Caravan parks near the beach in Betws-y-Coed

The first railway stop in Eyri (Snowdonia) National Park south from Conwy is the important park gateway village of Betws-y-Coed. The “prayer house in the woods,” as the village name translates from Welsh, is made up of a bunch of grey Victorian houses at the confluence of rivers Conwy and Llugwy, but the surrounding area is the most popular part of Snowdonia for camping. Despite being small, Betws-y-Coed has become a big outdoor hub, with the long-distance Snowdonia Slate Trail passing through and Zip World Fforest offering ziplines and other woodland adrenaline rushes nearby. From its proximity to Mount Snowdon to its easy access to the Gwydyr Forest and the rest of the county, Betws y Coed is the perfect place to camp if you want to make the most of North Wales.

Top things to do in Betws-y-Coed

In Betws-y-Coed, there’s the Conwy Valley Railway Museum with its miniature railway.
If you fancy a ride on a full-sized railway, there are plenty to choose from. Try the scenic Snowdon Mountain Railway, which chugs away from Llanberis (16 miles away), or the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway, which sets off from Blaenau Ffestiniog, 11 miles south of Betws-y-Coed.
The Swallow Falls cascade on the River Llugwy can be reached on foot from town.
Just a few miles south of town is the Gwydyr Forest Park, but if walking among the trees is too tame, head instead for another of the area’s most-visited attractions, Zip World Fforest.

Where to go

Eyri (Snowdonia) National Park

Snowdonia National Park is home to mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and forests—with some of the best of them in this northern part of the park. The best way to explore is often under your own steam by walking, cycling, climbing, or kayaking. The options are almost limitless, and the Snowdonia National Park Authority’s information centre in Betws-y-Coed is a good place to learn about the available adventures. Top of the list for many campers is hiking Wales’ highest mountain, the 1,085-metre Snowdon. From Betws-y-Coed and the campsites around it, the most logical place to begin an ascent is the Pen-y-Pass car park. Two well-trodden routes to the top start here: The Miner’s Track and The Pyg Track.

Dyffryn Conwy

Meandering north from Betws-y-Coed toward castle-crowned Conwy is Dyffryn Conwy, the verdant valley the River Conwy carves out. This wood-carpeted area promises excellent campsites at pretty spots like Caerhun and Trefriw, while Snowdonia (Eyri) National Park’s big peaks dominate off to the west. Active highlights include scenic walking, the world’s only artificial lagoon surfing at Adventure Parc Snowdonia, and the woodland adrenaline rushes at Zip World Fforest.

The Glyderau

Ten miles northwest of Betws-y-Coed, Snowdonia’s most drama-charged mountain range (yes, more so than the Snowdon massif) rears up. The Glyderau, and especially the mountain chain’s eastern peaks of Glyder Fach and Tryfan, are picturesquely packed with striking rock formations with top-notch climbing, scrambling and hillwalking. Gain good access from Llyn Ogwen, 10 miles northwest of Betws-y-Coed.

Blaenau Ffestiniog

A 30-minute railway ride or an 11-mile drive southwest of Betws-y-Coed, this once-deprived ex-slate mining town is now a sterling adventure sports destination. Old slate quarries have become some of Europe’s most iconic zip lines and phenomenal downhill mountain biking routes. You can also tour the fascinating Llechwedd Slate Caverns—the town’s only campsite is on the road to the caverns.

When to go

It often rains in Betws-y-Coed, though April through July are the driest months, with around three inches of rain on average. The Betws-y-Coed camping season lasts from Easter to the end of September, but given hillwalking and climbing are best done dry, April and May—before the July/August high season—make for the best overall time to go camping.