Local Area Information
Waunfawr, Caernarfon, North Wales
The cottage of Capel Bach in the village of Waunfawr is down a windy country lane and has beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and mountains of Moel Eilio elevation 726m and Mynydd Mawr (fondly called The Elephant mountain) elevation 698 m.
The Welsh Highland' a narrow gauge railway, runs from Waunfawr to Caernarfon or in the other direction to Beddgelert and Porthmadoc. It is said to be one of the most stunning railway journeys in the UK with views of Snowdon's summit and cafe on a clear day. www.festrail.co.uk for timetable for the famous Ffestiniog Railway also. The station for the Welsh Hiighland is situated next to the Snowdonia Park Inn in the village which is an award winning micro brewery which also serves hot and cold food and is child and dog friendly with a beer garden.
SNOWDON AND LLANBERIS
The village of Llanberis is an 8 mile drive away for walks up Snowdon unless you prefer to catch the narrow gauge train up to the summit. The Snowdon Railway usually opens after the winter months mid March running to Clogwyn 3/4 up the mountain, then to the summit 1st May, weather permitting. For times and prices, and to book online visit www.snowdonrailway.co.uk. Please check the timetable online given the Covid restrictions and booking is recommended. Timetables are available from Information Centres throughout the National Park.
The Snowdon Sherpa is an unique bus service that travels around the foot of Snowdon creating a valuable link between the main routes to climb or walk up Snowdon as well as the main car parks, villages and tourist attractions in the area. It is an ideal service for walkers or climbers who intend to start their journey from one point and finish at another. The Snowdon Sherpa runs Mondays to Saturdays from and to Caernarfon and through Waunfawr to Rhyd Ddu and Beddgelert and Porthmadog. Check out the timetable on www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru
There are 6 different paths to conquer this 1,085 metre (3,560 feet) giant of a mountain which are Llanberis Path, Miners Track, Watkin Path, Pyg Track or Snowdon Ranger Path or the Rhyd Ddu track.
Parking at Pen y Pass for the challenging PYG track is LIMITED and you need to arrive very early. Cost is £10 a day and £6 for 4 hours. Alternatively park in Nant Peris the village outside of Llanberis for the Park and Ride. Do check out the other paths up Snowdon since climbing via the PYG track involves the Crib Goch ridge which is not for novice walkers or the faint hearted and involves a head for heights and scrambling over the narrow ridge.
Parking in Nant Gwynant/ Pont Bethania is quieter than Pen y Pass but still fills up on good days. £5 a day or £2.50 for 4 hours. You can also access another of the reasonably quieter paths up Snowdon from Rhyd Ddu which is 4 miles from the cottage in Waunfawr. You can catch the Welsh Highland steam train from Waunfawr to Rhyd Ddu. Please check the timetable. Please also check out www.walkupsnowdon.co.uk for the paths up Snowdon in order of difficulty. The Snowdon Ranger Path is about 3 miles from the cottage on the road to Rhyd Ddu. It’s a straightforward path and has been classed as the easiest route but for some steepness of the middle section. The initial section is practically a road for the first few kilometres.
Llanberis is famous for its rock climbing. The Llanberis Pass is one of the most iconic rock climbing valleys in the UK. There is also an indoor climbing centre Beacon in Caernarfon. Please check opening times. There is also the opportunity to learn to scuba dive in Llanberis at the Vivian Dive Centre.
