The Eryri 360 Coastal: Machynlleth to Caernarfon
Following the huge success of other long-distance routes, such as The North Coast 500 and the Wild Atlantic Way, tourism groups are curating equally interesting routes to bring tourism to their areas. While I would argue that Eryri doesn’t need any help in that respect – Yr Wydffa is summited by about 600-700,000 people each year – there is clearly a need to manage the number of visitors to the National Park annually (estimates put it at around 4-10million) and encourage them to see parts of the area with less pressure. The Eryri 360 does exactly that. Instead of funnelling you straight into a mountain bottleneck, this route takes you on a wonderful ride around Snowdonia's amazing coastline. It's a place of great beauty, with jaw dropping views and a mountain backdrop. Expect cosy villages, remote pubs, beaches and lots of walking!
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End
Stops
Places to stay
Attractions

Places to stay (12)

Places to stay

Aberdyfi - Nyth Robin Campsite

A small but charming site above the river Dyfi.

Location: 52.557260,-3.977450
Places to stay

Cricieth - Y Maes Car Park (LL52 0BT)

Gwynedd Council allows motorhome parking at four car parks overnight at Y Maes Car Park, Cricieth (LL52 0BT), Y Glyn, Llanberis (LL55 4TY), Cei’r Gogledd, Pwllheli (LL53 5YR) and Doc Fictoria Car Park (old Shell site), in Caernarfon (LL55 1SQ).

Location: 52.918700,-4.235800
Places to stay

Llanberis - Y Glyn (LL55 4TY)

Gwynedd Council allows motorhome parking at four car parks overnight at Y Maes Car Park, Cricieth (LL52 0BT), Y Glyn, Llanberis (LL55 4TY), Cei’r Gogledd, Pwllheli (LL53 5YR) and Doc Fictoria Car Park (old Shell site), in Caernarfon (LL55 1SQ).

Location: 53.127818,-4.136218
Places to stay

Pwllheli - Cei’r Gogledd (LL53 5YR)

Gwynedd Council allows motorhome parking at four car parks overnight at Y Maes Car Park, Cricieth (LL52 0BT), Y Glyn, Llanberis (LL55 4TY), Cei’r Gogledd, Pwllheli (LL53 5YR) and Doc Fictoria Car Park (old Shell site), in Caernarfon (LL55 1SQ).

Location: 52.890311,-4.410259
Places to stay

Caernarfon - Doc Fictoria Car Park (LL55 1SQ)

Gwynedd Council allows motorhome parking at four car parks overnight at Y Maes Car Park, Cricieth (LL52 0BT), Y Glyn, Llanberis (LL55 4TY), Cei’r Gogledd, Pwllheli (LL53 5YR) and Doc Fictoria Car Park (old Shell site), in Caernarfon (LL55 1SQ).

Location: 53.142328,-4.277848
Places to stay

Barmouth - Parc Isaf

Great site with wonderful views overlooking the sea just outside Barmouth.

Location: 52.783490,-4.085410
Places to stay

Dolgellau - Cilfan Y Coed Aire

A small aire with just 5 spaces in the lovely town of Dolgellau.

Location: 52.741617,-3.877970
Places to stay

Tywyn - Cae Du Farm Holidays

A great site on the shore where fires are allowed, and sunsets are legendary.

Location: 52.632600,-4.118129
Places to stay

Fairbourne - Glan Y Mor Aire

A new facility near the beach.

Location: 52.696556,-4.052220
Places to stay

Shell Island

Mega site with lots of space and 800 pitches and lots of stuff to do.

Location: 52.818114,-4.143464
Places to stay

Aberdaron - Morfa Mawr Campsite

Site overlooking Aberdaron on the tip of the Llyn Peninsula.

Location: 52.803629,-4.697540
Places to stay

Trefor - Bert's Kitchen Garden

A small site with just 4 campervan (small van) pitches set in a kitchen garden in Trefor.

Location: 52.996288,-4.430302

Attractions (18)

Town or City

Machylleth

lots of great shops.

Location: 52.590606,-3.853279
Town or City

Aberdyfi

good crabbing and a great beach, with nice shops. Also Llyn Barfog, the Bearded Lake, home of The Anfanc, a terrifying Arthurian monster.

Location: 52.543600,-4.047800
Natural Space

Aberdyfi - Llyn Barfog

The Bearded Lake, home of The Anfanc, a terrifying Arthurian monster.

Location: 52.569226,-3.992292
Heritage Railway

Tywyn - Talyllyn Railway

The world’s first preserved railway.

Location: 52.583620,-4.088820
Historic House

Tywyn - Castell Y Beres

A Welsh built castle in a valley beneath Cadair Idris a few miles north of Tywyn.

Location: 52.658975,-3.969162
Town or City

Fairbourne and Barmouth

Miniature railway running along the sands, with a café at the end and, in season, a small boat to take you across the estuary to Barmouth. Walk back along the railway bridge. Great cycling on the Mawddach Trail to Dolgellau.

Location: 52.695585,-4.049836
Heritage Railway

Fairbourne - Miniature Railway

Miniature railway running along the sands, with a café at the end and, in season, a small boat to take you across the estuary to Barmouth.

Location: 52.695585,-4.049836
Activity

Fairbourne - Mawddach Trail

Great cycling on the Mawddach Trail to Dolgellau.

Location: 52.707229,-4.030980
Food & Drink

Barmouth - Harbour View Café

A café at the end of the miniature railway, with, in season, a small boat to take you across the estuary to Barmouth.

Location: 52.715150,-4.048500
Town or City

Dolgellau

Slate grey market town with a lovely town centre and lots of shops and pubs sitting beneath Cadair Idris.

Location: 52.742534,-3.885637
Historic House

Castell Harlech

Edward 1 masterpiece that’s one of four designated by UNESCO in Wales, sitting on a promontory overlooking the sea (that has since retreated). A spectacular setting.

Location: 52.859200,-4.107500
Local Landmark

Penmaenpool

Small vans will make mincemeat of the old wooden bridge that cuts off a few miles from the journey to Dolgellau. Have a couple of quid ready for the toll. Great pub adjacent, the George III

Location: 52.748444,-3.934000
Food & Drink

Penmaenpool - George III

Great pub adjacent the toll bridge, the George III

Location: 52.748000,-3.935930
Town or City

Portmeirion

Italianate village designed by Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis from 1925 to 1973. Known for being a film location, it’s a stunning place that’s very out of the ordinary, colourful and evocative. Home to Portmeirion pottery too and a great place to visit.

Location: 52.914391,-4.097148
Heritage Railway

Portmadog and the Festiniog and West Highland Railways

The western end of two spectacular narrow gauge heritage steam railways that will whisk you to Blaenau Festiniog, Bedgelert, Tan-y-Bwlch and Caernarfon following the path of the old slate railways. You can even go first class in a pullman service or observation carriage.

Location: 52.927160,-4.128120
Town or City

Abersoch and Hell's Mouth

Lovely village at the tip of the Llyn Peninsula with lots of opportunities for sailing, water skiing, wakeboarding, surfing SUPing and swimming. Gets busy but still lovely.

Location: 52.824007,-4.499737
Town or City

Aberdaron

Village beyond Hell’s Mouth with great beach and pub. It is the point at which you turn north, with more lovely beaches to explore at Porth Colman, Nefyn and Portoer.

Location: 52.804557,-4.712015
Historic House

Castell Caernarfon

Another stunning Castle and one of the greatest buildings of the middle ages. Birthplace of the first Prince of Wales.

Location: 53.138932,-4.276039