Blaenau Ffestiniog

Mountain walking and the slate landscapes of Eryri

Blaenau Ffestiniog is a mountain town in Gwynedd, surrounded by steep hills, former quarries and upland valleys within Eryri National Park. Slate has shaped both the town and the surrounding landscape, which forms part of The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Snowdonia Slate Trail passes through Blaenau Ffestiniog as it crosses the former slate-producing landscapes of North Wales. From the town, the route connects with Tanygrisiau and the mountain country to the south and west, while heading in the opposite direction leads towards Cwm Penmachno and Betws-y-Coed through upland and forest landscapes.

Walking around Blaenau Ffestiniog is closely connected to its industrial history. Former quarry tracks, inclines and paths cross hillsides shaped by generations of slate extraction, while higher routes lead into rougher mountain and moorland terrain. Quarry lakes, spoil tips and exposed rock give the landscape around the town a character quite different from the greener valleys elsewhere in Eryri.

The town itself has shops, cafés, places to eat and drink, accommodation and a railway station, making it a practical base for spending several days exploring the surrounding landscape on foot. The Ffestiniog Railway also runs from Blaenau Ffestiniog towards Porthmadog, providing another connection through the mountains and wooded valleys of this part of North Wales.

Exploring Blaenau Ffestiniog on foot

Walks from Blaenau Ffestiniog can range from routes through the immediate quarry landscape to longer days following the Snowdonia Slate Trail or heading into the surrounding mountains of Eryri National Park.

South-west of the town, paths lead towards Tanygrisiau and the former slate workings around Cwmorthin, where old quarry buildings, inclines and tracks remain embedded in the mountain landscape. Longer routes can continue through the uplands towards Croesor and the western sections of the Snowdonia Slate Trail.

North and east of Blaenau Ffestiniog, the trail heads towards Cwm Penmachno and Betws-y-Coed, crossing a mixture of upland paths, tracks and forest. The terrain around the town is considerably more mountainous than many SGT walking destinations, with sustained climbs, rough surfaces and exposed sections possible on higher routes.

Blaenau Ffestiniog also works as a base for exploring the UNESCO-listed slate landscape independently of the long-distance trail. Shorter walks can reveal former quarries, industrial remains and mountain viewpoints while allowing walkers to return to the town at the end of the day.

For walkers staying in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Plas Weunydd Hotel provides a base within the historic slate landscape above the town. From here, walkers can explore the surrounding quarry paths, connect with the Snowdonia Slate Trail, and spend longer days discovering the mountains and valleys of Eryri National Park.