ZIP WORLD
Just outside Bangor in the village of Bethesda is the Zip World at Penrhyn Quarry.This is the fastest and longest (500ft high) zip line in Europe with panoramic views of a slate quarry and local coastline. There is also the latest additional facility to the area an alpine roller coaster in Betws y Coed- the Zip World Fforest Adventure Sports. There is a 4 person zip line in a Slate Cavern in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Please check online whether these facilities are open on www.zipworld.co.uk
LOCAL WALKS
There are many beautiful walks starting from the cottage for all abilities. Walks from the village via Cefn Du quarry leads to Llanberis and then Snowdon. Parking available by the quarry unless you walk from the cottage that is, a walk of about 3-4 miles. You can also climb up Moel Eilio - 2,382 ft -the mountain on the left that’s visible from the cottage. The view from the summit of Moel Eilio is spectacular. Mynydd Mawr (the mountain on the right of the valley) also offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains in Snowdonia and again can be walked to from the cottage down the lane from the cottage and then a Public Footpath on the right , through some fields towards Betws Garmon Church and then via Bryn Cloch campsite.
OS map available on loan at the cottage. There are also a number of walking books at the cottage and some tourist information leaflets. Please check websites for any attractions since Covid has affected opening times. There is a Tourist Information on Castle street in Caernarfon.
BEACHES - ANGLESEY AND LLYN PENINSULA
Snowdonia also has beautiful clean beaches and opportunities for swimming, surfing and kayaking. Anglesey and it’s outstanding beaches is a 30 minute drive away. The popular beach of Llanddwyn in Newborough on the west coast of Anglesey is well worth a visit. There is also the Anglesey coastal walk which is well worth looking at. There are great cycle routes on Anglesey do check out www.sustrans.org.uk. Anglesey also has a number of Ancient Monuments approx 30 Neolithic/Bronze age burial chambers and several ancient monuments. Please check www.anglesey.info. Lleyn Peninsula also has beautiful beaches such as Criccieth, Harlech (have castles too!) and Morfa Nefyn/PorthDinllaen Beach -worth a visit - Llanbedrog, Abersoch, Porthole Neigwl Beach, Porth Oer Beach aka Whistling Sands etc
The nearest beach to the village is Dinas Dinlle a 20 minute drive away on the road to Pwllheli. The long promenade offers large amounts of parking and there are a couple of shops and cafes. This is a dog friendly beach too and also offers good views back towards the hills of North Eastern Lleyn, Snowdonia and across to western Anglesey and Holyhead mountain. There are opportunities locally to learn sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, power-boating at the Plas Menai Outdoor Centre for Wales just outside Caernarfon.
CAERNARFON
Caernarfon is a royal town and is home to Wales' most famous castle and an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Caernarfon Castle was built by King Edwaed in 1280 at roughly the same time as Harlech and Conwy Castle. Caernarfon is a 15 minute drive from Capel Bach and 3 supermarkets and some good eating places and pubs.
THEATRE AND CINEMA
There is a small theatre and music venue and art gallery near the harbour in Caernarfon and a recently opened theatre, cinema and music venue called Pontio in the University town of Bangor a 30 minute drive away. There is also an Art Gallery and museum on Anglesey Oriel Mon.
Waunfawr has a small shop ‘Lifestyle Express’ selling food and fresh produce as in bread and milk, groceries, magazines and newspapers and also alcohol and logs and coal. The shop is next door to the Skoda garage. It also has a cash machine.
For ideas on what to do and see please the Visitwales.com website
FOOD AND DRINK
There are many good restaurants, bistros and inns in Snowdonia National Park and on Anglesey with inspirational local produce like Welsh Black beef and lamb to fresh seafood for instance the Menai mussels to artisan farmhouse cheeses .. even local wine and beer.
Getting around
There is a narrow gauge railway station -the Welsh Highland Railway- in Waunfawr near the Snowdonia Park pub which goes from Caernarfon to Portmadoc. From Portmadoc the famous narrow gauge railway runs to Ffestiniog.
There are also buses, the Snowdon Sherpa, that run to Caernarfon and to Beddgelert. The bus stop is up the country lane from the cottage towards the main A4085 road and in general run hourly apart from on Sundays.The area also has numerous cycle paths and is a part of the Sustrans Cross-Wales Cycling Route -No 8. Waunfawr also has a horse trekking centre on the outskirts of the village heading for Caernarfon.(Snowdonia Riding Stables)
