Beddgelert is a charming little village in Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) with cute stone houses and a welcoming countryside feel. It’s an ideal spot to base yourself whilst you explore the wider national park, plus there are plenty of local activities to keep you occupied.
As a Welshman born and bred, I've spent many summers in the national park and usually stay near the village so I've put together this round-up of the best things to do in Beddgelert.
Where To Stay in Beddgelert
Ty Afon - River House - Just a 5-minute walk from the centre of Beddgelert, this country house has just 12 bedrooms, elegantly decorated and with an excellent breakfast buffet.
View more hotels or holiday cottages in Beddgelert
Where To Eat
- Y Bistro Yn Yr Hebog - A cosy family-run restaurant in the heart of the village with good food and an extensive wine list. If you're struggling to choose, you can't go wrong with their braised beef.
- Glaslyn - A great dog-friendly spot to grab a quick bite to eat after a day of hiking around Beddgelert. Their sundaes are out of this world.
1. Visit Gelert's Grave
The literal translation of the name Beddgelert from Welsh to English means ‘Gelert’s Grave’ so you won't be surprised to find that the #1 activity in the village is visiting Gelert’s Grave.
According to folklore, Gelert was the hound dog of Llewelyn the Great in the 13th Century. When Llewelyn returned home one day, he saw the cot of his infant and heir to the throne empty and full of blood.
Gelert the hound dog came running towards him with blood around his mouth, so Llewelyn assumed the worst and hastily cast his sword into the dog’s side.
Moments later, Llewelyn walked into the next room to find his heir alive and well. Next to him, on the floor was a dead wolf that had tried to eat the child, but had been slain by Gelert. Llewelyn swore never to kill again and the dog is buried in the centre of Beddgelert.
I've put together a handy guide to help you find Gelert's Grave and I'll also reveal the actual truth behind the story.
2. Get a selfie with Gelert
If seeing Gelert's Grave wasn’t enough, there’s also a life-size statue of Gelert the faithful hound dog that you can visit and get a photo with.
It’s made from copper and can be found in the ruins of an abandoned cottage. It's not far from the grave itself so it’s worth visiting them both at the same time.
You should be able to easily spot the cottage when you stand facing the grave or you can use this Google Maps pin.
3. Take an underground tour at Sygun Copper Mine
At Sygun Copper Mine, you can head underground into the caverns and tunnels of a former copper mine. It was abandoned in the early 1900s but since then stalagmites and stalactites have formed and it’s been renovated into a visitor attraction.
This is a self-guided tour so you don’t need to book ahead. The cost is £10 for adults and £7.50 for children with under 3’s going free. The tour lasts for around 40 minutes in total. There’s also a visitor centre where you can learn all about the copper mining industry in Snowdonia.
Remember that it can get pretty chilly underground so I recommend bringing something warm to wear, even on a hot day outside.
4. Hike the legendary Dinas Emrys Trail
As well as the tale of Gelert the Dog, there's another legendary story waiting to be discovered just outside of the village, the legendary Dinas Emrys Trail.
This is a walking trail through oak woodland and past two waterfalls to the summit of Dinas Emrys where you'll be rewarded with panoramic views of Llyn Dinas (Dinas Lake) and the Nantgwynant valley.
The trail has an interesting history and is part of the story of why Wales has a dragon on its flag.
According to legend, back in the 5th century, King Vortigern was trying to build a castle here. However, his workers and materials kept disappearing. Eventually, a young boy told him that there were two dragons at an underground lake beneath the hill.
This proved to be true and when Vortigern’s men found the dragons, one red and one white, they fought until the red dragon was victorious. Thankfully, the only dragon I saw was this elegantly carved dragon bench.
The trail begins at the National Trust Craflwyn and Beddgelert visitor centre just outside the village. There is free parking and a small exhibition that shares more background to the story (although few other facilities than this).
5. Cycle through Beddgelert Forest
As well as some great walking routes, Beddgelert Forest is also known for its mountain biking routes. There are two main trails through the forest:
- Bedwen trail – This short 6km trail encompasses the forest and lake, taking around 1-1.5 hours.
ㅤ - Dewen trail - A slightly longer 10km trail that is slightly more hilly than the Bedwen trail, it should take 1-2 hours depending upon your fitness.
The trails are through a forest so you’ll need a mountain bike, not a road bike.
If you don't have your own mountain bikes, you can hire them from 1085 Adventures which is located near the trails.
