Description
Hidden Gems of Snowdonia
Walking grade: 
Experience the exhilarating views of Snowdonia on lower-level routes.
Price: £540
– Sole occupancy supplement £50
Duration:
5 nights – 4.5 days walking
Next departures:
– Oct 24th 2021
Snowdonia is one of the most popular walking destinations in the UK. The rugged soaring peaks of its four mountain ranges give incredible views over mountains and sea. Alongside paths that aim for the great peaks, are endless miles of low-level trails which we use to explore this area and discover exhilarating views. All without having to work too hard! Our daily journeys take in ancient woodland, and heather moorland as well as lovely valleys and charming villages.
Come and experience the stunning scenery, unique culture and warm Welsh welcome that Snowdonia has to offer.
Accommodation
Our base for this short break is the family run Tyn-y-Coed Inn between Betws-y-Coed and Capel Curig. This relaxed and friendly hotel sits amidst the beautiful mountains of Snowdonia. The front rooms look out on Moel Siabod; uninterrupted views of stunning scenery, mountains -and sheep! All bedrooms are en-suite and tastefully furnished. Each room has a television, wifi, hairdryer and hot drinks tray.
We eat in the hotel pub restaurant each evening and have the full choice of the menu and specials board. The food is excellent. For those into real ale, the hotel bar is listed in the Good beer guide. When the weather is cold, real fires burn in the grate, when the weather is warm you can bask on the sunny terrace or in the hotel gardens. There is also a drying room, if needed.
To mark its historic past on the coaching route, the Tyn-y-Coed has a majestic stagecoach in front of its entrance.
Included
- Half board en-suite accommodation
- Guided walking each day
- A packed lunch for the four days walking
- 2-course evening meal taken in the hotel restaurant
Not included
- Transport to and from the walks. For three of the walks, we walk directly from the hotel. We will use our own cars to cover the short distance for one of the walks.
- Incidental expenses such as bar bill etc
Day-to-Day Itinerary
The following is the proposed itinerary for this short break. However, please bear in mind that in the event of local conditions changing, for example, due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, then it may be necessary to change the itinerary.
Day 1
Arrive at the Tyn-y-Coed Inn, Capel Curig and check into your room. Meet at 7 pm in the hotel bar for a short briefing about the week ahead before dinner. The hotel has ample car parking. The nearest train station to the Tyn-y-Coed Inn is Betws-y-Coed. A pick-up can be arranged from here for a small fee.
Meals included: dinner
Day 2
Day 2: Dolwyddelan
This delightful walk makes a loop out of two of Snowdonia’s great rivers, the Lledr and the Llugwy. We hop on the bus from the hotel and travel a short distance down the road to the Miners Bridge. Once an important crossing on this river, it was washed away in early 2020 storms. From here, we pick up the Roman road of Sarn Helen which once ran from Aberconwy to Camarthen. We hop on the bus from the hotel and travel a short distance down the road to the Miners Bridge. Once an important crossing on this river, it was washed away in early 2020 storms. From here, we pick up the Roman road of Sarn Helen which once ran from Aberconwy to Camarthan. We follow a section of this 2000-year-old track first to Penaeldroch Hall for coffee and then on to the village of Dolwyddelan for lunch beside the river. Turning back for home, a short climb gives us spectacular views, first over the stately hill of Moel Siabod and then out over the Glyderau and Carneddau before dropping back down to the Tyn-y-Coed Inn.
Distance 16 km (10 miles), ascent 450 m ( 1450 ft), descent 450 m ( 1450 ft)
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner and packed lunch
Day 3
Three Lakes
This excellent walk takes us through moorland rises between Betws-y-Coed and the Carneddau mountain range. We stay well away from the tourist hotspots to take in great views of the magnificent peaks of Snowdonia, including that of Snowdon itself.
Leaving from the hotel, we pass under the knobbly peaks and heather hillsides of Crimpiau as we head north into the valley holding the beautiful Llyn Crafnant. We follow the shores of this lake to arrive at the monument marking the birthplace of the bard Taliesin. Winding our way through abandoned mines we arrive at our second lake, Llyn Geirionnydd. We hug the shore-line and then follow the forest tracks of the old Gwydyr estate to the hidden gem of Llyn Bychan, our third lake. As we descend back to our hotel via Capel Curig, the high mountains of Moel Siabod, Snowdon, the Glyderau and Carneddau are all in view. Proof enough that for great views you don’t have to go high!
Distance 15.5 km (9.5 miles), ascent 360 m (1200 ft), descent 360 m (1200 ft)
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner and packed lunch
Day 4
Beddgelert
For this walk we start from the delightful village of Beddgelert. Our circular walk follows the Afon Glaslyn up to Llyn Dinas before descending the Nanmor valley to return to Beddgelert through the quiet woodland to the south of Moel y Dyniewyd and along the rapids at the pass of Aberglaslyn with the peaks of Moelwynion and Snowdon soaring high above us. There will be time to explore the famous landmark, Gelert’s Grave before we head back to the Tyn-y-Coed.
Distance 16 km (10 miles), ascent 230 m (750 ft), descent 230 m (750 ft)
Meals included: breakfast and dinner and packed lunch
Day 5: Ogwen Valley and the Leat
For our final walk we take a route up behind the hotel to Capel Curig and from there head up onto side of the Carnedd range for magnificent views of Tryfan and the Glyder range of mountains as well as the valley below. We follow a contouring route below the peak of Craigwen before descending to follow the Roman road through the Ogwen valley and Plas y Brenin back to the hotel.
Distance 16 km (10 miles), ascent 320 m (1050 ft), descent 320 m (1050 ft)
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner and packed lunch
Day 6
Just a short 3 hour walk for our last day. After breakfast we head up behind the hotel to the peak of Crimpieu. What better way to end the holiday than with 360o views of the mountains around us?
Distance 8 km (5 miles), ascent 270 m (900 ft), descent 270 m (900 ft)
Meals included: Breakfast
Kit list
For walking each day:
- Good walking boots or shoes
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Lightweight, quick drying trousers
- Base layer
- Mid-layer such as a fleece jacket and an additional ‘spare’ layer depending on the forecast
- Walking socks
- Warm hat and gloves -just in case the weather turns
- Sun hat, sunglasses, lip salve and high SPF sun block
- Day sack (25 litre capacity is a good size) to comfortably carry your kit, lunch and water
- Dry bag or rucksack cover to keep the contents of your daypack dry
- Water bottle
- Basic first aid kit (plasters, blister treatment, antiseptic etc)
- Some snacks to keep you going
- Walking/trekking poles (if you use them)
Maps
OS Explorer OL17 Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa
