Which Snowdonia Campsite Suits the Path You Want to Walk?

Choose the campsite by the path you want to walk first.

Nant Gwynant suits the Watkin Path, and Llanberis suits the Llanberis Path. Rhyd Ddu and Betws Garmon serve the western paths, and Ogwen is the base for Tryfan.

The campsites side by side

Only three of the seven campsites name a path directly.

The rest name the mountain, the valley or the village.

How the buses reach the path starts

The Eryri National Park Authority, which publishes the park’s own visitor guidance, recommends the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus for reaching the Yr Wyddfa area. Its Getting to Yr Wyddfa page ties the routes to the path starts:

• Llanberis Path: a 10-minute walk from the Llanberis interchange bus stop.
• Miners’ and Pyg tracks: both start from Pen y Pass, which the S1, S2 and S5 reach from Llanberis.
• Watkin Path: starts at Nant Gwynant. The S4 to Pont Bethania is listed for it, with a change at Beddgelert from Caernarfon.
• Rhyd Ddu Path: starts from the village of Rhyd Ddu. The S3 stops at Rhyd Ddu station.
• Snowdon Ranger: starts from the shores of Llyn Cwellyn. The S3 stops at Snowdon Ranger YHA.

Parking at Nant Gwynant is the pinch point. The Authority says the car park there is often full by 7:30am.

Nant Gwynant, for the Watkin Path

Llyn Gwynant Campsite lies on the shores of Llyn Gwynant in the Nantgwynant valley. Its own page says three of the main routes up Yr Wyddfa can be accessed directly from the campsite.

The Watkin Path is reached from one end of the lake.

The campsite gives 3.5 km by road to Nantgwynant for the Watkin Path, or a 50-minute walk on the other side of the lake.

Pen y Pass, where the Miners’, Pyg and Crib Goch routes start, is around 1¼ hours on foot.

The campsite also says that driving to the nearest routes is faster than walking, and that public car parks must now be pre-booked. It puts Rhyd Ddu 7.8 km away, easiest by car.

The campsite is plain about the bus. It says the S4 may no longer stop at its entrance, because it is often full when it passes.

So the S4 can no longer be relied on to stop when waved down.

Camping is mostly for tents on grass, with small vans in bays. Caravans and trailer tents are not accepted, and bookings are required for all campers.

Llanberis, for the Llanberis Path

Camping in Llanberis is a back to basics campsite on a working farm at Llwyn Celyn Bach, with a coin operated hot shower block. It calls itself the closest campsite to the Llanberis Path.

Its page says an easy 20 minute walk from camp reaches a quarter of the way up Snowdon on the Llanberis Path.

It adds that the Snowdon Ranger path can also be reached directly from camp, without finding a car park.

The campsite adds that Pen y Pass is easy to reach by Sherpa bus, with a 10 minute walk to the Llanberis bus stop.

Caravans are not permitted.

The site has no hardstanding or electric pitches. It takes online bookings only, and always accepts walk-ins unless the website shows no availability.

Rhyd Ddu and Betws Garmon, for the western paths

Snowdon Base Camp is the Cwellyn Arms’ campsite at Rhyd Ddu and overlooks Cwellyn lake. Its page puts it at the foot of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa).

The Authority says the Rhyd Ddu Path starts from the village of Rhyd Ddu.

The campsite entrance is about ½ mile from the Cwellyn Arms, a 15 minute walk on the road.

There is no vehicle access to its camping fields. Campervan bays are in a small car park next to the first field.

Bryn Gloch Caravan & Camping Park is in Betws Garmon, on the banks of the River Gwyrfai at the base of Snowdon. Its own page names the Snowdon Rangers path, with convenient access.

It offers pitches from non-electric to fully serviced, plus static caravans and shepherd huts. The Snowdon Ranger starts at the shores of Llyn Cwellyn.

Beddgelert, as a bus change

Beddgelert Campsite is part of Forest Holidays, as its page says. It sits a few minutes from the village and within easy reach of Snowdon.

The campsite names no path. Its page singles out the railway: the Meillionen stop on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway is a short walk from your pitch.

The Authority’s page makes Beddgelert a change point. It shows the S4 from Beddgelert to Pont Bethania, and the S3 from Beddgelert to Snowdon Ranger YHA and Rhyd Ddu station.

Electrical hook-up comes with the hard standing pitches only. There is also a motorhome service point for water and chemical disposal.

Ogwen, for Tryfan and Cwm Idwal

Two campsites share the Gwern Gof name at Capel Curig. Gwern Gof Uchaf says it is beautifully situated at the foot of Tryfan peak, at the head of Llyn Ogwen.

Its page calls the valley a great base for the Carneddau and Glyderau ranges, and home to Cwm Idwal. Pen-y-Pass is only 8.5 miles away, 14 minutes by car.

The campsite warns about Tryfan directly. Whichever route you take, you have to use your hands to reach the top.

Gwern Gof Uchaf is a simple, no-frills campsite with toilets, showers, drinking water and a washing up area.

Walk-ins are always welcome.

Campervans are allowed on a walk-in basis only.

Gwern Gof Isaf takes bookings for individuals and families, and for outdoor groups with pre-approval, to a maximum of 10 people. It also offers two private bunkhouses.

We compile and explain public route and safety information. We guide nobody and sell nothing on the hill.

Why a verge is not a pitch

The Authority does not allow camping in car parks or on roadside verges, at any time.

Staying overnight in a campervan or caravan at a car park is not permitted in the park either. The Authority says the best way to camp is at an official campsite.

If a campsite is full, the page on wild camping in Snowdonia explains why a hillside needs the landowner’s permission, and that a verge is never an option.