Photo of Aber Falls, a waterfall near Rowen in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Aber Falls© Brian Deegan / Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Places to explore near Betws-y-Coed

Set where the Llugwy and Lledr join the Conwy deep in Eryri, Betws-y-Coed became a Victorian resort once the railway and Telford's cast-iron Waterloo Bridge brought visitors to its wooded gorges. The Gwydyr Forest wraps the village in oak and conifer. Water is everywhere. Swallow Falls tumbles above the town, and Conwy Falls and the mossy ravine of Fairy Glen lie just downstream. The high ground is close too — the shapely cone of Moel Siabod and, beyond it, Tryfan and the Glyderau.

Betws-y-Coed sits inside the Eryri National Park. 106 places within 25 km — the standouts first, nearest first within each group. 10 are national icons.

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Worth the tripnational icons and local highlights within reach

Photo of Betws-y-Coed, a village in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Betws-y-Coed

Grey-stone village at the confluence of three rivers, long the gateway to Eryri and a 19th-century artists' colony.

0.1 km E · Conwy

Photo of Fforest Coaster, a visitor attraction near Betws-y-Coed in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Fforest Coaster

Attraction near Betws-y-Coed

Britain's longest alpine coaster, a self-braked toboggan on rails that winds a kilometre down through the conifers above Betws-y-Coed.

1.5 km NE

Photo of Fairy Glen, a gorge near Betws-y-Coed in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Fairy Glen

Gorge near Betws-y-Coed

A narrow tree-hung ravine on the Afon Conwy near Betws-y-Coed, reached by a short riverside path.

2.3 km S

Photo of Swallow Falls (Rhaeadr Ewynnol), a waterfall near Betws-y-Coed in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Swallow Falls (Rhaeadr Ewynnol)

Waterfall near Betws-y-Coed

Series of cascades on the Afon Llugwy west of Betws-y-Coed, one of the most-visited falls in Eryri.

3.2 km W

Photo of Conwy Falls, a waterfall near Betws-y-Coed in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Conwy Falls

Waterfall near Betws-y-Coed

Wooded falls where the Afon Conwy drops through a rocky gorge near Betws-y-Coed, with a fish pass.

3.4 km SE

Photo of Tŷ Hyll (The Ugly House), a landmark near Capel Curig in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Tŷ Hyll (The Ugly House)

Landmark near Capel Curig

A rough boulder-built cottage on the A5 near Capel Curig, with a garden run by the Snowdonia Society.

4 km W

Photo of Pont Fawr (Inigo Jones Bridge), a landmark near Llanrwst, Conwy, north Wales.

Pont Fawr (Inigo Jones Bridge)

Landmark near Llanrwst

A narrow three-arched 17th-century stone bridge over the Conwy at Llanrwst, beside Tu Hwnt i'r Bont.

5 km N

Photo of Llanrwst, a village in Conwy, north Wales.

Llanrwst

Conwy Valley market town with an Inigo Jones bridge, the Gwydir Chapel and the tiny riverside Tu Hwnt i'r Bont.

5 km N · Conwy

Photo of Llyn Geirionydd, a lake near Trefriw in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Llyn Geirionydd

Llyn near Trefriw

A lake in the Gwydir Forest above Trefriw, one of the few in Eryri allowing powered watersports.

5.1 km NW

Photo of Llyn Crafnant, a lake near Trefriw in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Llyn Crafnant

Llyn near Trefriw

A wooded reservoir lake in a side valley above Trefriw, a quiet walking and fishing spot.

6.4 km NW

Photo of Dolwyddelan, a village in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Dolwyddelan

Village on the Afon Lledr beneath Moel Siabod, with the remains of the castle said to be the birthplace of Llywelyn the Great.

8.3 km SW · Conwy

Photo of Llynnau Mymbyr, a lake near Capel Curig in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Llynnau Mymbyr

Llyn near Capel Curig

Twin lakes at Capel Curig giving one of the classic reflected views of the Snowdon Horseshoe.

8.9 km W

Photo: Pen Llithrig y Wrach, a 799m hill near Capel Curig in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Pen Llithrig y Wrach

Hewitt · Nuttall near Capel Curig

Vast rounded high plateau with wild ponies.

9.7 km NW

Photo along the Cambrian Way, a 298-mile long-distance path running from Cardiff to Conwy, Wales.

Cambrian Way

Long-distance path

The mountain connoisseur's route over the roof of Wales — Cardiff to Conwy by way of the Bannau, the Cambrian wilderness and Eryri.

12.8 km W · spans 9 counties

Photo: Tryfan, a 918m hill near Capel Curig in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Tryfan

Hewitt · Nuttall near Capel Curig

Iconic scramble with the Adam and Eve summit stones.

