A lot of towns stationed at the summit of Wales' mightiest mountain audaciously proclaim themselves 'the gateway to Snowdon'. But Llanberis has more of a claim than most. Sat on the north-west edge of the Snowdonia National Park, this small town on the southern bank of the Lyn Padarn lake is the unofficial adventure capital of Wales. It's proximity to the epic peaks of Snowdonia make it a popular transit point for hikers and bikers looking to explore Wales' largest national park. It's also the departure point for the 117 year old Snowdonia Mountain Railway.
Set some 650 feet above sea level, the vast Hafod Lydan farm plays host to the Davies family's stunning tents-only campsite. Camping in Llanberis is a refreshingly back-to-basics experience. There's no set pitches, so you're free to find your own corner on either of the sprawling top and lower fields. Toilets are immaculately clean and the coin-operated, enviro-friendly showers promise hot water. There's also the welcome addition of a drying room (with tumble dryer) – a life-saver for the often inclement mountain weather.
This is a real, traditional working farm so campers will be able to savour a true taste of the countryside (quite literally in the case of the fresh free-range eggs you can enjoy for breakfast courtesy of the resident hens). Ask friendly matriarch Fiona if you can muck in with the sheep-shearing in the summer and lambing in the spring.
The walking access from the site is unparalleled, with the Llanberis path taking you a quarter way up the summit a mere 20 minutes after setting off. The panoramic views over Elidir and her sister summits Y Garn and Glyderau are breathtaking. If you want to avoid the hordes of hikers, Fiona knows some of the quieter spots such as the Ceunant Mawr waterfall, the secluded Llyn Cwm Dwythwch lake, or the spookily derelict farmstead of Maen-llwyd-isaf en route to Moel Eilio.