The best Snowdonia locations for an Instagram photo shoot

If you're visiting Eryri Snowdonia National park looking for that classic Instagram photo then here are my recommendations for the best Instagram selfie photo shoot locations in the area.

All the Eryri Snowdonia photos in this article can be found in my website gallery:  https://www.landscapephotographyuk.com/snowdonia-photographs

The Lonely Tree at Llanberis

Llanberis Lonely TreeA sunrise photo of the Lonely Tree in Llanberis on Llyn Padarn. I arrived in Eryri Snowdonia National Park under a blanket of cloud so expectations for a good sunrise photo of the famous tree were low but a small break in the cloud cover just gave me the chance to catch this photo as the sun burst over the peak of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Llyn Padarn Lonely Tree LlanberisThe lonely tree at Llyn Padarn in Llanberis

The famous Snowdonia lonely tree on the shores of Llyn Padarn at Llanberis is without doubt the most popular spot in North Wales for an Instagram photo shoot. So much so that you often need to join of queue of people waiting to capture that famous view with the peak of Wales's highest mountain, Yr Wyddfa Snowdon in the background. My recommendation for the best chance of a good photo is to arrive early, a sunrise photo shoot would make a stunning instagram selfie!

Yr Wyddfa Snowdon summit

Sunrise breaking at Snowdon / Yr WyddfaEryri Snowdonia is a stunning National Park in North Wales and home to this amazing mountain, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the highest peak in Wales. This photo was captured following a pre-dawn hike to the summit which turned out to be a pretty spectular morning in the Snowdonia National Park with Mother Nature putting on an amazing temperature inversion below Snowdon summit. Snowdon summit above the cloudsAn incredible view of a temperature inversion from the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in Eryri Snowdonia. You often see queues on the summit of Wales’s highest mountain but my luck was in this morning having these views all to myself for a good 20 minutes, plenty of time to capture a few photos.

Another classic Eryri Snowdonia photo location and the ultimate Instagram shot from Wales, you can't get much better that been stood at the top of Wales's highest mountain. The summit of Snowdon is the most visited mountain top in Europe so it's no easy feat getting an Instagram selfie stood alone on the summit marker so an early start, in fact a very early start is the best chance of success. Try avoiding the peak season too as Snowdon is part of the "3 Peaks Challenge" so it can be as busy in the evening as it is during daytime. An autumn or winter climb to Yr Wyddfa Snowdon summit would be my suggestion for that ultimate Instagram photo shoot.

Castell Y Gwynt, Glyder Fach

Castell Y GwyntCastell Y Gwynt photograph on the summit of the Glyderau mountains in the Snowdonia National Park.

Castell Y Gwynt is a unique rock formation in the Eryri Snowdonia National park, found on the summit of Glyder Fach in the Ogwen Valley. This isn't an easy Instagram photo shoot location as reaching the summit involves a near 3000feet climb up the mountain paths, it's well worth the effort though as there's nowhere on the planet quite like it. Most visitors start the walk from the Ogwen visitors centre, making their way up Devils Kitchen with its amazing mountain views.

Above the Llanberis Pass

A stunning Snowdonia sunset from the Llanberis PassA selfie photo of me looking in awe at the stunning sunset from the Llanberis Pass in Snowdonia

Looking down the Llanberis Pass is my own personal favourite location for an Instagram selfie. It's much less visited than the sumiits of Yr Wyddfa Snowdon or the Glyderau mountains and it's a perfect location for a sunset photo shoot. Reached by following the Pyg Track from the car park at the top of the Llanberis Pass but quickly turning off left to climb the hillside above the path to find the ridge know as "The Horns".

The Panorama walk above Barmouth

Mawddach sunrise BarmouthStunning summer sunrise on the Mawddach estuary at Barmouth from The Panorama Barmouth Panorama sunrise on the Mawddach EstuaryA gorgeous sunrise on the Mawddach Estuary at Barmouth from The Panorama

To the south of Eryri Snowdonia National Park, just above the seaside resort of Barmouth, you'll find this beautiful walk, known locally as the Panorama. It's an easy to reach location for an Instagram photo and to make life even easier there's a perfectly placed bench to sit. Get there for a summer sunrise and you'll usually have the view all to yourself and what a view it is if you're lucky to time your visit for a stunning sunrise. The whole of the Mawddach estuary lights up in amazing colour... a more unique location for that Instagram selfie too!

The Watkin Path slate bridge

Afon Llan slate bridgeSlate footbraidge spanning the Afon LLan on the Watkin Path to Snowdon

Another popular location for those looking for that Instagram selfie is the Afon Llan slate bridge, just a short wander up the Watkin path route to the summit of Yr Wyddfa Snowdon. It's an ancient slate bridge with the backdrop of a beautiful waterfall and crystal clear water of the Afon Llan as it tumbles into Nant Gwynant. 

The abandoned slate quarry of Dinorwig

Dinorwic quarry cutting shedThe old slate cutting shed at Dinorwic quarry above Llanberis in Snowdonia End of the line at Dinorwic QuarryRusting slate track hanging over Australia at Dinorwic Quarry

If you're looking for an Instagram photo shoot location that's unique then look no further than the abandoned slate quarry of Dinorwig above the town of Llanberis in the Eryri Snowdonia National Park. It's an amazing place to wander, potentially dangerous too so best to be very careful if exploring the numerous abandoned buildings and slate quarry areas. There are lots of selfie photo opportunities here, probably the most obvious is Anglesey Barracks but the further you explore up the quarry the more interesting it becomes with hidden tunnels, fascinating old buildings and amazing views of the Snowdonia mountains.

All the Instagram photo shoot locations are included in my popular guidebook, Photographing North Wales.
 

Personally signed copies are available here on my website:

https://www.landscapephotographyuk.com/north-wales-photo-location-guidebook