13.3 km W

Photo of Llechwedd Slate Caverns, a visitor attraction near Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Llechwedd Slate Caverns

Attraction near Blaenau Ffestiniog

A deep-mine tour and Zip World adventure site in the slate landscape at Blaenau Ffestiniog.

13.4 km SW

Photo of Nant Ffrancon Pass, a landmark near Capel Curig in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Nant Ffrancon Pass

Landmark near Capel Curig

A classic U-shaped glacial valley carrying the A5 from Ogwen down towards Bethesda.

13.5 km NW

Photo: Carnedd Llewelyn, a 1,062m hill near Capel Curig in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Carnedd Llewelyn

Hewitt · Nuttall near Capel Curig

The high point of the Carneddau and, after Yr Wyddfa, one of the highest mountains in Wales

13.6 km NW

Photo of The Cantilever Stone, a rock formation near Capel Curig in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

The Cantilever Stone

Rock formation near Capel Curig

A large flat slab balanced across boulders on the summit plateau of Glyder Fach.

13.7 km W

Photo of Llyn Ogwen, a lake near Capel Curig in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Llyn Ogwen

Llyn near Capel Curig

Legend holds that Excalibur lies in this shallow lake in the Ogwen valley, beneath Tryfan and the Glyderau.

13.7 km W

Photo: Glyder Fach, a 994m hill near Capel Curig in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Glyder Fach

Hewitt · Nuttall near Capel Curig

A 994-metre summit of shattered rock, home to the jutting Cantilever Stone.

13.9 km W

Photo: Castell y Gwynt, a 972m hill near Capel Curig in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Castell y Gwynt

Nuttall near Capel Curig

A shattered rock tor on the Glyderau ridge whose Welsh name means "castle of the winds"

14.1 km W

Photo: Foel Grach, a 975m hill near Capel Curig in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Foel Grach

Hewitt · Nuttall near Capel Curig

A remote top on the high Carneddau plateau, best known for the little stone refuge just below its summit

14.1 km NW

Photo: Carnedd Dafydd, a 1,045m hill near Capel Curig in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Carnedd Dafydd

Hewitt · Nuttall near Capel Curig

A big grassy summit in the Carneddau, the broad northern range of Eryri, usually climbed on the round above Ogwen

14.6 km NW

Photo of Llanberis Pass, a landmark near Capel Curig in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Llanberis Pass

Landmark near Capel Curig

A steep glacial pass carrying the A4086 over Pen-y-Pass between the Snowdon massif and the Glyderau.

14.7 km W

Photo: Yr Elen, a 963m hill near Capel Curig in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Yr Elen

Hewitt · Nuttall near Capel Curig

A shapely spur off Carnedd Llewelyn in the northern Carneddau, with a steep face above a hidden mountain lake

14.8 km NW

Photo: Pen yr Ole Wen, a 979m hill near Capel Curig in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Pen yr Ole Wen

Hewitt · Nuttall near Capel Curig

The steep southern start of the Carneddau, rising straight up from Llyn Ogwen in Eryri

14.8 km W

Photo: Glyder Fawr, a 1,001m hill near Llanberis in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Glyder Fawr

Hewitt · Nuttall near Llanberis

Shattered rock plateau, Castell y Gwynt, Cantilever Stone.

15.2 km W

Photo of Llyn Idwal, a lake near Llanberis in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Llyn Idwal

Llyn near Llanberis

Wales's first nature reserve, this cwm lake in the Glyderau is cradled beneath the cliffs of the Devil's Kitchen.

15.2 km W

Photo of Go Below Underground Adventures, a visitor attraction near Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Go Below Underground Adventures

Attraction near Blaenau Ffestiniog

Guided adventure trips through old slate mine workings at Cwmorthin, with zip lines, abseils and boat crossings deep underground.

15.4 km SW

Photo of Bodnant Garden, a house & garden near Rowen, Conwy, north Wales.

Bodnant Garden

House & garden near Rowen

Terraced garden with its famous laburnum arch.

15.5 km N

Photo of Cwm Idwal and Devil's Kitchen, a rock formation near Llanberis in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Cwm Idwal and Devil's Kitchen

Rock formation near Llanberis

A glacial cwm below the Glyderau with the dark cleft of Twll Du (Devil's Kitchen) above Llyn Idwal.

15.5 km W

Photo: Y Garn (Glyderau), a 946m hill near Llanberis in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Y Garn (Glyderau)

Hewitt · Nuttall near Llanberis

A Glyderau peak above the Nant Ffrancon.

16.6 km W

Photo: Crib Goch, a 924m hill near Llanberis in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Crib Goch

Hewitt · Nuttall near Llanberis

Notorious knife-edge arête on the Snowdon Horseshoe.

