Five reasons to head for...

Visit the little Welsh village which, despite its compact size, is regarded as the hub of mountaineering in the north of Snowdonia National Park.

The Welsh village of Capel Curig

For the mountains

1 If you’re exploring the peaks of northern Snowdonia there is no better base than Capel Curig. The Snowdon massif cuts a fine figure on the horizon when seen across the double lake of Llynnau Mymbyr and is only a short distance away along the A4086. Alternatively, stay on the A5 and the Ogwen Valley with Tryfan, the Glyders and the Carneddau is there for the taking. Or set out to climb Moel Siabod, the mountain that looms over Capel Curig as the guardian of the village. The Conwy Tourism website perhaps sums up Capel Curig best when it exclaims that ‘mountains are its raison d’être’.

For new skills and experiences

2 Want to improve your navigation? How about trying rock climbing? Thinking about taking your Mountain Leader training? Or maybe taking to the water on a kayaking course? You can do all this and more at Plas y Brenin, the national mountain sports centre. Offering one-off experiences, longer courses, accommodation and its own brewery, if you want to expand your mountain skills and experiences this is the place to be.

For the grub

3 After a day in the Welsh mountains, you’re going to want feeding. Capel Curig is home to some great eateries, including the Tyn-y-Coed Inn with its famous stagecoach on the side of the A5, the Bryn Tyrch Inn’s AA One Rosette bar and bistro, and the Moel Siabod Café where you can grab breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea and dinner as well as picking up information on local routes and activities.

For an Ugly House

4 Legend has it that Ty ^ Hyll was a ‘ty ^ unnos’ or ‘one night house’. A 15th century tradition stated that if a house could be constructed in a single night on common land, the builders could claim it as their own property. The truth is that nobody knows who built ‘ The Ugly House’, or when, but whatever its history the stone cottage has become something of a landmark, and these days is home to a tea room.

For upmarket hosteling

5 If you like your accommodation bill to be on the budget side, but don’t want to rough it, Plas Curig Hostel is an incredible discovery. Described as Wales’ only 5-star independent hostel, it offers the cheap rates and self-catering facilities of a hostel, but with the luxurious décor and finish of a boutique hotel. It also offers free Wi-Fi, great views, and is on the doorstep of some of the best hills in North Wales.