Northwest Wales is taken up almost entirely by the Snowdonia National Park and by two isolated areas of outstanding natural beauty.

All these areas feature the natural beauty of rugged mountains and valleys, dense forests and barren plateaus, stunning coastlines and wide estuaries.  Sturdy castles, country mansions with fine interiors, spectacular narrow-gauge railways, mines and craft shops provide necessary variety.  But above all, northwest Wales is the domain of the active visitor: the mountaineer, walker, horse rider, angler and water-sports enthusiast.

 

The southern coastal reaches of Snowdonia National Park are almost entirely dominated by Cadair Idris (2930ft), a five-peaked massif with views that occasionally stretch as far as Ireland (on a good day!).