17 km W

Photo: Cnicht, a 691m hill near Blaenau Ffestiniog in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Cnicht

Hewitt · Nuttall near Blaenau Ffestiniog

Pointed peak nicknamed the Welsh Matterhorn.

17.8 km SW

Photo: Crib y Ddysgl, a 1,065m hill near Llanberis in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Crib y Ddysgl

Hewitt · Nuttall near Llanberis

The second-highest summit in Wales, a rocky high point on the Snowdon horseshoe just north of Yr Wyddfa

18.3 km W

Photo of Aber Falls, a waterfall near Rowen in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Aber Falls

Waterfall near Rowen

Rhaeadr Fawr in Welsh — a 120-foot curtain off the northern Carneddau, an easy two-mile valley walk from Abergwyngregyn.

18.4 km NW

Photo: Yr Wyddfa, a 1,085m hill near Beddgelert in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Yr Wyddfa

Hewitt · Nuttall near Beddgelert

The highest peak in Wales, heart of Eryri.

18.5 km W

Photo of Penrhyn Quarry, a landmark near Llanberis, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Penrhyn Quarry

Landmark near Llanberis

A huge working and historic slate quarry at Bethesda, part of the UNESCO Slate Landscape and home to Zip World Velocity.

19 km NW

Photo along the Wales Coast Path, an 870-mile long-distance path running from Chepstow to Queensferry, Wales.

Wales Coast Path

Long-distance path

Walk the outline of a whole nation — 870 miles of cliff, estuary and beach from Chepstow round to Queensferry.

19.5 km N · spans 16 counties

Photo of Snowdon Mountain Railway, a visitor attraction near Llanberis in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Snowdon Mountain Railway

Attraction near Llanberis

A rack-and-pinion railway climbing from Llanberis to the summit of Yr Wyddfa, the only one of its kind in Britain.

20.2 km W

Photo of Dinorwig Quarry, a landmark near Llanberis, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Dinorwig Quarry

Landmark near Llanberis

Vast abandoned slate terraces above Llanberis, part of the UNESCO Slate Landscape World Heritage Site.

20.2 km W

Photo of Sygun Copper Mine, a cave near Beddgelert in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Sygun Copper Mine

Cave near Beddgelert

A restored Victorian copper mine near Beddgelert offering audio-visual tours through its chambers and formations.

20.4 km SW

Photo of Conwy Castle, a ruined castle in Conwy, north Wales.

Conwy Castle

Castle near Conwy

Eight-towered castle above a walled medieval town.

21 km N

Photo of Conwy, a village in Conwy, north Wales.

Conwy

Walled medieval town at the mouth of the Conwy river, ringed by intact town walls beneath its castle.

21 km N · Conwy

Photo of Castell Dolbadarn, a ruined castle near Llanberis, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Castell Dolbadarn

Castle near Llanberis

A round-towered Welsh castle above Llanberis.

21.1 km W

Photo of National Slate Museum, a visitor attraction near Llanberis, Gwynedd, north Wales.

National Slate Museum

Attraction near Llanberis

The former Dinorwig quarry workshops at Llanberis, preserved as a museum of the Welsh slate industry.

21.1 km W

Photo of Beddgelert, a village in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Beddgelert

Stone-cottage village at the meeting of the Glaslyn and Colwyn rivers, at the foot of Yr Wyddfa and above the Aberglaslyn Pass.

22 km SW · Gwynedd

Photo of Llanberis, a village in Gwynedd, north Wales.

Llanberis

Slate village between Llyn Padarn and the flank of Yr Wyddfa, base for the Snowdon Mountain Railway and the National Slate Museum.

22 km W · Gwynedd

Photo of Gelert's Grave, a landmark near Beddgelert in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Gelert's Grave

Landmark near Beddgelert

A riverside memorial at Beddgelert to the legendary faithful hound Gelert, in a meadow below the village.

22.1 km SW

Photo of Llyn Padarn, a lake near Llanberis, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Llyn Padarn

Llyn near Llanberis

At Llanberis below Snowdon, a lakeside steam railway runs beside this glacial lake, overlooked by Dolbadarn Castle.

22.5 km W

Photo of Aberglaslyn Pass, a gorge near Beddgelert in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Aberglaslyn Pass

Gorge near Beddgelert

A wooded gorge south of Beddgelert where the Afon Glaslyn tumbles through, followed by the Fisherman's Path.

23.3 km SW

Photo of Penrhyn Castle, a castle near Bangor, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Penrhyn Castle

Castle near Bangor

Vast neo-Norman fantasy castle by the sea.

24.3 km NW

Also nearbygood places nearby, nearest first

Photo along the Snowdonia Slate Trail, an 83-mile long-distance path in north Wales.

Snowdonia Slate Trail

Long-distance path

A circuit of Eryri's slate country from Bangor — quarry villages, inclines and mountain passes in the landscape that roofed the world.

