We recently spent a long weekend exploring hidden gems in Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park, and we were absolutely blown away by Snowdonia’s beauty. Everything we saw was stunning, unspoilt and felt unreal. Unbelievably, it was less than three hours from our doorstep and genuinely it’s one of the best places we have ever visited.  We couldn’t recommend it more and we will 100% be back again next year as there is so much more for us to see! Here’s how we spent our few days exploring hidden gems in Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park. 

We also have a post specifically on Moel Famau Hike if you are interested in exploring more of Wales.

Jump to:

• Mount Snowdon
• Welshpool
• Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall
• Bala
• Cwmorthin Waterfall
• Llyn Trawsfynydd
• Llyn Mwyngil
• Rhiwagor Waterfall
• Llyn Vyrnwy
• Accommodation and Tips
• Final Thoughts

Mount Snowdon

We spent some time deciding whether or not to do the main hike to the summit of Mount Snowdon. We made the decision not to this time, but we will be ticking it off in the future! This was mainly due to the amount of other sights we really wanted to see and the time we had available. We wanted to explore some quieter hidden gems and explore more of what the national park had to offer instead of using a full day to complete the hike up Mount Snowdon. 

However, if you have the time, or this is at the peak of your list, then we are confident it would be amazing. If you are looking to do this it will take you between 5 – 8 hours depending on your route and overall fitness. Another great option to consider is the Snowdon Mountain Railway which offers a very scenic train up Mount Snowdon.

Welshpool

We arrived on a Thursday afternoon and stopped off in the town of Welshpool which was about a 15 minute drive from where we were staying. You can find details of where we were staying in the Accommodation and Tips section at the end of this blog post.

Welshpool is one of the larger towns on the edge of Snowdonia National Park and is a great place to stop off for a drink in one of the local pubs and to stock up on supplies as there are several large supermarkets. If you have time we also recommend visiting The National Trust Powis Castle and Gardens in Welshpool. 

Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall

Friday morning we set off fairly early to Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall, as we wanted to beat the crowds. We were in luck, and managed to have the waterfall all to ourselves at times and were only joined by a handful of others throughout our time here. This definitely made it one of the best hidden gems in Snowdonia!

Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall is the tallest waterfall in Wales at 80 metres. It’s a magical place and we loved the green surroundings and the natural arch the water flowed through. It would be possible to go for a quick dip, however other places we visited were definitely better for this! 

There is a small car park which will cost you £5.00, if you are lucky enough like us you might be able to get a space in the free car park about a 5 minute walk away. There is also a small cafe and toilets. 

From the car park, the bottom of the waterfall is less than a 5 minute walk and to the top is less than 45 minutes to get up and back down. The hike to the top and final views were stunning, and it was a perfect place to rest for a little bit and cool off!

Bala

Bala is a charming market town situated on Llyn Tegid. If you are passing through, definitely stop off, however it’s main purpose for us was to take a little break and grab some lunch. There are plenty of shops, pubs and cafes for you to enjoy and it has a friendly community feel. 

Cwmorthin Waterfall

Our next stop just after mid-day was Cwmorthin Waterfall, which was another beautiful sight. The drive here was lovely with spectacular views of Snowdon, and even across the sea. We easily parked for free with about a 5 minute walk to the waterfall. 

There are plenty of hikes from Cwmorthin Waterfall and the old mine and quarry to explore which offer a unique experience. However, our highlight was swimming in this beautiful waterfall. It’s worth pointing out that we happened to be in Snowdonia on one of the hottest weekends of the year, with temperatures reaching 34 degrees in the UK – that’s very hot for the UK! However, it made swimming in the waterfalls and lakes even more of a treat. 

Llyn Trawsfynydd

In the afternoon we stopped off at Llyn Trawsfynydd. We enjoyed a small walk around the lake and made use of the visitor centre to have a rest and enjoy an ice cream. Parking was free and it made a great stop on our journey! It was still very picturesque and enjoyable, but we did prefer the other lakes on our trip. 

