Language

Welsh / English (76.1% Welsh speaking).

Area & Population

2,548 km2 & 116,844

Currency 

Pound Sterling – Currency Converter

Political System

Parliamentary democracy

Average maximum temperatures

January : 6.5c (43.7F)
May : 11.0c (51.8F)
August : 18.8c (65.8F)                              
October : 12.8c (55.0F)

Temperatures decrease dramatically on mountains

Day light hours

January : 8 hours                                    May : 15 hours

August : 16 hours                                    October : 11 hours

Passports and Visas

UK government regulations apply to Snowdonia Mountains and Coast area.

Animals and Pets

International : It is possible to bring pets to the Snowdonia Mountains and Coast area from other EU and EFTA countries but visitors are recommended to start the planning process well in advance since several permissions must be obtained. Please contact Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

UK Visitors : It is possible to bring pets to the Snowdonia Mountains and Coast area. Please check with your accommodation provider to ensure that pets are welcome. Restrictions do apply on certain beaches and please do keep animals under control at all times when in the area.

Visit the DEFRA web site for information on animal welfare whilst travelling.

Banking and Shopping

Banking hours

Monday-Friday  9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Saturday 10.00 am – 12.00 pm 
All banks are closed on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and on public holidays. Cyfnewid Arian - Currency Exchange 

Credit cards

Major credit cards are widely accepted. You can withdraw cash with your Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or Cirrus card at most banks and ATM’s.
 
Shopping hours

Monday-Friday  9.00 am - 5 pm
Saturday 9.00 am - 5 pm

In larger towns, e.g. Caernarfon and Bangor, stores remain open until 7.00 pm or longer. Some are also open on Sundays between approx. 10.00am and 4.00 pm. Shops generally close early the day before a public holiday.

Locally produced gifts and crafts can be purchased through the area. Worth looking out for are locally produced slate merchandise, love spoons and locally sourced food such as honey, lamb, beer and cheese.

Disabled Travellers

Many accommodation providers provide specially adapted rooms for disabled people, people with visual impairments and people with hearing impairments. Some activity providers and attractions also have technical aids to enable those with limited mobility to take part in activities like swimming or riding.

Please visit our accommodation directory to find further information regarding accommodation. All businesses are required to have an Access Statement which will provide details on specific facilities that are provided.

Information on public toilet keys is available from RADAR.

Transportation : Public transport is widely available for disabled travellers. Railways and buses have access and specific seats for passengers using wheelchairs. All stations, trains and buses are non-smoking.

Allergies: Most restaurants and accommodation providers cater for individuals with allergies.

Drinking Water

Tap water in the Snowdonia Mountains and Coast area is as good as it gets! Straight off the Atlantic Ocean -  rain water is collected in numerous mountain lakes and it’s available straight from the tap. When you come to the area, bring a bottle, fill it up and enjoy!  

Eating Out

Snowdonia attains an international reputation for culinary excellence and standards are high at all levels. Emphasis is placed on high-quality, natural, locally produced ingredients – notably fresh local fruit and vegetables, locally caught seafood (particularly crab, bass, lobster, cod), mountain reared Welsh Black beef and succulent sweet salt marsh lamb.
 
There is also a wide variety of ethnic restaurants and an exciting “crossover” style in which traditional Welsh dishes are reinvented with new foreign influences. 
 
You will also find all the usual fast-food outlets, pizzerias and traditional tasty fish and chips. There are plenty of cafés and cafeterias for lighter snacks.
 
A meal with wine at a medium priced restaurant will cost in the region of £12 - £15 per person.
 
Major credit cards are widely accepted throughout the area’s restaurants and eating out establishments.
 
Smoking restrictions: Smoking is not permitted by law in public indoor areas or on board public transport. Smoking is not permitted in stores, shops, restaurants, bars or other public buildings.

Tipping: Some establishments will automatically include a service charge, but on the whole tipping is a personal choice and is usually given for good service. A gratitude tip of 10% of the total bill is very acceptable.

Electric Supply

The UK electric supply is 240 volts AC 50 cycles. The standard electrical socket is the 13-amp flat pin. All international travellers should ensure that they carry an electrical adapter with them.

Driving

International drivers – UK regulations apply to the Snowdonia Mountains and Coast area thus driving is on the left. UK cars have the steering wheel on the right. The maximum speed is 70 mph (112km/h) – this is on motorways and dual carriageways. On single carriageways the maximum speed limit is 60 mph (96 km/h), and in built up areas is 30 mph (48 km/h). These maximum speeds apply unless signs show otherwise.

Drink drive laws are strictly applied – the safest course is not to drink and drive.

Seat belts must be worn at all times. Mobile phone use whilst driving is prohibited.

Speed limits – road signs are shown in miles per hour not kilometres per hour.

Mph       20 30 40 50 60 70
Km/h     32 48 64 80 96 112

Phone, Post and Internet Service

Public pay phones accept coins, phone cards and credit cards.

Telephone numbers in the Snowdonia Mountains and Coast area and the whole of the UK are given in area codes e.g. (01286) 123 123. You do not need to dial the area code if you are calling a number in the same area.

Country codes world wide can be found at the beginning of the telephone directory. Please find below some useful dialling codes to Europe:

00-43 Austria
00-32 Belgium
00-42 Czech Republic
00-45 Denmark
00-358 Finland
00-33 France
00-49 Germany
00-30 Greece
00-353 Ireland
00-39 Italy
00-31 Netherlands
00-47 Norway
00-40 Romania
00-42 Slovak Republic
00-34 Spain
00-46 Sweden
00-41 Switzerland

Mobile phone networks include Vodafone UK, Orange, O2 and T-Mobile. Coverage is variable and is very limited especially in secluded mountain valleys.

Postal service – post offices are open from 9:00am to 5:30 from Monday to Friday and from 9:00 to 12:00 on Saturday.

Most towns and larger villages have a Post office or a sub post office usually as part of general store or grocery shop.

Postage stamps are available from post offices and news agents.

Internet access is widely available through the area. Internet cafés , public libraries (free) and hotels will offer the service of computers with Internet access.

Laundry

Most hotels will provide a laundry service for their guests. Many camping sites, self catering and youth hostels also provide washing and drying machines for their guests. 

Dry cleaning and laundry establishments can be found in the main towns.

What To Wear

During the summer the weather in the area is usually mild and pleasant. Pack casual summer clothes, like a few medium-weight sweaters, a light jacket or raincoat. The weather can change dramatically from one part of the area to the other especially on the mountains. It’s not unusual to see the weather from all seasons in one day!
 
Clothes suitable for cold weather are necessary in the autumn, winter and spring.
 
Comfortable, low-heeled shoes are advised for sightseeing etc. If walking on higher ground ensure that suitable footwear and clothes are worn.
 
Eating out at night is usually casual / smart.