Attractions

HistoryPoints QR codes

Look out for HistoryPoints QR codes at scores of places in the Llanberis area. Scan the codes with your mobile to read a brief history of each featured building, ruin, memorial, structure or site. You'll find sequences of the QR codes along popular paths, including the traffic-free route alongside Llyn Padarn and the main paths at the old Dinorwig slate quarry.
All of the information is also available on the historypoints.org website. For example, click here to discover the story of a legendary strongwoman who rowed copper ore across both lakes, wrestled, hunted, shod horses and played the harp.

Website

Dolbadarn Castle
Dolbadarn Castle is a fortification built by the Welsh prince Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, Llywelyn the Great, during the early 13th century. The castle was important both militarily and as a symbol of Llywelyn’s power and authority. Situated at the entrance to the Llanberis Pass it protected the old village of Llanberis located where Nant Peris is now. The castle features a large stone keep, 15.2m high which is considered to be the finest surviving example of a Welsh round tower. In 1284 Dolbadarn Castle was taken by King Edward 1 who built a new castle in Caernarfon. The castle was used as a manor house for some years before falling into ruin. In the 18th and 19th century it was a popular destination for painters, Turners painting is considered to be iconic. It is now owned by CADW the Welsh government’s historic environment service. Cadw means ‘to keep’ or ‘to protect’ in Welsh.

Free entry

National Slate Museum Llanberis

Located in Padarn Country Park, the National Slate Museum is housed in the Industrial Victorian Workshops that once serviced and maintained the enormous Dinorwig slate quarry above it. The workshops catered for all the repair and maintenance work demanded by a quarry, which once employed well over 3,000 men.

From 4 November 2024 the Museum will shut its doors in order to undertake an exciting redevelopment project to breathe new life into this much-loved Museum, and safeguard the spectacular historic buildings and globally important collections so that future generations can experience and enjoy the incredible story of slate.

Things won’t stop whilst we’re closed! In 2025 we’ll be taking the museum on the road and, working with our partners, you can come and see us at lots of local places, from local attractions to community events.

We will re-open with an improved and revitalised museum experience in 2026.
Follow the re-development here: https://museum.wales/slate/redevelopment
and on our social media channels:

• FACEBOOK: Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru - National Slate Museum

• X: @amgueddfalechi

• INSTAGRAM:  @nationalslatemuseum

slate@museumwales.ac.uk  /  www.museum.wales/slate

The National Slate Museum redevelopment project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the UK Government via Gwynedd Council as part of the Llewyrch o'r Llechi project, Welsh Government and other fundraising.

Padarn Country Park

Padarn Country Park covers an area of 800 acres on the bank of Llyn Padarn. Coed Dinorwig, an SSSI has within its boundaries rare and ancient Sessile Oaks, Birch, Mountain Ash, Holly and Hazel. Bluebells in spring, and many ground covering plants, ferns, lichens and mosses provide homes and habitat for wildlife and birds Woodpeckers, Flycatchers are amongst the rarer ones. Lesser Horseshoe, Common Pipistrelle and Daubenton bats can be seen in Vivian Quarry and above Llyn Padarn.

Llyn Padarn also a SSSI, is the 6th deepest lake in Wales, has swimming quality water and is home to a rare alpine fish, Arctic Charr. Otters and Wildfowl frequent the lake and the outflow, Afon Rhythallt is a critical spawning site for Salmon and Sea-trout.

Vivian quarry a magnificent quarry hole which is now flooded, is used by the Vivian Dive Centre.

Address: Llanberis, Gwynedd, LL55 4TY
Website: www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Residents/Leisure-parks-and-events/Parks-and-green-spaces/Parc-Padarn-Country-Park.aspx
Email: parcgwledigpadarn@gwynedd.llyw.cymru
Telephone: 01286 870892

Llanberis Lake Railway

*Temporary shorter passenger journey 7th September 2025 - 1st November 2026

Due to the National Grid's essential underground cable replacement project, which has been ongoing in and around the village of Llanberis since early 2021, Llanberis Lake Railway will be handing over a considerable length of the railway to National Grid so they can replace the cables that run underneath the railway track. This means that from 7th September 2025 - 1st November 2026, the railway will be operaing a shorter passenger train service from the main station on Padarn Country Park to our Llanberis Station and vice - versa, a jorney of approximately 1/2 mile.

Discover the timeless appeal of one of the Great Little Train of Wales – a leisurely way to travel alongside Llyn Padarn. Open from March to the end of October with additional services in February and November, Santa trips in December.

Address: Gilfach Ddu / Padarn Country Park, Llanberis, LL55 4TY
Website: www.lake-railway.co.uk
Email: sales@lake-railway.co.uk
Telephone: 01286 870549

Fishing

Trout and Perch are very numerous in Llyn Padarn, as well as the historic Arctic char.Salmon and Seatrout also enter the lake from early summer.Day tickets for angling are available as are weekly and full season tickets.The season extends from 20th March to 17th October.

Tickets are available from

Menter Fachwen Shop on the High Street,Llanberis 01286 870681,

and Spar shop at London Garage,Cwm y Glo-open from 07.00-21.00.

Day ticket £20,Youth Ticket £6; Tickets can be bought on-line

https://www.fishingpassport.co.uk/fishing/upland-llyns/llyn-padarn-sgll-fishing-society

For further information:
www.sgll.co.uk
or Facebook- Seiont Gwyrfai a Llyfni

Ceunant Mawr Waterfall

Care, especially with young children should be taken when visiting the waterfalls, the path runs parallel
with the river and is two to three meters higher, there are no barriers or handrails and is not not suitable for wheelchair users.