Plas y Brenin

Plas y Brenin, located in Conwy County Borough, Wales, is a National Outdoor Centre owned by Sport England.

In the late 18th century, Richard Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn, built a road from Bangor through the Nant Ffrancon and Dyffryn Ogwen to Betws-y-Coed, and eventually through to Shrewsbury (in use by 1798).

The inn wasn't built on the road (now the A5), but some distance from it on the present site to facilitate enjoyment of the superb view of Llynnau Mymbyr (the lakes) and the Snowdon horseshoe.

Other well-known people who have visited included Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond on 6 September 1807 (there is a plaque commemorating his visit), Sir Joseph Paxton (1856) (designer of The Crystal Palace), Bishop Samuel Wilberforce (1858), Lord Byron (1913) and Sir Walter Scott (1818).

Some distinguished visitors to the hotel etched their names into the windows of the then cocktail bar (now the reception area); these were still in place into the 1970s.

Courses are run all year round, not only at Plas y Brenin in Snowdonia but in the north west of Scotland and in the Alps.

"The Royal Hotel" main entrance view (late 19th century)
"The Royal Hotel" with "Pont y Bala" in the foreground
The Royal Hotel gardens (late 19th century)
Llynnau Mymbyr and the Snowdon Horseshoe.
View from the Pinnacles, over the old Turnpike, St. Julitta's Church, Plas y Brenin, Llynnau Mymbyr, Dyffryn Mymbyr, Nant y Gwryd and the Snowdon Horseshoe.