Llanberis

The trains only run to the summit from mid-May onwards; before that, they stop about 3/4 of the way up at a station called Clogwyn. This still has excellent views down the valley but no services or shelter.

There are two services: Modern carriages powered by diesel engines costing about £40, and heritage carriages powered by steam engines costing about £50.

The diesel service runs from the end of March, and the steam service from mid-June.

So, if you want to go to the summit, plan your trip from mid-May; if you want the whole heritage steam experience, go from mid-June.

Located in what were once the workshops of the nearby Dinorwic slate quarry, The National Slate Museum gives a fascinating insight into Wales's slate mining and quarrying industry. Comparatively remote and inaccessible, Dinorwic was largely self-sufficient, making on-site the machinery and tools required not just for the quarry itself but for the railway that connected it to the port and the steamships that exported the slate. At the museum, there are installations on casting and forging (making moulds and then pouring metal into them), demonstrations of blacksmithing, and the largest working waterwheel in Britain.

Regular demonstrations also take place, showing how slate was traditionally split and "dressed" by hand to make roofing tiles and describing how the quarrymen worked in teams of two, one on the quarry face and another down in the workshop so that the slates left the quarry ready for use.

Also on the site is a row of quarry workers' cottages. These were originally located in the nearby slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. When scheduled for demolition, the museum bought them, moved them to Llanberis, and reconstructed them brick by brick. Each cottage is decorated to show how quarry workers would have lived in a different decade during the quarry's 160-year history.

Crossing the road from the museum and walking up the hill to the disused quarry gives a real feel for the scale of extracting slate from the mountainside. Despite being abandoned, it brings alive much of what you have learned in the museum in the valley below. There are interesting ruined buildings and great vantage points of the "galleries" where the slate was cut.

However, the highlight of this slightly strenuous walk is the views. It can get misty up here, so if you are going to make the effort of the climb, it is best saved for a dry, clear day. Then, you will be rewarded with views of the quarry workings and panoramas over Llanberis, Llyn Padarn, and the neighbouring "Electric Mountain" and its reservoir. This hydroelectric power station, sadly, is not currently open to the public.

Also visible from several vantage points during the walk up to the quarry is Dolbadarn Castle, situated on the opposite side of Llyn Peris—the artificial lake that acts as a reservoir from which water is pumped the Dinorwic hydroelectric power station.

Constructed in the early 13th century to guard the entrance of the strategically important Llanberis pass, which connected Caernarfon to inland Wales, the castle’s romantic location made it a favourite subject for painters in the 19th century, including Turner.

Llanberis sits on the southern shore of one of the largest natural lakes in Wales - Llyn Padarn. The glacial lake about two miles long, framed by mountains, makes for a beautiful circular walk that starts and ends at Llanberis. The lake forms the southern boundary of Padarn Country Park.

Look out for the famous and often photographed "Lonely Tree" - a single birch tree near the southeast shore. 

To find it, follow the signs to Snowdonia Watersports from Llanberis (LL55 4EL). There is a car park just opposite, and the tree is a short walk from there.

If you've done enough walking, you can instead take the Llanberis Lake Railway (LL55 4TY) from just next to the Slate Museum. Running along part of the railway line built to transport slate from the quarry to the sea at Port Dinworic near Caernarfon, a round trip along the scenic north shore of the lake takes about an hour.

Frân Las (LL55 4EU) - A hipsterish, dog-friendly and vegan cafe at the north end of the high street. It seemed pretty popular with the hiking crowd the day we visited for breakfast. The coffee was good, and they made fresh pastries from scratch on the premises.

Pantri (LL55 4SU) - Family-run coffee shop with an outside terrace that is dog-friendly and suitable for light bites, lunch or afternoon tea.

Peak Restaurant (LL55 4SU) - open only in the evenings; this is the best place to have dinner in Llanberis. Their chef, formerly of The Groucho Club in London, puts a modern spin on local Welsh ingredients.

If you are still trying to decide if the Llanberis should be your next destination for a short break or weekend getaway, we have collected our favourite photos from around the web to give you a flavour of what you can see during your visit. You can view them here…