Beddgelert

Beddgelert is situated among the mountains and lakes of Snowdonia, yet within easy reach of Porthmadog and Caernarfon, and within 45mins of our self-catering cottage here at Cae Garw.

Snowdon, the highest peak in England and Wales , dominates the skyline a few miles to the north of the village - the peak giving its name to the 845-square-mile Snowdonia National Park .

Beddgelert is actually Welsh for ‘Gelert's Grave' – and today the village is a major tourist attraction . A footpath along the bank of the Glaslyn river leads to Beddgelert's most famous legend - Gelert's Grave. Gelert, the faithful dog belonged to the medieval Welsh prince, Llywelyn the Great. In a tragic case of mistaken identity, Llywelyn returns from hunting to find his baby's cradle overturned, the baby missing and Gelert with blood around its mouth. Imagining that it has savaged the child, the prince kills the dog , before realizing that the baby was alive and well – and that the dog had saved the baby from attack by a wolf.

Beddgelert has the best scenery to be found in any part of the World. Aberglaslyn Pass, a narrow gorge that the Glaslyn river has carved through, has been named by the National Trust website as the Finest View in Britain – indeed the village itself is several times a winner of the Wales in Bloom competition. Closeby is the famous outdoors outlet, the home of ' Gelert ' products, which are sold worldwide.

The nearby Nant Gwynant valley has two lakes, Llyn Dinas and Llyn Gwynant which lie beneath Mount Snowdon and is popular with windsurfers and canoeists alike Rhyd-Ddu lying north of Beddgelert stands close to the picturesque lake of Llyn Cwellyn and has a popular path to the summit of Snowdon starting in the village.

The 'Save Snowdon' appeal in 1998 raised £3.65 million which was used to purchase the nearby Hafod y Llan estate and its flocks of Welsh Mountain ewes and Welsh Black Catle . The Watkin path is one of the most spectacular route from Hafod y Llan farm to Snowdon summit. Craflwyn Hall – also owned by the National Trusts is a 200 acre estate – with woodland walks close to waterfalls and streams, and a popular wedding venue.

Sygun Copper Mine – in the Gwynant valley is an outstanding family attraction. The self-guided audiovisual tours allow you to explore the old mines in complete safety. There are winding tunnels with large, colourful chambers, magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formations and copper ore veins which contain traces of gold, silver and other precious metals- a modern reminder of the 19th Century workings before closing in 1903.

The re-constructed Welsh Highland Railway runs a spectacular 19½ mile scenic journey from Caernarfon - climbing from sea level to over 650ft, crossing the flanks of Mount Snowdon, before zigzagging dramatically down the steep hillside to reach the village of Beddgelert and along the river to the magnificent Aberglaslyn Pass. Once completed - it will eventually reach Porthmadog.