Lovely little Beddgelert (meaning the grave of Gelert) is a quaint Welsh village, made up of stone buildings, purple heather hills and the weaving River Glaslyn. Its name is said to refer to an old wive's tale (or should that be dog's tale) regarding Llywelyn the Great, who believed his hound Gelert had savaged his baby boy. Llywelyn attacked the dog, and it soon fell to the ground gravely injured. However, moments later he heard a cry and stumbled through bushes to find his son snug in his cradle. Today, the 'grave' of Gelert is a popular tourist attraction, reached by one of the numerous riverside trails of the stunning Snowdonia National Park.
Situated in the heart of Wales’ very first National Park (established in 1951), Beddgelert is a charming, isolated campsite in a region brimming with dramatic foothills and lush forests. This unadorned site certainly harks back to traditional camping from days gone by. You’ll find nothing fancy or flash here; pitches are large, flat and well laid out, whilst ablution facilities (showers, toilets and washbasins) are on the basic side but more than adequate. The site's friendly and informative wardens can be seen wandering the dense forest, and advise all campers to pack rock pegs, especially in the summer months.
Snowdonia National Park is Wales' most notable (and most frequented) chunk of nature, with around 350,000 visitors choosing to climb, walk or ride the train to the summit each year. However there’s plenty more to discover than just Snowdon. Spanning almost 40 miles east to west and over 50 miles north to south, it covers sandy beaches, craggy cliff tops and glorious estuaries. Thankfully, Beddgelert is located slap bang in the middle of this natural nirvana.
In these chaotic urban days, with alarm clocks beeping, computers glaring and headphones thumping, it may well be a blessing in disguise that there’s no mobile phone coverage at Beddgelert. So why not take the opportunity to leave the modern world behind and escape to Snowdonia National Park, to camp by a serene stream and fairytale forest. Sounds tempting, right?
Sygun Copper Mine (01766 890595) is a fabulous family attraction situated in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park, a 5 minute drive from Beddgelert. Take an audio visual tour and explore the winding tunnels and large chambers. Special lighting and sound effects help provide a realistic glimpse into the past of the underground world of the Victorian miner.
Above ground, ride the Snowdon Mountain Railway (0844 493 8120), a mountain top journey to the summit of Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales. Or, alternatively, take on the challenge of climbing it instead. For those after something less strenuous, mosey along the A498 leading to two of Wales’ most beautiful lakes, Llyn Gwynant and Llyn Dinas, both providing excellent walking routes. If you fancy a round of golf whilst staying at Beddgelert, there are a number of golf courses within easy reach of the inn, including the famous Royal St. David’s Club (01766 780361) at Harlech.
Hebog Eat (01766 890400) is just down in Beddgelert Village and offers fresh and as local as can be! Serving local mussels ( in season ) welsh lamb ciabattas, homemade fish cakes, freshly filled baguettes, home baked ham with eggs, chefs Chicken Korma, homemade faggots over creamed mash and mint gravy. You'll need to book a table though, it;s very popular.
