglaslyn Gorge, and on the flanks Cader Idris are accessible to fit
walkers of all experience levels.
Snowdonia also has a long history as a mining center, and the National Slate
Museum in Llanberis and the Llechwedd Slate Caverns outside Blaenau Ffes-
tiniog transport you back to an earlier, industrial era in the life of these beautiful but
harsh mountains.
Essentials
GETTING THERE There's no sizable town in the National Park, just a collection
of small places—including Betws-y-Coed, Llanberis, Beddgelert, and Capel
Curig —any of which can be a base. There's also no major railway line that stops in
Snowdonia itself. The nearest major station is Bangor, 9 miles north of Llanberis.