Pen-Y-Gwryd Hotel, Caernarfon

Like the previous reviewer, I was caught out when arriving on a Sunday. The CAMRA website has it open seven days a week, but this seems to be no longer the case, with the winter hours observed by BS below being just two days a week, and the summer hours that still pertained in mid-September being five days. Sunday and Monday are both missed out, as well as the Tuesdays of bank holiday weekends according to the handwritten notice taped inside the glass panel in the well-closed door. A pity, as I had not been here since before the pandemic, when I was unfortunate to find the beer having an infection. I hope to return sometime. By the way, not everyone seems to know that the well-known path on Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa which is called the PYG Track actually starts here, and not at the top of the pass, which is why it is named after the pub. Car parking at Pen-y-Pass has to be prebooked and is pretty expensive, while parking at Pen-y-Gwryd is for hotel customers only - leaving your car here while you climb the hill has obvious risks. The bus service is frequent, and one option is to use the park and ride at Nant Peris and take the bus to the pass, then climb the hill and descend to here for a pint before taking the bus back over to the car park in the valley.

Whilst situated at the junction of a couple of A-roads, this historic pub really feels like it is in the middle of nowhere. Unfortunately, it's remote location means that opening times are limited to just 2 days each week (Friday & Saturday) from 11am. Unfortunately our Sunday afternoon visit in mid-April found it closed. They may open more often during the peak summer months, but it's certainly advisable to call ahead. I certainly hope to come back one day and find it open.