Itinerary
- Day 1
Bangor
You'll make your way independently to Bangor, which sits on the train line connecting London to Holyhead. This is your arrival day, so you can settle in and prepare for the walking tour that starts tomorrow.
Landmarks Bangor - Day 2
Bangor to Llanberis
Today you're walking roughly 22 miles starting near Porth Penrhyn. You'll follow the old Penrhyn Quarry railroad past Penrhyn Castle and along the North Wales Path beside the Afon Ogwen, moving through open hills with views toward the Carneddau and Glyderau. After passing through Bethesda, you'll climb from the Ogwen Valley using riverbanks and byways, cross wild moorland at Gwaun Gynfi, then take solid paths through Parc Padarn and past the National Slate Museum before finishing in Llanberis. Optional activities are available there if you want to explore.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Climb Snowdon on foot or by Snowdon Railway
- Hike around the lake
- Hire kayaks
- Wild swimming
Landmarks Penrhyn Castle Parc Padarn - National Slate Museum of Wales Dinorwig Quarry Snowdon Snowdon Railway 
- Day 3
Llanberis to Beddgelert
You'll cover about 20 miles today through mixed terrain from Llanberis. Head up paths and the North Wales Pilgrims' Path through woodland and past quarries to Waunfawr, where you can grab a break at a café. From there you'll cross open moorland seeing Mynydd Mawr and the Nantlle range, pass slate workings in the Nantlle Valley, walk through Nantlle village, then climb through forest and drop down to Rhyd Ddu. You'll finish using the 'Lon Gwyrfai' leisure trail on waymarked paths and forest tracks with views of Snowdonia's highest mountains, ending your day in Beddgelert.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Stop at Antur Waunfawr's café
- Visit Rhyd Ddu pub and café
Landmarks North Wales Pilgrims' Path Waunfawr Mynydd Mawr Nantlle Valley Rhyd Ddu Welsh Highland Light Railway Lon Gwyrfai leisure trail 
- Day 4
Beddgelert to Blaenau Ffestiniog
Start with a walk along the Afon Glaslyn on a cobbled path through parkland near the grave of Gelert, the medieval hound. You'll cross the river and railroad on a rough path with bridges and boardwalks along steep Aberglaslyn Pass cliffs. After climbing to the National Trust parking area at Nantmor, you'll go through Bwlchgwernog where a drovers' road crosses moorland to Croesor, a remote mountain village below Cnicht. Climb steeply into Croesor valley to the quarry, navigate carefully to Rhosydd Quarry, then descend past Cwmorthin Lake and its derelict settlement to Lakeside Café in Tanygrisiau. From there, country lanes and paths lead into Blaenau Ffestiniog near the River of Slate car park.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Lakeside Café in Tanygrisiau
Landmarks Afon Glaslyn Grave of Gelert Aberglaslyn Pass Nantmor Bwlchgwernog Croesor Cnicht Croesor Quarry Rhosydd Quarry Cwmorthin Lake Tanygrisiau River of Slate - Day 5
Blaenau Ffestiniog to Betws y Coed
Begin with a short steep woodland path to Cwm Bowydd, then continue on country lanes into the hidden gorge of Cwm Teigl with cascades. You'll walk through lanes to Llan Ffestiniog and the Pengwern pub, then onto open and sometimes boggy moorland that requires careful route finding. Descend through quarry workings into Cwm Penmachno, climb and descend through woodland to the old mining village of Penmachno. If you're interested, visit the Heritage Room about the Machno Valley's history. Follow forest tracks down to Roman Bridge, then the road to Conwy Falls Café. A nice path goes past Fairy Glen before a short woodland walk brings you to Betws y Coed and Waterloo Bridge, Telford's listed iron bridge from 1815.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Pengwern pub in Llan Ffestiniog
- Visit the Heritage Room in Penmachno
- Stop at Conwy Falls Café
Landmarks Cwm Bowydd Cwm Teigl Llan Ffestiniog Penmachno Heritage Room, Penmachno Roman Bridge Conwy Falls Fairy Glen Waterloo Bridge Betws y Coed - Day 6
Betws y Coed to Bethesda
Leave Betws y Coed on a well-kept river path, passing the famous Swallow Falls where a narrow but safe path runs along the cliffs above the water. You'll continue along the river until reaching the road at Ugly House, built in 24 hours. Climb steeply up a lane into Gwydir Forest on solid forest tracks. Coming out of the forest gives you panoramic views of Snowdon, Moel Siabod, the Carneddau and Glyderau as you descend to Capel Curig. After some time there, you'll have a nearly level walk to the head of the U-shaped Nant Ffrancon valley, then easy miles on back roads down this valley until you meet the Lon Las Ogwen cycle path. This goes around the slate slopes of Penrhyn Quarry before cycling back to Bethesda. Around 16:00, a cab takes you to Caernarfon for a two-night stay, then you'll be picked up at 09:00 the following morning to continue walking from Bethesda to Caernarfon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Swallow Falls Ugly House Gwydir Forest Capel Curig Nant Ffrancon valley Penrhyn Quarry Bethesda - Day 7
Bethesda to Caernarfon
Your final walking day takes you below Moel Faban, past Llanllechid church, along the River Afon y Llan banks across meadows to the River Ogwen watermill. You'll cross main roads and follow the Afon Cegin banks back to Bangor, then head west toward the Menai Strait. Pass the impressive Menai Suspension Bridge finished by Telford in 1826. You'll continue through Treborth Botanic Gardens past Britannia Road Bridge. You'll go inland to cross Nanty Garth at Aber Pwll before reaching Caernarfon and its imposing castle, one of the largest and most impressive English fortresses built in Wales.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Caernarfon Castle
Landmarks Moel Faban Llanllechid church River Afon y Llan River Ogwen watermill Afon Cegin Bangor Menai Strait Menai Suspension Bridge Treborth Botanic Gardens Britannia Road Bridge Nant Porth nature reserve Caernarfon Castle - Day 8
Caernarfon
The trip ends after breakfast. You'll depart from Caernarfon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
