Llanberis is home to the largest mountain in Wales, Snowdon and also the largest appetites! Days spent climbing and walking leaves every adventurer absolutely hungry, famish and in need of a hearty meal.

So this blog post aims to let visitors in on the best-kept secrets of where to wine and dine, snack, and refuel and buy those grocery’s if you are in self-catering accommodation in Llanberis.

Snowdon is very much the main attraction for thousands of guests every year. There is no better feeling in my opinion than conquering a mountain no matter how big or small and Yr Wddyfa, which translated to English is “Snowdon” being the third-largest Mountain in the UK is simply breathtaking. One of the best parts of climbing a mountain is meeting people along the way. Everyone conquering the same challenge, the joint sense of accomplishment, the feeling of togetherness, and also joint tiredness at the end of the day, sharing a well-earned meal and drink is simply the best way to spend a day.

The reason why I admire Snowdon so much as a visitor destination is the fact that many abilities and ages are able to walk to the summit. There are multiple paths ranging from slow and easy of the Llanberis Path to scrambles and climbs for the more advanced such as Grib Coch (more can be read about the various

Summer 2019 at Crashpad Lodges based from Yr Helfa Fawr has been the best yet with guests enjoying all that Crashpad and Snowdonia has to offer.  The weather has been glorious with our little stream being used by many people to cool down and the BBQ fired up every night.  We’ve made almost all of our energy through Crashpads solar and wind power making us, if I did my calculations correct 91% self sufficient. We were also awarded a 4star rating by Visit Wales topping off the best season ever!

September has arrived with the summer guests along with the amazing weather of 2019 long gone.  Autumn is well underway and we are currently gearing up Crashpad for the season ahead, swapping out summer bedding for winter bedding, deep cleaning the BBQ and getting the lodge ready for fresher days and chillier nights.

One of the best things about visiting North Wales is the amount of fun and free things to do for everyone.  This weeks blog is a list of Crashed Lodges favourite adventures in which all you need is petrol in your car and a picnic.  Leave your wallet and card at home for all these are free and all within a short drive from Crashpad Lodges based in Llanberis.

Watkins Path Pools

A few locals and outdoor enthusiasts know about these pools and they are magical beyond belief. The Watkins Pools are a series of mini waterfalls and pools in which you can slip and slide down from one pool into another. They are deep so great for a bit of a jump and a dive in certain places. The views are amazing as the pools are a little way up the Watkins Path

Last week it was announced in The Times newspaper that according to users of Ordnance Survey’s app mapping system, OS Maps, the busiest 1km2 grid square in Great Britain is to the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). At at peak times it certainly does get busy, from Crashpad Lodges you can see a colourful rainbow line of walkers making their way up to wales’ highest peak during the day.  When the sunset walkers return back down you can witness the most wonderful lines of lights as the many head torches light the way down.

One of the many joys of living in North Wales is a very unexpected one, Food. I’ve always known Welsh lamb to be the best in the world but what I wasn’t expecting is actually how good the restaurants, cafes and takeaways would be.  This foodie blog entry came about after a weekend of eating the most incredible food after a family visit to North Wales and so it is my pleasure to share below Crashpad’s favourite eating spots for your next visit to North Wales.

Mafon Cafe

Within walking distance of Crashpad in the village of Llanberis the best coffee for miles around is to be found at Mafon ran by vegan cake and food expert Leah. Every week Leah and her team experiment with different recipes and occasionally hold food nights from around the world, most recently Mexico which was booked out.  Follow the Mafon Instagram to find out what is cooking that day and get yourself down their early before it sells out.

Have you ever heard about or even tried wild swimming? Think of all the bodies of water you may have walked by, lakes, seas, streams, waterfalls - instead of just walking past would you ever consider taking the plunge and stripping and dipping!

Wild Swimming can be quite addictive and I’ve been told that swimmers find ‘the nip of the water and the zing of a wild swim exhilarating.  Also know as “Open water swimming”  it is classed as a discipline which takes place in outdoor bodies of water such as open oceans, lakes, and rivers with more people seem to be “going swimming” but not in traditional indoor swimming pools but in the great outdoors.  Most say this is due to the best selling book “Wild Swimming” by  Kate Rew, also the founder of the “Outdoor Swimming Society”

Relaxing by the beach, a cocktail by the pool, room service, it’s the time of year to book your summer holiday.  But what if this year you were to do it different.  What if your holiday didn’t involve a plane but a car trip to North Wales.  North Wales vs the sunny beaches of Kefalonia?! I know it sounds silly but hear me out on this one.

My love of the great outdoors stems from trips to army camp when I was a teenager.  We travelled from our school in the North East of England to the Lakes.  We climbed to the top of a mountain - I had never been so high or seen so far.  Rode mountain bikes across wild terrain and main roads thinking I’d never been so fast or had never had such a sore bottom but laughing the whole way.  Camping with nature in such silence that all I

Llanberis, home to Crashpad Lodges is recognised as the adventure sports capital of Wales and with many people’s new years resolutions to get fit, why not enter one of the amazing sporting events taking place this year.  From the Rat Race, The Scott Snowdonia Trial Marathon to The Brutal Extreme Marathon in September, there is something for everyone with some races for ages 10+.

 As Crashpad Lodges is based at the foothills of Snowdon it is very near the race path for many of these sporting events making it a great base for you and your fellow participants or supporters.  It also makes a great place to stay and watch the event take place if that’s more your idea of fun.  Either way Llanberis is full of energy with a great atmosphere and will leave you with fond memories of North Wales. To find out more about Llanberis and its surrounding areas visit:-