Yr Eyryri
Where the Mountains meet the Sea
“What does Yr Eryri mean?”, I hear you say. You may be more familiar with the name “Snowdonia”, one the UK’s most beloved National Parks and home to Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales. Each year, thousands of outdoor enthusiasts flock to Snowdon to conquer its summit, usually over a long weekend or perhaps as a leg of the 3 Peaks Challenge. This is a mistake - Snowdonia offers so much more for adventure lovers, especially if they are willing to venture off the typical tourist trails to appreciate the beauty of its largely untouched wilderness.
Snowdonia is treasured for its variety - where else in the UK could you scale a majestic 1000m mountain and a few hours later be relaxing on a beach, overlooked by a castle?!With over 200 miles of coastline and endless craggy mountain peaks, visitors should consider avoiding some of the main tourist hubs and heading instead for some of the paths less travelled.
By all means, first time visitors should head to Beddgelert, a picturesque riverside village at the foot of Snowdon, offering spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. But rather than trudging the Gelert’s Grave circular why not consider heading against the flow of foot traffic and walking instead to Llyn Gwynant? This rewarding stroll features stunning mountain scenery, passes by an important local heritage site, the Sygun Copper Mine, and has opportunities for some of the cleanest wild swimming in the UK. And the best thing about this walk? You’ll have this route pretty much to yourself!
At the beginning of 2023, the name Snowdonia was replaced by its Welsh translation, Yr Eryri to better promote the area’s cultural heritage, and increase awareness of the Welsh language. The hope is that with this positive step, which invites people to reconnect with Yr Eryri’s roots should also encourage visitors to discover a North Wales beyond the foothills of Snowdon.