Near Wales' Tallest Mountain Is A Quaint Village Inside A National Park With Shops, Pubs, And Nature Walks

Below the wild, windblown, and heather-tufted ridges of Eryri National Park, tucked into a wooded valley beside a babbling river and under the gaze of the great Yr Wyddfa massif, the bijou village of Beddgelert reigns as perhaps the most stirring and soulful place in the whole of Wales. Made famous by the legend of Prince Llywelyn and Gelert the hound, a story of loss and canine loyalty dating back to the 13th century, it is perhaps the perfect intro to the more mythic side of North Wales, and a doozy of a place to launch big hikes, have big pub lunches, and enjoy some retail therapy to boot.

On the adventure side of things, it's hard to ignore the presence of Wales' highest mountain. It rises to a whopping 3,560 feet just on the periphery of Beddgelert; a mere 4 miles to the northeast of the village's center, in fact. Multiple paths, both challenging and moderate, wiggle up the heights to its summit, and plenty more weave and wind through the feral Welsh hills around it to offer cobweb-busting views. Many start right there in Beddgelert itself, which means it's easy to return here to cozy up in a Welsh pub, with a Welsh ale, next to a roaring fire.

Because Beddgelert sits amid Wales' largest national park, it's likely to take a bit of time to arrive. The nearest major international airport is over the English border in Manchester, some two and a half hours' drive to the east. Wales' own big airport is in its affordable capital of Cardiff, meanwhile, a four-hour drive to the south. Alternatively, opt for the historic way in via the Welsh Highland Railway, which steams its way through the peaks and passes from the town of Caernarfon.

Beddgelert probably isn't the absolute best place to launch a bid at the highest summit in Wales, but it's also certainly not the worst base station. Here's the thing: Of the six named paths that lead to the top of Yr Wyddfa, none officially begin in Beddgelert itself. However, you can connect to the trailhead for the challenging Ryd Ddu Path — a 7.5-mile trek through old quarries along an exposed ridge — and the steep Watkin Path by adding on just a few extra hours of walking. Alternatively, the local Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses can connect you to the more easy-going path options in Pen-y-Pass and Llanberis.

Here's the kicker: There are stacks of other incredible walks right on the doorstep of Beddgelert, many of which culminate in jaw-dropping panoramas of Yr Wyddfa and the wider national park. Embark on the long loop that scrambles up a valley called Cwm Bychan, and you'll gain head-on views over the mountain's south face as you come over the ridge towards the end. Before that, you'll hop slate rocks alongside the rushing Glaslyn River. Later, you'll find yourself on the shores of Llyn Dinas, an inky lake hemmed in by woodlands and steeped in history and legend.

It doesn't have to be all soaring mountaintops and elevation gain here, either. Just north of town, the Beddgelert Forest has a web of gravel cycle trails and low-lying walking routes that whisk you through a woodland of moss-covered trees and lakeside meadows — it's a particularly moody place in winter, when mist moves between the boughs and snow dusts the tops of the peaks in the distance.

The mountains on the horizon are but one draw to Beddgelert village, for this pint-sized place also oozes charm from every one of its slate-rock cottages. Just like the darling Welsh market town of Narberth far to the south, it's packed with places to pick up unique Celtic souvenirs, not to mention hearty local inns that serve hearty local food.

On the shopping front, you'll want to be certain to drop by Beddgelert Woodcraft. It's housed in a stoop little stone building right next to the Glaslyn River as it cuts through the middle of town. Inside are whittled renditions of Celtic knots and dragons, but also more exotic Buddha carvings that belie the workshop's long-running connection with craftspeople based in Bali, Indonesia.

A trio of pubs run by the Robinsons Brewery peppers the center of Beddgelert. The Prince Llewelyn Hotel sits on the north side of the river, where it spills into a beer garden with views of rugged Moel Hebog mountain rising opposite. The menus there run the gamut from full vegan breakfasts to stone-baked pizzas. Meanwhile, the Tanronnen Inn is just across the bridge, offering local Welsh ales on tap.