0.1 km SE · Gwynedd & Conwy

Photo of Royal Oak Hotel, a pub near Betws-y-Coed in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Royal Oak Hotel

Pub near Betws-y-Coed

Former coaching inn in the centre of Betws-y-Coed with a stables-bar and grill.

0.1 km W

Capel Garmon Chambered Tomb

Chambered tomb near Betws-y-Coed

A Neolithic chambered tomb in Conwy.

3.2 km SE

Photo of Ty Mawr Wybrnant, a house & garden near Penmachno in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

Ty Mawr Wybrnant

House & garden near Penmachno

A National Trust place in Conwy.

4.5 km SW

Photo of Gwydir Castle Gardens, a garden near Llanrwst, Conwy, north Wales.

Gwydir Castle Gardens

Garden near Llanrwst

Restored Tudor gardens around a 16th-century courtyard house at Llanrwst, with yew arches, a cedar terrace and roaming peacocks.

4.5 km N

Photo of Tu Hwnt i'r Bont, Llanrwst, a sight in Conwy, north Wales.

Tu Hwnt i'r Bont, Llanrwst

Sight near Llanrwst

A 15th-century stone cottage beside Llanrwst's old bridge, wrapped in Virginia creeper that turns deep red in autumn

5 km N

Photo of St Grwst's Church, a church near Llanrwst, Conwy, north Wales.

St Grwst's Church

Church near Llanrwst

Fifteenth-century church at Llanrwst with a carved rood screen and the adjoining Gwydir Chapel holding a stone coffin of Llywelyn the Great.

5.1 km N

Blas ar Fwyd

Farm & farm shop near Llanrwst

Welsh-produce delicatessen and food shop in the Conwy Valley town of Llanrwst.

5.3 km N

Photo of St Rhychwyn's Church, a church near Llanrhychwyn in Eryri, Conwy, north Wales.

St Rhychwyn's Church

Church near Llanrhychwyn

Reputedly the oldest church in Snowdonia, set high above Trefriw at Llanrhychwyn, the hill chapel of Llywelyn the Great.

5.5 km N

Everything else within 25 km (44) — reserves, earthworks & places to check before travelling

TrefriwVillage6.8 km N
Capel CurigVillage7.6 km W
Castell DolwyddelanCastle8.3 km SW
Llyn CowlydLlyn8.9 km NW
Moel SiabodHewitt9.1 km W
St Winifred's Church, GwytherinChurch9.6 km NE
Llyn AlwenLlyn10.3 km E
Cadair Ifan GochCountry estate10.3 km N
Llyn ConwyLlyn10.4 km S
Adventure Parc SnowdoniaAttraction10.5 km N
Llyn EigiauLlyn10.9 km NW
Gallt yr OgofHewitt11.1 km W
Ysbyty EstateCountry estate11.4 km S
Pen yr Helgi DuHewitt11.6 km NW
Y Foel GochHewitt11.7 km W
Craig EigiauNuttall12 km NW
Llyn AledLlyn12.4 km E
Dyffryn MymbyrCountry estate12.5 km W
Pen y GwrydCountry estate13.3 km W
Pen-y-Gwryd HotelPub13.4 km W
Llyn BochlwydLlyn14.2 km W
Blaenau FfestiniogVillage14.2 km SW
Hafod LwyfogCountry estate14.6 km W
St Michael's Old ChurchChurch0.2 km E
Tŷ Gwyn HotelPub1 km SE
Bryn-y-Gefeiliau Roman SiteRoman archaeological siteaccess unclear4.9 km W
PenmachnoVillage6 km S
Tŷn-y-Coed InnPub6.2 km W
The Old Ship (Yr Hen Long)Pub6.8 km N
Bryn Tyrch InnPub7.1 km W
CraiglwynNuttall7.7 km NW
Creigiau GleisionHewitt8.2 km NW
Creigiau Gleision North TopHewitt8.3 km NW
Aberconwy AbbeySite of a former abbeyaccess unclear9.2 km N
Moel PenamnenHewitt11.2 km SW
Mwdwl-eithinMarilyn12.5 km E
Manod Mawr North TopHewitt12.6 km SW
Carnedd Llechwedd-llyfnNuttall13.6 km SE
Manod MawrHewittaccess unclear13.7 km SW
Waun Garnedd-y-FiliastNuttall13.8 km SE
Carnedd y Filiast (Gwynedd, 669m)Hewitt14.1 km SE
Kanovium Roman SiteRoman archaeological siteaccess unclear14.1 km N
Pen y CastellNuttall14.3 km NW
Allt-fawrHewitt14.4 km SW

Ordered by how far each place is worth travelling for, then by distance. Distances are straight-line to the nearest edge of each place — paths wind, of course.