Bike hire starts at £25 for a half day or £35 for a full day and can be booked on their website where you'll also find more details about the trails in Beddgelert.
6. Walk along the Afon Glaslyn
One of the shorter walks in Beddgelert that’s suitable for all the family is the Gelert’s Grave circular walk which takes you past Gelert's grave and down the Afon Glaslyn (Glaslyn River).
If you stroll down the river from Beddgelert, after around 700m you’ll come across a footbridge next to a railway bridge where you can cross over and return on the opposite side of the river.
The route takes just 40 minutes from the middle of Beddgelert, you can see the full recommended route map here.
7. Take a day trip on the Ffestiniog Mountain Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a heritage railway line that runs through the national park and claims to be the world’s oldest narrow-gauge railway still in use today. Most of the services stop off in Beddgelert at the station which is a few minutes' walk from the centre of the village.
If you're beginning your journey in Beddgelert, I recommend boarding the Harbourmaster. This is a full-day experience that picks up in Beddgelert at 10.20am before travelling through the foothills of Snowdonia on the Ffestiniog Railway and joining the Welsh Highland Railway all the way to Caernarfon on the coast.
You’ll have two hours to explore Caernarfon before returning back to Beddgelert around 4pm. You can book a family return ticket with a table reservation for around £90. Note that this service only runs on Fridays and Saturdays, check their full timetables here.
8. Go kayaking or paddleboarding on Llyn Gwynant
Llyn Gwynant is a huge lake not far from Beddgelert where it’s possible to go kayaking, canoeing, or stand-up paddleboarding. You can hire equipment from Llyn Gwynant campsite with prices starting from £7 per hour. Find out more here.
It is possible to kayak or canoe down the river from Llyn Gwynant to Llyn Dinas. This is fairly easy but remember that if you rented a kayak, you’ll need to return it back to Llyn Gwynant after so you’ll need a way to transport it back. Experienced kayakers can continue down the river to Beddgelert although this is a grade 2 or 3.
9. Hike up Bryn Du for views over Beddgelert
You'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to hiking trails that begin in Beddgelert. In fact, I've put together a full guide to the best walks from Beddgelert.
One of the most rewarding walks is the Aberglaslyn, Bryn Du and Beddgelert walk which runs along the Afon Glaslyn but then continues up through ancient woodland to the summit of Bryn Du.
At the top of the hill, after a steep walk, you'll eventually reach the lookout tower that overlooks the Aberglasylyn Pass with the village of Beddgelert visible too. The small stone tower might have been used as a wartime lookout post or even as a watch tower as early as the 16th century 1.
This is a circular trail that returns to the village through open fields and along an old railway track. It took us 2hr30 in total.
10. Pick up some souvenirs from Beddgelert Woodcraft
If you want to get some gifts to take back home, then Beddgelert Woodcraft is the best place in the village (if not the entire national park) to get something.
Inside, you’ll find a huge range of handcrafted gifts. They are all sourced from Indonesia where the family have built connections with local craftspeople over their 40 years in business.
You can tell that each item has been expertly crafted because no two items are exactly identical. They have a wide variety of souvenirs from small puffin statues to traditional love spoons.
11. Go rock climbing at Lockwood’s Chimney
This is not an activity I tried myself, but I understand that Beddgelert is home to quite a well-known rock climbing route called Lockwoods Chimney, named after Arthur Lockwood who first completed the climb in 1908.
This is a crag in the mountains you can climb that’s half-cliff and half-cave. Although most of the climb is rated as easy difficulty, there is a severe section known as the ‘chimney’ so you’ll want to ensure you’re an expert or visit with a tour group.
You can find more information about this climb, including a trail map, over on Backpacker.com.
Related Questions
Is Beddgelert Worth Visiting?
Yes, Beddgelert is worth visiting and makes a great spot to base yourself for exploring Snowdonia. There are several attractions to visit such as Gelert’s grave and the Sygun Copper Mine, as well as some well-known walking routes that begin in the village itself.
What Is Beddgelert Famous For?
Beddgelert is most famous for the story of Gelert the dog, the trusted hound of Llewelyn the Great who was killed in haste by his owner. The village was also home to Alfred Bestal MBE who wrote and illustrated Ruper the Bear from 1935 to 1965.
Can You See Snowdon From Beddgelert?
No, although Beddgelert is in the foothills of the highest mountain in Wales, it’s not possible to see Snowdon from Beddgelert itself.
Published: 25 July 2022 · Last updated: 16 October 2023