3 Days in North Wales
I’ll be honest.
This wasn’t just a trip.
👉 I almost got stranded on a mountain
👉 I had to ask strangers for a lift.
👉 I ate a Subway with hair in it.
And still… I’d do it all over again
3
DAYS
3
HOTELS
1
MOUNTAIN SUMMIT
1
REGRETS
I went to North Wales with one goal: experience as much as possible in 3 days. No filler. No tourist traps. Just the real thing: adrenaline, mountains, history, and coastline. I loved every single day of it. I’d go back tomorrow.
But I’m also going to be honest with you. The Pyg Track on Snowdon nearly broke me. We got stranded at Llanberis with no bus, and I spent two and a half hours trying to hitchhike down a mountain in the snow and wind. A kind cute couple eventually rescued us. That couple, by the way, ended up recommending what became one of the best parts of Day 3.
This is that itinerary: real experiences, honest advice, and multiple options at every stage so you can build the version that suits you best.
Why I Travelled Late Night 🌙
I always choose between:
Reaching early morning
Or arriving late night
This time, I picked late night.
👉 Why?
Because I wanted to wake up fresh and start immediately
No wasted time. No tired exploring.
Manchester → Betws-y-Coed
Route:
Manchester → Llandudno Junction → Betws-y-Coed
I reached early at Llandudno Junction…
and had 3 hours before my next train.
Most people would wait.
I didn’t.
👉 I walked into Conwy instead.
Lesson:
The unplanned moments are always the best travel memories. Leave gaps in your itinerary.
Arrival Reality (Betws-y-Coed at Night)
A small village at the heart of Snowdonia. Your base here shapes everything — pick the vibe that matches your trip.
Reached at 9 PM.
And honestly?
👉 It felt almost dead
No crowd. No noise. Just a small village sitting in the middle of nature.
Good thing I had already booked my stay.
Glan Aber Hotel
A warm, characterful hotel right in the village. Classic Welsh country house interiors — proper armchairs, old fireplaces, the kind of room that makes you feel like you’ve arrived somewhere. I reached at 9pm to find the village almost completely quiet, and the hotel was exactly the right anchor for that.
Other Options: Choose based on your travel style.
Betws-y-Coed
If there is one thing you cannot skip in Betws-y-Coed, it is Zip World. And if you only do one activity at Zip World, make it the Fforest Coaster.
Skyride
Plummet
WHAT I DID
Fforest Coaster
Zip Safari
Why I Chose This
Every activity I picked on this trip had one criteria: it had to be something I’d never done before. The Fforest Coaster hits the sweet spot — thrilling enough to feel like a real adrenaline activity, accessible enough for anyone. You don’t need to be a daredevil. It also opens early, giving you time to do this and still reach Caernarfon before sunset on the same day.
That timing matters more than you’d think.
After Zip World, I moved on toward Caernarfon. ~45 min drive west to Caernarfon via A55 (or scenic via A4086 through Snowdonia) but i choose public transport
Caernarfon
Don’t Miss Sunset | Always Arrive Before Sunset
I have one non-negotiable rule when travelling to remote or historic places: arrive before the sun goes down. In Caernarfon, this rule proved itself completely.
While driving to check into the hotel, I spotted the perfect sunset spot. I dropped my bags and went straight back out. It remains one of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen.
The Subway Incident
After the castle, I headed to the local Subway for a practical traveller’s dinner. Mid-bite, I found a hair in my food. The easy thing would have been to get angry. Instead, I calmly explained the situation to the girl behind the counter — no raised voice, no drama. She apologised sincerely and made me a fresh sub immediately. I took it outside, sat in the city centre, and honestly — it was one of the most peaceful meals of the trip. Kindness costs nothing, and it makes everything taste better.
We Are Clearly Tourists
Walking through Caernarfon city centre with my brother, we noticed a group of girls watching us with obvious curiosity. We kept walking. Then — out of nowhere — two of them doubled back and asked to take photos with us. We have absolutely no idea what gave us away as travellers. Our bags? Our expressions? Our general air of “we are definitely not from here”? Whatever it was, it made for one of the most unexpectedly joyful moments of the entire trip.
Tegfan -The Anglesey Townhouse
A beautifully restored townhouse with an intimate, boutique feel. Thoughtfully decorated rooms, a relaxed atmosphere, and a great location for exploring Caernarfon on foot. Exactly the kind of place that makes a stop feel like more than just a layover.
Then the next morning — heading to the bus stop for Snowdon — I found myself walking back to the same spot again, this time for sunrise. The morning light hitting Caernarfon Castle felt completely different but just as magical. A quiet, unexpected moment that turned an ordinary commute into something unforgettable.
waiting for the bus, you feel, you’re thinking how you can do it?