Llyn Mwyngil

We had planned to hike The Minffordd Path as this offers the chance to swim in the stunning Llyn Cau and hike to the Penygader peak. However, with it getting later and us over estimating how much we could do in one day, we decided to head to Llyn Mwyngil for our last stop of the day. Llyn Cau is definitely on the list for next time though!

Llyn Mwyngil is a very charming lake situated in a stunning valley with 360 degree views of the surrounding hills and mountains. It’s an easy place to have a swim, and there is a local pub where we ended the day with a nice cold drink. 

Rhiwagor Waterfall

On Saturday morning we continued exploring the hidden gems in Snowdonia and headed to Rhiwagor Waterfall. We again aimed to arrive early to beat the crowds. Maybe it’s because it was a Saturday or maybe this spot is better known but it did start to get busier as we were leaving around 10:00am. However, it was still very quiet and peaceful compared to a lot of waterfalls we’ve seen around the world. 

There is a free car park, and from there you have around a 20 minute walk to reach the bottom of the waterfall. Rhiwagor Waterfall, like everywhere we had seen yesterday, was also stunning. You can walk up the waterfall quite far and find a little pool to swim in and cool down. It was the perfect way to start our second day! 

Llyn Vyrnwy

The majority of the afternoon was spent around Llyn Vyrnwy which had so much to do! It was the busiest place we visited, but we understood why as it was so well done and offered so much. It is a great option for families with younger children where you could easily spend a full day. 

We enjoyed a small hike to the Giant’s Hand of Vyrnwy, stopping off at a small waterfall in the woods. We also enjoyed seeing The Vyrnwy Tower and exploring around The Dam. There are also options to rent boats, swim, and plenty of activities and hikes. We had some lunch at a scenic spot overlooking the lake before spending the afternoon lying in the shade and having a well deserved rest! 

We did pay for parking here, but it was very affordable between £2 – £4 depending how long you stayed. There are toilets and a cafe near the car park. There is some free parking around the lake which we also used while exploring. 

Accommodation and Tips

Where to Stay

We stayed at Valley View Holiday Park which was a peaceful well maintained site, situated close by to many sights. We managed to get a very good deal on Airbnb for around £70 per night for a modern static caravan. Usually they would be around £100 a night which is still a great option. It allowed us to relax in the evenings and we had a good kitchen to prepare our own food to help keep costs down. 

There were many holiday parks throughout the region, and this would be our recommendation. However, you will also find some guest houses or hotels if this is more your thing!

Getting Around

Although we saw some buses between towns and villages, you are going to benefit massively by having your own car. Attractions were usually about a 30 to 60 minute drive away from each other and wouldn’t have been possible to reach without a car. Some roads were very narrow and steep, but overall were well maintained. Parking was easy, and often free or very affordable. 

Food and Drink

You won’t struggle to find cafes, pubs and small shops around. Many of the attractions had a small visitor centre or cafe which was very convenient. We did stock up in Welshpool with some snacks and water, making use of a cool box in our car. Lunch we mainly bought from smaller supermarkets on route such as The Co-op and Spar. In the evening we cooked at our accommodation. 

Costs

Being a budget conscious travel couple, we are always careful with our spending and we hate feeling ripped off while out and about. Good News! – We never felt ripped off on this whole trip. Nearly all the sights we saw were free, parking was very easy and affordable, and our accommodation was a great deal. For 3 nights, including accommodation, food, attractions and transport we spent around £350 as a couple. That’s a bargain for one of the best holidays we’ve ever been on together!

Final Thoughts

Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park exceeded our expectations so much. It had everything we could have imagined and we can’t wait to go back next year! It was so picturesque, peaceful, and affordable. We made so many memories, and really enjoyed swimming in the lakes and waterfalls. We hope this has inspired you and given you some ideas of things to do and hidden gems in Snowdonia ready for your own adventure. If you like the UK outdoors, we also have a useful guide on The Peak District.