Snowdonia National Park or Eryri, meaning place of the eagles in Welsh, covers over 830 square miles of North Wales, much of it in this remote moorland and mountainous region. Although the region is a place I have been visiting since childhood, it would be difficult to pick my favorite places in any sort of order, as each has its own appeal, so here I will outline ten places that should appeal to a wide range of interests. . .

Let’s start with Snowdon himself. The highest mountain in Wales, at 3,560 feet or 1,085 metres, it is a popular hiking destination and the views from the summit are well worth the effort. From Llanberis you can ascend to the peak on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, which has been in operation for over 110 years and is a Welsh institution in its own right. The railway is one of the most popular attractions in the region, so you may need to book in the main summer season.

Still in Llanberis, you can see the signs for Electric Mountain. This is a turn worth doing. A bus takes you underground to the Dinorwic underground power station. This is a pumped-storage hydroelectric plant that is supplied from a reservoir on the mountain high up. Water is pumped into the reservoir at times of low electricity usage and at times of sudden high demand, the plant can be up and running in minutes to boost the National Grid. It’s a fascinating drive and the tunnels are wide enough for a bus to go through, so fine for people (like me) who don’t do tight spaces! OK, that one was a bit misleading, as it’s just outside the National Park boundary.

For number three, we’re going north to Ogwen Valley. The Ogwen is a walker’s paradise and one of my favorites in Snowdonia. The valley together with its Llyn Ogwen lake is situated 1000ft above sea level between the 3000ft peaks of the Glyderau and Carneddau mountains. The area has a much more remote feel than the Llanberis Valley and is free of any commercial development. The Ogwen Valley is dominated by the tusk-like peak of Tryfan, which is reputed to be the only mountain in England and Wales that requires the hiker to use their hands to reach the top via the easiest route. No doubt someone will prove this wrong, but it is a challenging climb. An easier hike from here is to the atmospheric Llyn Idwal tarn nestled in a rocky cirque of the mountains or to lose the crowds altogether, head to the north side of the valley and the less-visited Carneddau Range.

On the far side of the Carneddau, at the northern edge of the Snowdonia National Park, are the Aber Falls. A spectacular 200ft high waterfall and the second highest waterfall in Wales, it tumbles into a wooded valley from the plateau above. Aber Falls is reached from the north coast road, the A55, which leaves at Abergwyngregyn, just west of Llanfairfechan. The path to the falls follows a narrow path past the village to a parking lot, then an easy walk along the valley floor through the forest to the area below the falls.

Another of the most popular destinations in Snowdonia is the village of Betws y Coed on the eastern side of the national park. In contrast to the Ogwen Valley, Betws y Coed has shops, hotels and a railway station and is likely to be very busy in high season. It is somewhat smaller than Llanberis and is in a picturesque location in a river valley surrounded by wooded hills and is both a center for fishing and walking. The well known and much visited Swallow Falls is located a couple of miles up the valley to the west of here.

So where then for the number six? South-west of Betws y Coed, along the A470, is one of the most spectacularly situated castles in Wales. Dolwyddelan is not a particularly large castle, but it stands on a steep and craggy hill overlooking the upper reaches of a bucolic and seemingly forgotten valley dominated by the peak of Moel Siabod. The castle dates from the 13th century and going up to its square continues on a day when the mist clings to the hills and the wind sighs in the trees. It is not difficult to imagine this place in ancient times.

Still on a historical note, south of Snowdon by the River Afon Glaslyn lies the village of Beddgelert. Welsh legend has it that on his return from a hunting trip, Prince Llewelyn the Great, in a fit of rage, killed his faithful dog Gelert, believing that the animal had killed his son. He immediately found the boy alive and close by, along with the body of a wolf. Gelert had fought and killed the wolf to save the boy. Such was the Prince’s remorse that it was said that he never smiled again and buried the dog nearby. The tombstone can be seen today at Beddgelert, which means Gelert’s Grave. Whether you believe this tragic legend or not, the Beddgelert tourism site declares it to be, without a doubt, the loveliest village in Snowdonia. I agree. Beddgelert is a small group of stone houses along the river, watched over by the imposing Moel Hebog and surrounded by some of the most outstanding natural scenery in Wales.

For the eighth place to visit, we may want a bicycle. Coed y Brenin has one of the most extensive networks of mountain bike trails in the UK, set on around 9000 acres of Forestry Commission land. The trails range in standard from family to technical, winding their way through some remote hills and woodland with views south towards Cader Idris. This area is particularly beautiful and even if you’re not into mountain biking, it offers good trails for walking or a chance to relax in peaceful surroundings. Coed y Brenin is situated 7 or 8 miles north of Dolgellau, which is the nearest town of any size.

Still with a cycling theme, the penultimate destination is the Mawddach Trail, which is part of the National Cycle Network and follows the southern shoreline of the Mawddach estuary. It is a sheltered, wooded and flat course unlike the Coed and Brenin trails. Sections of the Mawddach Trail are equally good walks and the entire route is in fact one of the best low-level walks in the UK, visiting some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in Wales.

There are wading bird watching opportunities here too and more information for bird watchers can be found at the nearby RSPB Bird Life Centre.

Finally we head east from Snowdonia to Bala along the shores of Llyn Tegid or Bala Lake, the largest natural lake in Wales and a popular center for boating. Bala town, though lively in the summer, lacks the blatant commercialization of some of the seaside resorts and has several hotels and campsites nearby. You can take the Bala Lake Railway along the lake shore to Llanuwchllyn, just beyond the southern end of the lake, or head out of town to find countless quiet lanes leading through rural pastures and woodland. For a sense of wilderness, tracks lead from nearby Llyn Celyn to some remote mountain country, including the rarely traveled summit of Arenig Fawr. Well, as promised, there are 10 places to see in Snowdonia National Park. As for the 100 I haven’t mentioned, I haven’t seen them all yet.