Snowdon To the Summit
The highest mountain in Wales. The highest peak in England and Wales. On a clear day you can see Ireland, the Isle of Man, and Scotland. On every day, it will test you. And it will be worth it.
We started early. The path from Pen-y-Pass was beautiful, the lakes were dramatic, the air was fresh, and I was feeling strong. Then somewhere above Glaslyn, something shifted. The path got steeper, the wind picked up, and I looked up at what was left to climb and genuinely thought: I might actually die here.
Snow on the summit. Wind that cuts straight through you. A scramble section that demands your full attention with both hands and feet. We made it — but the summit was brutal. Then standing there, with Wales spread out below in every direction — I understood why people come back to this mountain again and again.
Choose Your Route Wisely
The summit view is identical from every route. Don’t risk ruined knees or a miserable descent trying to keep up with your ambitions. Here are your real options, honestly assessed:
Different Routes — One Summit
Snowdon Mountain Railway
Britain’s only rack-and-pinion railway. Departs Llanberis, takes you to the summit cafe at Hafod Eryri. Steam or diesel. Runs May–October (weather permitting). Book ahead, it sells out. For mobility issues, young children, or when you simply want to save your legs.
Llanberis Path Easiest Walk
The longest route (9 miles return) but the most gradual ascent. Follows the railway. Suitable for beginners in good health. Allow 6–7 hours. Park in Llanberis (~£11 all day).
Pyg Track What I Did (Harder, More Dramatic)
Start from Pen-y-Pass (pre-book parking or take the Sherpa bus from Llanberis for £2). 11km return, real scrambling above Glaslyn. Brilliant views of Llyn Llydaw. Hard on tired knees on descent. For confident, fit hikers only.
Honest Advice
The Pyg Track is hard. If you’re not a regular hiker, take the railway or Llanberis Path instead neither is a lesser experience. The summit view is identical. Don’t risk ruined knees proving something to yourself.
Start early, before 7am on weekends.
Pen-y-Pass car park fills by 7am in summer. Use the Sherpa bus from Llanberis (£2, 15 min) — cheaper and less stressful. Summit cafe only open when trains run (roughly May–October).
After Snowdon, I collected my bags from Caernarfon and took the bus to Llandudno via Bangor, where I changed services. The route along the north coast is straightforward, and the change at Bangor is simple to navigate.
One moment that stuck with me: on the bus, the hotel owner called to check whether we were still coming. In the UK, that kind of personal follow-up is rare — check-in time is 3 o’clock and most places expect you sharp. The fact that they reached out made us feel genuinely looked after before we had even arrived.
Llandudno
If Betws-y-Coed is wild Wales and Caernarfon is historic Wales, then Llandudno is elegant Wales — a grand Victorian seaside resort that has barely changed in 150 years.
After two days of adrenaline and suffering, Llandudno is exactly what you need. Walk the promenade, ride up the Great Orme, eat fish and chips on the pier. It sounds simple. That simplicity is the point.
You know, what the best part of hotel is in front of Starbucks, isn’t good view?
The Broadway Hotel
A well-positioned hotel in the heart of Llandudno, just steps from the promenade. Comfortable, convenient, and ideally placed for an easy final day. As an added bonus — it’s directly opposite a Starbucks, which I consider a very reasonable view to wake up to.
For lunch, I decided to go with a combination of Starbucks and Subway—a simple yet satisfying choice that perfectly balanced comfort and convenience.
Wales’ Greatest Seaside Town
After two high-energy days, Llandudno is the exhale. The Great Orme headland rises 207m above the bay, and you have two ways up the cable car and the tramway. Do both if you can; they start from different points and give completely different views.
A Small, Lovely Coincidence
Remember the Subway incident in Caernarfon? In Llandudno, checking into the hotel, I stopped at a Subway for lunch. And there she was — the same girl who’d made my replacement sub back in Caernarfon. She recognised me before I said a word, and without being asked, she already knew I didn’t want lettuce on my plant patty. I genuinely don’t meet people twice when I travel. This trip kept finding ways to surprise me
Remember the couple who gave us a lift off Snowdon? On the drive back, they said: “You have to do the cable car on the Great Orme.” We hadn’t planned it. But when strangers who just saved you from a dark roadside give you travel advice, you listen. They were absolutely right.
Note: Both the cable car and the tramway can be seasonal or closed for maintenance. Always check current opening times before visiting.
Great Orme Cable Car
Recommended by the couple who rescued us off Snowdon. Sweeping views of Anglesey and the mountains you just climbed.
Great Orme Tramway
Britain’s only cable-hauled tramway still running on public roads. Running since 1902. A living piece of Victorian history.
Great Orme Mines
World’s largest prehistoric copper mines. Bronze Age tunnels, 4,000 years old. Surprisingly gripping.
I didn’t manage to visit all three — but I’ve included them here so your Day 3 is better planned than mine was.