A guidebook to 30 low-level and easy day walks in the northern part of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in Wales. All circular except for Walk 25, which makes use of the railway link between Porthmadog and Blaeneau Ffestiniog, the routes vary in length and terrain ensuring that there is something for walkers of all levels of fitness and experience.

The walks range from 4–22km (2–14 miles) in length and can be enjoyed in 2–7 hours, although most are at the shorter end of the scale. They are arranged geographically into 4 areas: the north coast and the lower Conwy valley, Betws y Coed and Gwydyr forest, Snowdon and the Ogwen valley, and  the Vale of Ffestiniog and the west.

• 1:25,000  or 1:50,000 OS maps for each walk
• Details given of terrain, refreshments and access for each walk
• Information given on local history, geology and wildlife
• GPX files available to download
• Part of a 2-volume set, an accompanying Cicerone guidebook Snowdonia: Low-level and Easy Walks – South is also available

Map key

Overview map

Route summary table

Introduction

The walks

Landscape

History

Wildlife

When to go

Getting there

Accommodation

What to take

The Countryside Code

Maps and GPS

Understanding Welsh placenames

Safety

Using this guide

The North Coast and Lower Conwy Valley

Walk 1 Conwy Mountain/Mynydd y Dref

Walk 2 The Druid’s Circle/Meini Hirion

Walk 3 Aber Falls/Rhaeadr Fawr

Walk 4 Craig y Dulyn

Walk 5 Trefriw

Betws y Coed and Gwydyr Forest

Walk 6 Gwydyr Forest

Walk 7 The Fairy Glen and Conwy Falls

Walk 8 Pont Gethin

Walk 9 Dolwyddelan

Walk 10 Lledr and Llugwy

Walk 11 Crafnant and Geirionydd

Snowdon and the Ogwen Valley

Walk 12 Capel Curig

Walk 13 Cwm Idwal

Walk 14 Bethesda and Penrhyn

Walk 15 Cwm Pen-Llafar

Walk 16 Moel y Ci

Walk 17 Llanberis and Dolbadarn

Walk 18 Llyn Padarn

Walk 19 The Miners’ Track

Walk 20 Cwm Llan

Walk 21 Beddgelert to Pen-y-Gwryd

The Vale of Ffestiniog and the West

Walk 22 Nanmor and Aberglaslyn

Walk 23 Cwm Croesor

Walk 24 Blaenau Ffestiniog

Walk 25 The Vale of Ffestiniog

Walk 26 Coed Llyn y Garnedd

Walk 27 Coed Felinrhyd

Walk 28 Cwm Pennant

Walk 29 Tremadog

Walk 30 Moel-y-Gest

Appendix A Useful contacts

Seasons

Most of these routes can be walked at any time of year. If there is ice on the ground some of the higher routes should be treated with care.

Centres

Conwy, Betws-y-Coed, Llanberis, Bethesda, Beddgelert, Capel Curig, Porthmadog, Dolwyddelan, Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Difficulty

The routes are easy to moderate; there are all lengths from 1½ hours to a full day out, but all are low-level and nearly all are on clear paths or tracks. There is no grading system, but notes on length, ascent, projected time and terrain are given.

Must See

Valleys - Cwm Idwal, Conwy Valley, Nant Gwynant, Fairy Glen, Vale of Ffestiniog Waterfalls - Conwy Falls, Aber Falls, Swallow Falls, Pass of Aberglaslyn Lakes - Llyn Padarn, Llyn Dinas, Llyn Gwynant, Llyn Llydaw, Llyn Crafnant Historical sites - Neolithic settlements, Iron Age Forts, Dolwyddelan Castle, Dolbadarn Castle, Conwy Castle, copper mines, slate quarries Other features - Sarn Helen Roman Road, Gelert's Grave, Taliesin's Birthplace, sites from the Mabinogion, River Conwy

January 2022

Fairy gorge price

January 2020

Walk 6

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