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Llanberis, sitting at the foot of Mount Snowdon (Eryri), is renowned as a base from where climbers, walkers, mountain bikers, and indeed railway passengers can explore Snowdon and the Snowdonia National Park. The town takes it name from the early christian St Peris who established a Church some 2 miles away in the hamlet that is now called Nant Peris. Llanberis itself has grown alongside Llyn Padarn, one of two lakes (the other being Llyn Peris) at the foot of the Llanberis Pass, and owes it's growth to the massive amounts of slate quarried from the mountainside across the Lake.
The redundant slate quarries now blend together with the lakes and forests to provide something of interest for all, whatever the weather. The 800 acre Padarn Country Park based around Llyn Padarn and set amongst the dramatic scenery of Snowdonia is an ideal place to sample what the countryside and the local industrial heritage can offer. It contains two Sites of Special Scientific Interest of national importance, a local nature reserve, pleasant lakeside picnic areas, and a wide range of watersports including fun boats, canoeing, windsurfing and sailing at the Padarn Water Sports Centre. Take a ride on the Llanberis Lake Railway, which offers a 60-minute lakeside trip on an historic narrow gauge train via Llanberis village and the Welsh Slate Museum. The Welsh Slate Museum itself housed in the former Dinorwic Slate Quarry workshops is another of the many lakeside attractions.

Attractions include :

The Welsh Slate Museum, not so much a museum as a pocket of history. It is as though the quarrymen and engineers put down their tools and left the courtyard for home just hours before. Now, with imaginative interpretation, the remarkable relics of the slate industry can be understood and enjoyed by the many thousands of visitors to this stunning countryside on the flanks of Snowdon. Housed in the former Dinorwic Slate Quarry workshops in Gilfach Ddu where you can see the foundry, fitting shop, smithy, saw mill, carpenter's shop, pattern loft and all the old machinery used to dress the slate. Most spectacular is the huge water-driven wheel that provides the power in the workshops. Visit the terrace of houses, another brand new addition to the site, a row of four quarrymen's houses, rescued from demolition in Blaenau Ffestiniog and rebuilt on site.

Llanberis Accommodation Make an instant secure online room or cottage reservation nearby. Room and cottage availability and rates are confirmed online prior to booking. Simply click through to the hotel or cottage page, choose a suitable property, fill in the availability form, including dates of stay, to confirm the exact room rate and reserve the accommodation. On making the reservation you will receive an instant e-mail confirmation with further contact details should you feel this to be necessary.

The Snowdon Mountain Railway which since 1896 has been making it easy to claim this mountain peak as one of your lifetime achievements. In a tremendously ambitious feat of engineering, and uniquely in Britain, a rack and pinion railway was built which rises to within 66ft of the summit of the highest mountain in England and Wales.

International Races, Llanberis also hosts two internationally famous races, the Snowdon Race (in July) to the top of Snowdon, and the Snowdonia Marathon (in October) that starts and finishes in Llanberis, circumnavigating the Snowdon massif. The marathon is not as tough as it sounds as you don't actually ascend Snowdon but travel round the mountain on the roads. There is one really steep climb just in the one place you don't want it, at about 20 miles, but from then on its all downhill.
The town also caters for other popular outdoor activities including walking, mountaineering, mountain biking, pony trekking and water sports.

Ceunant Mawr Waterfall, one of the most impressive waterfalls in Wales, yet less than a mile from the town centre.

Dolbadarn Castle, built by Llywelyn the Great in the 13th century, stands proudly overlooking the twin lakes, guarding the strategically important Llanberis Pass, and enabling the garrison to blockade anyone's movement through that part of the north, then as now a main link to the rest of Wales. The main feature is the round tower enclosing a complex series of chambers. It is 40 feet tall and 40 feet in diameter, and guarded by walls 8 feet thick. More >

Electric Mountain Visitor Centre and Dinorwig Power Station, If you're looking for a truly electrifying day out, why not visit First Hydro's Electric Mountain Visitors Centre where visitors can discover the amazing powers of hydro-electricity in an exciting, interactive and educational environment. You'll discover the amazing powers of pumped storage hydro-electricity in a totally entertaining and educational environment. Admission to the Centre is free and there's heaps of interest for visitors of all age groups. Follow this with a mini-bus trip to the power station itself. Descending deep inside ancient Elidir mountain's labyrinth of dark and imposing tunnels, you'll experience one of man's greatest engineering achievements.