Walk the streets of Beddgelert and step back through time. Follow the river as it flows alongside the old stone buildings and gaze beyond into the beautiful countryside of Snowdonia.
An old Welsh tale tells of Prince Llewelyn and his dog Gelert. Believing the hound had killed his son, Llewelyn slew Gelert before learning of his mistake. Beddgelert means “resting place of Gelert” in Welsh. Local legend places the story here in the village. Visit Gelert’s Grave, but realize that it’s an entertaining fake. It’s believed that in 1793 an enterprising pub landlord had the grave built to help local tourism. The tactic worked and today the grave site is still visited by thousands of people each year.
Find more legends at Dinas Emrys, a ruined fort that predates the Romans. Explore what’s left of the fort, which has a place in the legends of King Arthur and Merlin. Find the Sygun Copper Mine nearby too. Head underground to learn about the mine’s history and try gold panning or metal detecting.
Walk the Aberglaslyn Gorge trail, alongside the Glaslyn River. Spot local wildlife, which includes otters. Take the more strenuous route up Moel Hebog and be rewarded with views from the mountain ridge. Keep going and scale Moel yr Ogof and Moel Lefn. If you prefer to cycle, rent a bike. The rivers are suitable for kayakers of differing ability levels.
Visit in the summer to find Beddgelert at its most beautiful. The hills are covered in purple heather and the rough stone of the village is swathed in bright floral displays. Reach the village by car, bus or train.
