Eryri Snowdonia best villages for photography 

Llanwrst

Grey Mares Tail LlanwrstGrey Mares Tail waterfall at Llanwrst Llanwrst is located in the heart of the Conwy valley on the edge of Eryri Snowdonia. It’s a very popular spot for photography in North Wales with the famous 15th Century  Tu Hwnt i'r Bont tearoom and the nearby 17th Century Pont Fawr. It’s also home to one of Snowdonia’s least known waterfalls, The Grey Mare’s Tail, set in secluded woodland just on the outskirts of the village. 

Llanwrst photo location 1: Tu Hwnt I’r Bont and Pont Fawr

Sunrise at Tu Hwnt I'r Bont tea room in LlanwrstA photo of Tu Hwnt I'r Bont tea room at Llanwrst at sunrise with the Virginia Creeper in full bloom and lovely autumnal colours in the surrounding woodland Tu Hwnt I’r is Snowdonia’s most popular tearoom and one of the UK’s most photographed. It’s located alongside the River Conwy in Llanwrst, it’s an easy photo location to find being on the main road. 

Llanwrst photo location 2: Grey Mare’s Tail Waterfall

Grey Mare’s Tail is a lovely twin waterfall hidden away in an ancient North Wales woodland, often missed by photographers visiting Snowdonia.  The best place to take a photo is from alongside the outlet stream, just a few metres before reaching the falls; the stream creates a nice lead-in effect and creates a strong foreground.

Beddgelert village

Beddgelert station of the Welsh Highland RailwayA steam locomotive arrives at Beddgelert from Caernarfon on the Welsh Highland Railway Beddgelert is a wonderfully photogenic location with riverside walks and wildflower meadows, attractive stone cottages, a heritage railway and one of Snowdonia’s most famous legends, Gelert the dog.  

Beddgelert is the perfect place for a Eryri Snowdonia photography trip. The village itself has some attractive stone buildings and lovely riverside walks; it sits at the junction of the Afon Colwyn and Afon Glaslyn. The Welsh Highland Railway has a station on the edge of the village with a backdrop of the peak of Moel Hebog; time it right and you get 2 steam locomotives for the price of one as they’re timetabled to meet at the station. As with much of Snowdonia the village is also steeped in legend and the short walk through attractive meadows to Gelerts grave is worth the effort, not only to absorb the story of Prince Llewelyn’s faithful hound written on the tombstone but also for the mountain views; Snowdon looking north east and Moel Hebog to the north; don’t miss the bronze statue of Gelert hidden in stone ruins of Beudy Buarth Gwyn, just past the grave.  

Bala 

Bala reflections on Llyn TegidStunning spring morning reflections on Llyn Tegid at Bala in Snowdonia National Park The historic town of Bala sits at the head of the Llyn Tegid, the largest natural lake in Wales, in an area known as the Welsh Lake District and an area of Eryri Snowdonia less frequented by photographers. It’s popular for watersports and it’s heritage narrow gauge railway, Bala Lake Railway, one of the “Great Little Trains of Wales”.  

Bala Photo location 1: Bala Lake Foreshore

The main viewpoint for Llyn Tegid is from the foreshore with distant views of the more isolated Snowdonia Aran Mountain range. During busy periods water sport activities, sailing, canoeing and windsurfing provide the chance of action shots, a long lens is advisable for this. 

Bala Photo location 2: Llangower Station & lake shore

For a good shot of the locomotives with a lake backdrop take a drive further down the B4403 on the south side of the lake, there are a couple of good viewpoints along the road. The lake shore itself offers good views of the Aran mountains. It’s bordered by trees with twisted, weather worn roots; great for detail shots.

Viewpoint 3: Bala Lake Railway

Bala Lake RailwaySteam train running on the Bala Lake Railway The narrow gauge railway dates from 1868 and operates both heritage steam and diesel locomotives. Llanuwchllyn station provides opportunities of photographing approaching locomotives and static detail shots on the platform. The station buildings are particularly photogenic, a fascinating glimpse into a bygone era. Try a wide shot of the waiting room with its Snowdonia mountain backdrop of the Aran range.

 

 

 

Betws-y-coed

Home to the most popular waterfall in Eryri Snowdonia, in fact in the whole of North Wales, Swallow Falls.  The 15th century Pont Y Pair Bridge, in the centre of Betws-y-coed is also a great photo location, especially when the salmon make their autumnal dash upstream.

Betws-y-coed photo viewpoint 1: Swallow Falls

Autumn at Swallow FallsAutumnal colours at Swallow falls near Betws-y-coed in the Snowdonia National Park The main visitors area at Swallow Falls is accessed via the turnstile directly alongside the A5, opposite the Swallow Falls Hotel. You have a choice of photo opportunities here with several manmade viewpoints, it's best to explore them all although the upper ones for me provide the best scenic photographs of the falls. 

Photo viewpoint 2: Miners Bridge

Miners Bridge is located in a narrow gorge on the Afon llugwy with flows from the heart of Snowdonia through Betws-y-coed and a short drive away from Swallow Falls. Photo viewpoints are relatively limited so it’s a pretty easy location to photograph

Photo viewpoint 3: Pont Y Pair 

Pont Y Pair spans the River Llugwy and provides a great view of the waterfall although for photographs I’d recommend heading under the bridge where you less likely to be jostling for a spot during busy tourist months. The photo looking west to the falls is the obvious shot.