Snowdonia

Snowdonia National Park, known in Welsh as Eryri, is a national park in north-west Wales. Designated in 1951, it covers about 2,130 square kilometres, making it the largest national park in Wales. The park lies primarily within Gwynedd and encompasses a diverse landscape of rugged mountains, glacial valleys, rivers, and lakes. Its centerpiece is Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), at 1,085 metres the highest peak in Wales; the surrounding scenery includes glacial corries, rocky summits, and extensive upland plateaus.

The area has a long quarrying and railway heritage. Slate mining towns such as Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llanberis reflect an industrial past, while current heritage railways—most notably the Ffestiniog Railway and the Welsh Highland Railway—provide tourist access across the region. The Snowdon Mountain Railway climbs to near the summit of Snowdon, offering another route to high-elevation views.

Snowdonia supports diverse habitats, including upland heaths, bogs, coniferous and native woodlands, and abundant watercourses. Wildlife includes raptors such as peregrine falcons and choughs, as well as unique alpine flora in higher elevations. The park is a focus for outdoor recreation, with hiking, scrambling, mountaineering, and cycling attracting visitors year-round. It is governed by the Snowdonia National Park Authority, which oversees planning, conservation, and public access. The region has a strong Welsh cultural heritage, with the Welsh language widely spoken in local communities and villages such as Betws-y-Coed and Dolgellau.