Beddgelert

Beddgelert is a picturesque village in Gwynedd, renowned for the grave of Prince Llywelyn's dog Gelert.

Understand

Tourist information

• Beddgelert Tourism website

Dinas Emrys

Get in

By train

Beddgelert is served by trains on the narrow-gauge Welsh Highland Railway from Caernarfon in the north and Porthmadog in the south, where it connects with the Ffestiniog Railway to Blaenau Ffestiniog. The WHR is the UK's longest heritage railway.

By bus

Beddgelert is well served by Bws Gwynedd services 97/98/S97 (Porthmadog - Penryndeudraeth/Beddgelert - Betws-y-Coed) and S4 (Caernarfon - Beddgelert - Pen-y-pass).

See

• 1 Gelert's Grave. The village is reputedly named after this place. Gelert was a hound, slain by his master under the erroneous belief that he had killed the master's son when he had saved him from a wolf, or so they say.  
• 2 Sygun Copper Mine. On the A485 to the east of the village. A tour of a 19th-century copper mine.  
• 3 Dinas Emrys (Opposite the Sygun Copper Mine). Pre-Roman hillfort, the site of many Welsh and Arthurian legends. The fort is supposed to be the burial place of the Red Dragon of Wales and the White Dragon of the Saxons. The wizard Merlin is also reputed to have buried his treasure in a cave here. Legend tells that the treasure will one day be rediscovered. The discoverer will be 'golden-haired and blue-eyed'. When he or she is close to Dinas Emrys a bell will ring to invite them into the cave, which will open as soon as their foot touches it. If you fit the description there's nothing to lose by giving it a try!  
• Fisherman's Path - follow the footpath past Gelert's Grave and continue along the Fisherman's Path (denoted by the gate with two carved fish). A picturesque path alongside Aber Glaslyn (the Glaslyn river).
• 4 St Mary's Church. Site of 6th-century AD Christian community and 13th-century Augustinian priory. (updated Nov 2016)

Do

• Hillwalking. Moel Hebog and the Nantlle Ridge rise above the village. One of the many tracks up Snowdon starts close by. 

Eat

• 1 Glaslyn Ices & Glandwr Cafe, ☏ +44 1766 890339. (updated Nov 2016)
• 2 Hebog Eat & Sleep, ☏ +44 1766 890400. (updated Nov 2016)

Sleep

• YHA Bryn Gwynant. Nant Gwynant. Four miles east of the village on the A498. 0870 770 5732. 73 beds. Family Rooms available. An old manor house in a lovely location overlooking the lake of Llyn Gwynant. 
• 1 Bryn Dinas Camping Pods, Nant Gwynant LL55 4NH (on A498), ☏ +44 1766 890351. Glamping pods and lodge at the foot of Watkin Path to Snowdon summit. Pod £60. (updated May 2022)
• Craflwyn Bunkhouse, ☏ +44 1766 510120. Craflwyn, Beddgelert. Just under a mile outside the village on the A498. Owned and run by the National Trust. Can only be booked by groups, flexible accommodation for groups of 5 to 12 people. 
• The Royal Goat Hotel, ☏ +44 1766 890224. Incongruously named historic hotel on the edge of the village heading towards Porthmadog. The "Gelert" legend has been attributed to a former (early 19th-century) landlord, seeking to increase tourist interest in the village. As his hotel has continued to thrive we must consider his ploy a successful one. 
• Sygun Fawr Country House, ☏ +44 1766 890258. Set on the side of Sygun Mountain, this accommodation has views of the Gwynant Valley. The original part of the house dates back to 1644. Henry McKellar, High Sheriff of Caernarvonshire, resided at Sygun Fawr in 1861. The house was later purchased by the owner of the local mine, Sygun Copper Mine, and was converted to guest accommodations in the mid-20th century. 

Connect

As of May 2022, Beddgelert has 4G from EE and a basic mobile signal from Three, but nothing from O2 or Vodafone. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

• Rhyd Ddu
• Porthmadog
• Caernarfon