Snowdonia Walking Weekend - The Land of Legends

Experience the history, mysteries, and myth of the Welsh Carneddau mountain range on an active weekend of guided Snowdonia walks.

Experience Type: Multi-Day Experience
Duration: 2 nights
Accommodation: Hostel
Group Size: Maximum 19
Level: Active
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs

In a Nutshell:

Enjoy active walks where the ever-changing scenery and ancient landmarks turn a day’s walking into a delightful delve into history.
Feel part of it all staying in a great hostel with a garden made for enjoying sundowners while looking across the rolling hills.
Relish life outdoors - walking through lovely Snowdonia countryside with a qualified Large Outdoors guide and friendly group.

How do we grade our walks?

Explore our experience levels here!

Discover the breathtaking Carneddau mountain range in Snowdonia, Wales!

Welcome to a land that is steeped in so much history that it is rightly known as the Land of Legends.

For this Snowdonia Walking Weekend we’re staying right in the heart of it all, at a fantastic hostel location where you can take in the expansive views across the Conwy Valley.

While exploring in the Carneddau mountains, expect active walks with sublime remote scenery, peppered with stone circles, iron-age hill forts, Neolithic settlements and possible sightings of wild Welsh mountain ponies.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Tucked away at the top of a hill is a traditional Welsh farmhouse which is now a superb YHA hostel and our base for the weekend. As participants arrive (any time after 5pm) there will no doubt be a natural migration of people towards the garden with drinks in-hand as they soak up the views while having a natter.

By 8pm we’ll be enticing people back inside with the promise of dinner, prepared by your Large Outdoors host. Afterwards, we’ll give you a briefing about the weekend plans and there’ll be plenty of time to get to know your fellow participants.

Day 2

After a good breakfast and with packed lunches lobbed into the rucksacks, it’s time to head outdoors for the day’s adventuring. There are plenty of options for walks, some of which start right from the hostel, but here’s a taster of some local routes:

The two lakes of Cwm Dulyn - Starting a very short drive from the hostel (to save walking along the road), we’ll walk up the wild and remote Dulyn valley, mostly on good tracks, and visit the twin lakes that stand underneath the impressive cliffs of Craig y Dulyn. Above us will be Carnedd Llewellyn, the third highest mountain in Wales, and a great backdrop for our walk. We’ll head back through the valley on the other side, seeing a Neolithic settlement and Iron Age hill-fort before returning to the cars.

Drum - Standing near the hostel, the shapely yet accessible summit of Drum makes an excellent walk. Starting from the hostel door, we’ll walk up to the Bwlch y Ddeufaen (the pass of two stones), named after the two standing stones near the top of the pass. We then take a gently-angled track right to the summit of Drum, where views will range from the Conwy Valley all the way round the coast to Anglesey and the high Carneddau. Descending from Drum over some beautiful mountainside, we’ll reach paths that take us straight back to the hostel.

Other excursions can include a hike up the peak of Tal y Fan, which stands near the hostel, or a walk up to the famous Aber Falls along the coast. It really is a fabulous are where we can find miles of happy wandering.

Once we’ve returned to the hostel, there’s time to relax with a cuppa before we sit down to dinner and quite simply make the most of the special setting.

Day 3

Breakfast, packed lunch, packed bags and out the door – you’ll be a well-honed crew by this point! We will check out of our accommodation and before heading home, have chance to explore more of the area on a walk such as the ones described below.

The Conwy Riverside - Following paths that take us through the farmland and woodland bordering the River Conwy, we pass the Canovium Roman Fort, enjoying river scenery while looking across at the hills we were walking in on Saturday.

Conway Mountain - Don’t let the name mislead you, this isn’t a big hill! However standing right over Conwy harbour and the estuary it’s got some of the best views in North Wales, looking back at the Carneddau and down on the imposing Conwy Castle, built by Edward I to control the rebellious Welsh. We’ll walk up it and explore the mountain’s three summits before descending back down to Conwy itself.

Good to Know

Meeting Time: from 5pm.
You can arrive any time from 5pm - the Large Outdoors host will be at the accommodation to welcome you. Dinner will be served around 8pm so if you intend to arrive later than this, please ensure you have something to eat on the way.
Meeting Location:
YHA Rowen
Rhiw Farm
Rowen
Conwy
LL32 8YW
Parking: There is limited parking available at the hostel. Access to the hostel is via a very steep and narrow public road which is only suitable for cars. We recommend tackling the hill in first gear!
Public Transport: YHA Rowen is located 4.9 miles from Conwy Train Station, with services to/from Birmingham, Cardiff Central and Holyhead.
Please Note: On some days there could be a short drive required - where activities don’t start from the door of the accommodation. We don't include transport and participants normally car share. Some of our possible routes for the weekend mean we may need to jump on a local bus - the cost for these journeys is not included.
Finish Time: We aim to finish on the final day between 1pm and 3pm - the exact finish time may depend on the planned/chosen activity, group dynamic, weather conditions, whether the group chooses to grab a coffee or lunch together during/after, etc. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility.
A lovely rural retreat high in the Welsh hills, YHA Rowen is a stunning traditional Welsh farmhouse converted to a hostel. It’s packed with character. The hostel boasts breathtaking views over the Conwy Valley and across to Snowdonia (Eryri) and makes for the perfect base from which to explore.
Bedding is provided - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.
Accommodation Address:
YHA Rowen
Rhiw Farm
Rowen
Conwy
LL32 8YW
Room Types:
You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
Bed in a Shared Female Room
Bed in a Shared Male Room
There are Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a dorm room - usually with bunk beds - with other participants (room sizes vary and bathrooms are shared).
Included:
- 2 nights accommodation at YHA’s Rowen hostel.
- A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you, deal with meal preparation and the logistics for your experience.
- Guided walks on 2 days (Day 2 & Day 3) through the magical Snowdonia National Park.
- Home-cooked set 2-course dinners at the accommodation on both evenings.
- A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).
- A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Day 2’s walk.
- Tea (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.
- Bedding - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.
- The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
- Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not included:
- Travel to and from the meeting location.
- Travel from the accommodation to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the door. On some days there could be a short drive required - we don't include transport and participants normally car share.
- Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.
- Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.
- Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation.
- Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.
- Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.
• What level of fitness is needed?
This trip is graded as Active. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.
• Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.
• I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. *Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.
• What transport is provided during this trip?
We do not provide any transport for this experience. On some days there could be a short drive required to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the accommodation - participants normally car share. Some of our possible routes for the weekend mean we may need to jump on a local bus - the cost for these journeys is not included.
• Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.
Snowdonia National Park (Eryri) in North Wales is widely recognized as one of the most incredible landscapes in Britain, if not Europe. The high peaks flow over to rolling hillsides as gushing streams fall to sandy beaches, meandering rivers, and the crash of waterfalls. Here the sea is never far away from the crags, and the possibilities for adventure range from gentle walks to watersports, to high mountain climbing.
The Carneddau mountains in the east of the National Park cover 10% of the area and are the largest expanse of high ground in England and Wales. They are bordered to the east by the deep Conwy Valley, and have been lived in for thousands of years – indeed there are over 1000 ancient sites recorded in these hills. Alongside the natural wonders, there are cosy mountain villages, the dramatic Conwy Castle, pubs and cafes everywhere you look, as well as wildlife bringing life to these remote and spectacular valleys.