Snowdonia locals - some reccs please

[boxelder]

Off to Ogwen next week with my sone for some hill walking/climbing. Campsite sorted, but where's good for an evening meal and a decent pint? Capel Curig, Bethesda? Vaynol Arms still good?
I'm not being feckless, I just want the trip to be relaxing and minimum hassle.

[voodoo_simon]

Play Y Brenin is actually alright if you’re passing or in the area and don’t want anything fancy (don’t read that as cheap). Think the menu had a revamp 2 years or so ago and is decent (big portions too). They sometimes have lectures on on a Saturday night too

I’m sure they’ll be better restaurants out there

Siabod cafe has sadly closed its doors (think they moved to Portmadog…)

[johnnystorm]

Vaynol Arms was good when we went in February, which is handy as apart from the Curry house (which was also good) in Llanberis nowhere else was open/doing food.

[jameso]

We stayed at Llyn Gwynant campsite last week, just down the road towards Beddgelert. They have a decent range of beers and do pizzas. Sitting by the lake there was nice when there's a breeze to keep those tiny itchy bugs away! Good campsite, recommended.
The food at the YHA at Pen-y-Pass looked good when we popped in for a pint.

[boxelder]

Thanks all. No midges in Wales, surely......? Original plan was N Highlands, but weather and midge forecasts forced the change.

[jameso]

They're not like Scottish midges, just those tiny annoying things that itch, a sot of skin crawling itch more than bites. A slight breeze and they're gone but I've done the madman dance while packing up a tent when they're about.

[boxelder]

Successful trip. Arrived Monday mid afternoon, set up camp and climbed Milestone Direct on Tryfan. Late finish meant kebab place in Bethesda, which did the job. Tuesday was Tryfan, Bristly ridge and over the Glyders, descending via Cwm Idwal. The Stables in Betws y Coed for tasty veg curry and nice (if flat) beer. Wednesday - Snowdon horseshoe with Crib Goch and Lliwedd. Weirdly quiet except for the circus 200m either side of the summit.
Ashamed to say I'd forgotten how good North Wales is and as close to us as Glencoe etc (but no midges.........)

[The Cumbrian]

Successful trip. Arrived Monday mid afternoon, set up camp and climbed Milestone Direct on Tryfan. Late finish meant kebab place in Bethesda, which did the job. Tuesday was Tryfan, Bristly ridge and over the Glyders, descending via Cwm Idwal. The Stables in Betws y Coed for tasty veg curry and nice (if flat) beer. Wednesday - Snowdon horseshoe with Crib Goch and Lliwedd. Weirdly quiet except for the circus 200m either side of the summit.
Ashamed to say I'd forgotten how good North Wales is and as close to us as Glencoe etc (but no midges.........)

That's a good few days away. I've done all of those routes, but not in the same week. Good effort.

[boxelder]

Successful trip. Arrived Monday mid afternoon, set up camp and climbed Milestone Direct on Tryfan. Late finish meant kebab place in Bethesda, which did the job. Tuesday was Tryfan, Bristly ridge and over the Glyders, descending via Cwm Idwal. The Stables in Betws y Coed for tasty veg curry and nice (if flat) beer. Wednesday - Snowdon horseshoe with Crib Goch and Lliwedd. Weirdly quiet except for the circus 200m either side of the summit.
Ashamed to say I'd forgotten how good North Wales is and as close to us as Glencoe etc (but no midges.........)

That's a good few days away. I've done all of those routes, but not in the same week. Good effort.

Helped by the Osprey rucksack you sold me (I think)

[Lazarus]

Good effort getting your bike round those

[summittoppler]

Sorry but only just seen this post, so my local tips are useless now. I would have said Stables and the pizza place by the station in Betws. The midges love the campsite in Gwynant as there's plenty of new blood to taste.
Midweek is better for hitting the big hill as the insta folk love it up there at weekends
Sounds like a good few days was had. Btw, don't tell too many how nice Snowdonia is

[voodoo_simon]

Good to hear the stables is back up to standard, remember a few years ago (probably about ten now I think about it) it went down hill, so never been back!

Never been to the pizza place, so that’s a good tip