At a glance
The most picturesque village in Snowdonia — Aberglaslyn Pass gorge walks, Gelert's Grave, Welsh Highland Railway stop, and mountain cafés in the heart of Eryri. 8 miles from Llanberis. LL55 4YD.
About Beddgelert
Beddgelert (literally "the grave of Gelert") sits at the confluence of the Glaslyn and Colwyn rivers deep in Eryri National Park — a village of stone cottages, a medieval bridge, and mountain peaks rising steeply on every side. It is consistently described as the most picturesque village in Snowdonia, and the description is deserved: the combination of river, bridge, woodland, and mountain that surrounds it on a clear morning is one of the finest small-scale landscapes in Wales.
The village has three specific attractions to complement its scenic setting. Gelert's Grave — the supposed burial site of a legendary faithful hound killed by accident — is 5 minutes' walk through a riverside meadow. The Aberglaslyn Pass, a dramatic oak-wooded gorge where the Glaslyn forces through a narrow rock gap, begins 1 mile south and is followed by a fine footpath through the gorge to Nantmor. The Welsh Highland Railway — rebuilt from dereliction and now running the full 25 miles from Caernarfon to Porthmadog — calls at a halt in the village, making it accessible without a car for those doing the railway journey.
Beddgelert is 8 miles from Llanberis (the base for the Snowdon Mountain Railway) via the A4085, and 12 miles from Porthmadog. Llyn Gwynant — a beautiful wild swimming lake — is 4 miles north-east. Fairy Glen gorge and plunge pool is 3 miles. The village has several cafés and a National Trust car park.
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Frequently asked questions
Beddgelert is primarily a base for walking and exploring southern Snowdonia, but the village itself has several attractions. Gelert's Grave — the supposed burial site of Prince Llywelyn's faithful hound, killed by accident in a famous Welsh legend — is a 5-minute walk from the village centre. The Aberglaslyn Pass, a dramatic gorge walk along the River Glaslyn south of the village, is one of the finest short walks in Snowdonia. The Welsh Highland Railway stops in the village, linking Caernarfon (23 miles north) with Porthmadog (12 miles south). Mountain cafés and independent shops make the village a pleasant base in any weather.
The legend tells of Gelert, the faithful hound of the 13th-century Welsh prince Llywelyn the Great. Returning from a hunt, Llywelyn found his infant son's cradle overturned and Gelert covered in blood. Assuming the dog had killed the child, he slew it — and then discovered his son alive and unharmed beneath the cradle, beside the body of a wolf that Gelert had killed to protect the boy. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt, Llywelyn buried Gelert with honour. The grave in the meadow below the village (bedd means "grave" in Welsh, hence "bedd Gelert") draws visitors who find the tale genuinely moving. The legend is believed to be an 18th-century invention by a local innkeeper seeking to attract visitors — but this knowledge does nothing to diminish it.
The Aberglaslyn Pass is a dramatic gorge carved by the River Glaslyn through a narrow rock gap south of Beddgelert. A footpath follows the river through the gorge for around 2 miles, passing through ancient oak woodland with the river rushing through boulders below. The path involves some scrambling over stepping stones and rocky sections but is manageable for most walkers in dry conditions. The gorge was formerly navigable — before the construction of the Cob at Porthmadog in 1811, tidal waters reached as far as Aberglaslyn. The Welsh Highland Railway also passes through the gorge on a ledge above the river.
Beddgelert is about 8 miles from Llanberis via the A4085 — the most direct road route to the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Rhyd Ddu, a starting point for the Rhyd Ddu path up Snowdon, is 5 miles north of Beddgelert; the Welsh Highland Railway calls there, making it possible to reach by train from the village. For those wanting to walk to Snowdon directly from Beddgelert, the Watkin Path starts approximately 4 miles north-east of the village at Nantgwynant — though this is a long and demanding route. The village's southern location makes it a better base for walking in the <span lang="cy">Glaslyn</span> valley and around <span lang="cy">Moel Hebog</span> than for Snowdon specifically.
The Aberglaslyn Pass (2 miles south, gorge and woodland) is the most popular walk directly from the village. The Gelert's Grave meadow loop (under 30 minutes, easy) is good for families. Moel Hebog — the mountain that towers above the village to the west — is a full-day route for experienced hill walkers. The riverside path north along the Glaslyn toward <span lang="cy">Llyn Dinas</span> is pleasant and gentler. For those with a car, the parking areas at Nantgwynant (4 miles north-east) open up walks to Llyn Gwynant, Llyn Dinas, and the Watkin Path.