On Central Trinity, Snowdon
Activities
Climbing
Snowdonia is one of the best climbing areas in the UK and is well worth a visit. First of all though, a word of caution: almost all of the climbing is multi-pitch and much of it is in a mountainous environment. With that said, it's an excellent place no matter what grade you're operating at: the walk-ins are often short (with some notable exceptions!), the rock is mostly fantastic and protection is usually plentiful.
With the guidebooks to the areas forming a stack around 20cm high there's no lack of climbing. Classic areas are the Llanberis pass with crags such as Clogwyn y Grochan, Carreg Wastad, Dinas Cromlech and Dinas Mot. The Ogwen valley is home to crags like Idwal slabs and Milestone Buttress as well as a number of brilliant mountaineering crags with routes that take you right to the top of the mountains in this area, such as those on the East face of Tryfan.
Tremadog is the last of the 'big three' and is a bit of a contrast, sitting at sea-level near the town of Porthmadog. The climbing here is excellent, if a bit lacking in the Diff & VDiff range, but its big advantage is that it is often dry when the mountain crags are wet.
Walking & Scrambling
It almost goes without saying that Snowdonia also has some of the best walking & scrambling in the UK. Classic areas are Snowdon and the Horseshoe (including Crib Goch a superbly exposed Grade I ridge scramble), Ogwen Valley with Tryfan, the Glyders (Fach & Fawr) & Y Garn and the Carneddau ridge opposite.
Places To Stay
Camping
Dol Gam campsite in Capel Curig is an excellent spot next to the river, though it can get a bit midgy and does not permit dogs. Its 15 mins walk to the Tyn y Coed pub/hotel and 5 mins to Bryn Glo Café & B&B. It's also just a short drive to the Llanberis pass or Ogwen. No need to book.
Alternatively there are 2 campsites right next-door to each other in the hamlet of Nant Peris (within walking distance of the Llanberis pass crags). The sites are handily situated directly opposite the Vaynol Arms. No need to book.
In the Ogwen valley there is also the Gwern Gof Isaf campsite.
Bunkhouses
There are several bunkhouse options in this area. The IMC often uses Jesse James' bunkhouse near Llanberis and the more basic but brilliantly situated Gwern Gof Uchaf bunkhouse in Ogwen. This is not to be confused with the Gwern Gof Isaf bunkhouse/campsite just up the road which is a yet smaller and more basic affair!
There are a huge number of alternative options too including Pete's Eats in Llanberis and Eric Jones' Café at Tremadog.
Eating & Drinking
Capel Curig
15 mins walk from the Dol Gam campsite is the Tyn y Coed pub/hotel and 5 mins gets you to Bryn Glo Café & B&B. Also in Capel are Cobden's hotel and the Bryn Tyrch hotel - both good for food & beer but a bit more of a walk from the campsite.
Nant Peris
There's not much at Nant Peris but it does have the one important thing - a pub! The Vaynol Arms serves good food and beer and is a real climber's pub too.
Pete's Eats
Elsewhere
Snowdonia is home to two of the climbing world's most iconic caffs.
Pete's Eats is in Llanberis and serves everything from a pint of tea to a slap-up evening meal. Good value, large portions and plenty of veggie options are the order of the day. The walls are well covered with climbing photos and memorabilia and it's often home to local climbing stars and ex-stars.
Eric Jones' Cafe
Handily situated at the foot of Tremadog Crag is Eric Jones' Café. Get a cup of tea from the tall, elderly, quietly spoken chap behind the counter and then look closely at the photos on the wall of base-jumping off various insane things - look familiar? That's only half his story too as Eric has a climbing CV as long as your arm including a solo (yikes!) of the North Face of the Eiger.
Weather
See Snowdonia on our weather page
Shopping
Llanberis is the main centre for climbing gear shopping with Joe Brown's and V12 Outdoor.
Joe Brown also has an outlet behind the pinnacle Café in Capel Curig.
Betws y Coed has the widest range of general outdoor shops and there are often bargains to be had in the Cotswold 'Rockbottom' shop at the East end of the village