Bethesda in Gwynedd sits on the northern edge of Snowdonia National Park, tucked beneath the steep slopes of the Carneddau and just a short drive from Bangor and the Menai Strait. The town’s compact terraces and looming slate tips give it a rugged, dramatic character and make it a handy gateway for walkers and climbers heading into the mountains.
It grew up around Penrhyn Quarry, once one of the world’s largest slate quarries, and the industrial past - notably the long Penrhyn Quarry strike - still shapes local identity and politics. Today Bethesda retains a strong Welsh-speaking community and a mixed economy of tourism, outdoor recreation and local trades, alongside ongoing efforts at cultural and social regeneration.
Postcode districts covering Bethesda
Most populated places nearby
- Colwyn Bay 16.1 miles
- Bangor 4.6 miles
- Abergele 20.9 miles
- Llandudno 13.8 miles
Neighbouring places
- Canol Bethesda Ward 0.1 miles
- Gerlan Ward 0.5 miles
- Rachub Built-up area 0.8 miles
- Llanllechid Parish 0.9 miles
- Tregarth Built-up area 1.3 miles
- Arllechwedd Ward 1.3 miles
- Tre-garth a Mynydd Llandygái Ward 1.4 miles
- Llandygai Built-up area 3 miles
- Clwt-y-bont Built-up area 3.8 miles
- Dwyrain Bangor Ward 4 miles
- Deiniolen Ward 4 miles
- Aber Parish 4.2 miles
Example postcodes in Bethesda
LL57 3NP, LL57 3TN, LL57 3PG, LL57 3RN, LL57 3NE, LL57 3DD, LL57 3RS, LL57 3TG, LL57 3LU … See all
Transport links
- Liverpool John Lennon Airport 51.1 miles
- Manchester Airport 74.8 miles
- Bangor 4.3 miles
- Llanfairfechan Railway Station 6.2 miles
Hotels near Bethesda Ad
- The Management Centre 4 4.5 miles
- The Slate 2.8 miles
- Royal Victoria Hotel Snowdonia 3 5.1 miles
- The Bulkeley Hotel 3 5.9 miles
- YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass Hostel 4 7.1 miles
- Ty glyndwr Hotel Bangor 3 4.3 miles
- Gallt y Glyn Hostel 4.9 miles
- YHA Snowdon Llanberis 3 5.4 miles
- Chateau Rhianfa 5 5.3 miles
- Padarn 3 5.1 miles
Schools in Bethesda
- Ysgol Abercaseg (Babanod) Primary
- Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen Bethesda Secondary
- Ysgol Llanllechid Primary
- Ysgol Penybryn Primary
Local points of interest
- Carneddau Mountains 2.4 miles
- Penrhyn Castle Estate 3 miles
- Farrar Road stadium Stadium 4.2 miles
- Treborth Estate 4.6 miles
- National Slate Museum Museum 4.7 miles
- Plas Newydd Country house 6.6 miles
- Llanidan House Estate 7.2 miles
- Caernarfon Town FC Stadium 9.1 miles
- Maenan Abbey Historic site 10.3 miles
- Bodnant Garden Gardens 11.5 miles
- Gwydyr Forest Forest 11.6 miles
- Aberconwy Abbey (Conwy, Wales) 1199-1283 Historic site 11.8 miles