Named after the Welsh saint Peris, Llanberis is a village in Gwyneddin North Wales, set plum in the middle of Snowdonia National Park. Edging the twin lakes of Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris beneath Mount Snowdon — the highest mountain in England and Wales — the village is a hotspot for outdoor pursuits such as walking, cycling and climbing, as well as for relaxing amid Snowdonia’s majestic landscapes.
Having grown up around the area’s slate industry, Llanberis is one of Snowdonia’s scenic gems with stirring views of Snowdon, known as Yr Wyddfa in Welsh, from almost every corner. Highly walkable and buzzing with visitors during summer, the village centres on a long main street flanked with rainbow-coloured houses, shops, restaurants and pubs, all seemingly clasped in place by the surrounding green mountains.
Shopping, Food and Relaxing in LlanberisOutdoor types, sports buffs and anyone with an exploring streak will be in their element in Llanberis. The village is a shopper’s delight, with farm and craft shops, art galleries, outdoor stores and other independent emporiums strung along the high street. Restaurants, inns, delis and cafes are also here in numbers, serving everything from high quality, locally sourced food to traditional comfort dishes and tasty takeaways. And when evening hits, you’ll find a few inviting pubs perfect for a pint and occasional doses of live music.
Cultural Attractions in LlanberisWhen you’re not out enjoying the mountains, you can stroll by the lakesides and busy yourself at Llanberis’two visitor centres — the National Slate Museum, which tells the story of the area’s slate industry, and Electric Mountain, a lakeside complex that offers tours of the underground Dinorwig Power Station.
Attractions and Sports Around LlanberisLlanberislays on a cornucopia of adventures and attractions to keep visitors happy. If you like to take things slowly, you can ride the narrow gauge steam Llanberis Lake Railway to admire the local scenery. Or you can catch the famous Snowdon Mountain Railway to the summit of Mount Snowdon to drink in the bird’s eye views and visit its new Hafod Eryri visitor centre.
Walkers, hikers and climbers, meanwhile, can up the pace by going on foot. You can head up Snowdon using the Llanberis Path, which runs parallel to the Snowdon Mountain Railway, and follow more strenuous trails such as the Pyg and Miner’s paths, reveling in the incredible scenery en route.
Another attraction is the nearby Padarn Country Park, where you can throw yourself into nature and heritage trails, try canoeing, rowing and even scuba diving in Vivian Quarry, and sample fun treetop adventures.
Otherwise, you can visit 13th Century Dolbadarn Castle, discover the gruesome treatments meted out to 19th Century slate workers at the Dinorwig Quarry Hospital Museum, or take outings to Caernarfon and Penrhyn castles, picturesque villages and the north Wales coast with its gorgeous beaches.
Events in Llanberis There’s plenty going on Llanberis all year round, particularly on the sports front. The village fills with visitors for July’s Snowdon Race to the Summit, October’s gruelling Snowdonia Marathon, a series of summer triathlon events, and, in March, the annual Mountain Film Festival.