Bala or Betws-Y-Coed?

Ex-Call Centre Chimp

Ex-Call Centre Chimp

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Ahoy hoy Comrades.
I'd like to take my wife to Wales for a few days in May with a view to doing some walking (Snowdon hopefully) and some open water swimming.
I read a thread on here a few weeks ago that I can't find now that suggested Bala as a decent base and I've found a reasonable looking pub at an agreeable price in that town/village but looking at the photos on Google Street view Bala looks a little run down. I'm not sure whether that's a fair representation but nearby Betws-Y-Coed looks a bit nicer on Street View.
Bala would be fine for me on my own but she has higher standards than me so based on this would Betws-Y-Coed be a better bet?
As usual TY in advance.

I've just re-read that & it doesn't read they way I intended. Let's try again. Is Betws-Y-Coed a prettier place to take one's wife for a birthday break than Bala?

TY again.
 
if you can get in at Beddgelert it's a very nice village, there's a shortage of accommodation at the moment with Saracens head and the Royal goat closed, but this may change, the best hotel in Beddgelert is the http://www.tanronnen.co.uk/ but has limited number of bedrooms and is often booked up, worth a try though,
 
Funny how nobody blinks an eye at something as ‘foreign’ as Betws-Y-Coed but some get all steamed up when someone suggests that Brecon Beacons get an equally ‘foreign’ name.

Enjoy your holiday.
 
I Stayed in Bala 2 weeks ago at the Gwersyllfa Pant yr Onnen Lakeside Campsite (yes I had re look up the name )
I wasn’t walking I was on the bike so cant say if its good for walking.
People there are very friendly as is the owner of the campsite, really nice guy and cant do enough.

Close to the campsite was a mini railway service into Bala.

Bala mains street is ok with everything you need, but it’s a not a spend all day window shopping kind of place, its more a village.
At night we had beers round a fire next to the lake, so cant comment on nightlife

Lake Vyrnwy is not far away with nice walks around with sculptures and of course the dam. There is also the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel.
 
We had a long weekend in Betws when we had the snow a month or so ago. It really is a lovely place and great for walking, train station which accesses Conwy or Ffestiniog so all sorts of walking. Not sure about swimming, It was fecking freezing when we were there.
 
I capsized a dinghy, shortly after being the first, in a class association race, to the windward mark ( first and only time ever ) on Lake Bala . I can recommend it for open water swimming ….
 
Used to have a Caravan at Bala - Pen Y Bont campsite. Now have one at Llangollen which is a properly pretty town on the Dee at the bottom of the Horseshoe Pass.
Bala is at a crossroads and there is brilliant riding in all 4 directions. Really good. Places to eat in town and hotels/B&Bs. The High Street is very Welsh - not many chain stores. So it looks like somewhere out of the 1950s. Its quite a centre for sailing/mountain biking etc. They host a triathlon.
Betws is on the A5 so not so brilliant for nearby riding. Bikers mostly pass through or stop for a coffee.
 
Is there anywhere with hot springs to flounder in by any chance; none of this freezing bollocks; if not; a camping pod with a fuck puddle outside and some moody lamps would be a go-er;:D
 
Betws-y-coed sounds so much better than ....... prayer house in the wood

We stayed at the Glenwood last time we did the NW200. Very comfortable, bike in their garage overnight. Not far to the Swallow Falls, several options for dinner in the village.
 
Trouble is Betws is usually rammed with scousers and brummies
Lovely spot tho and close to Snowdonia (which will also be rammed with the same )

Beddgelert is a good call and make sure you have a run on the Welsh Highland / Ffestiniog (my brother is a driver )
 
If you stop in Betws you can get the Sherpa bus to Yr Wyddfa and cut out the hassle with parking which you need to book in advance most weekends.
 
AndyB_11 said:
If you stop in Betws you can get the Sherpa bus to Yr Wyddfa and cut out the hassle with parking which you need to book in advance most weekends.
Click to expand...

Greg Masters said:
The former Snowdonia is now properly referred to as Eryri National Park

:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Very good you two; Yr Wyddfa and Eryri National Park indeed ; very "Engineerish" ffs's !:rolleyes:
 
Tinytim said:
Very good you two; Yr Wyddfa and Eryri National Park indeed ; very "Engineerish" ffs's !:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

The name Yr Wyddfa has been in use for years so it’s hardly something new but I thought I’d use it because using Welsh names where there’s an English alternative seems to create a bit of upset amongst some :D
 
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