Snowdonia Park Motel, Nr Bethesda 1965

Nestled in the dramatic Nant Ffrancon valley near Bethesda, the Snowdonia Mountain Lodge stands on a site with a rich history stretching back to the golden era of motoring holidays. Long before it became a modern base for hikers, climbers, and yoga retreats, it was known as the Snowdonia Park Motel—a pioneering venture that played a small but notable role in the development of Welsh tourism.

The Snowdonia Park Motel opened in 1965, becoming the first motel within the boundaries of Snowdonia National Park. At a time when the British holiday landscape was shifting from traditional seaside boarding houses to more flexible, car-based travel, the motel model was an exciting novelty. Offering travellers the convenience of direct access to their rooms, the motel catered to motorists exploring the newly popularised Snowdonia region.

Positioned near the A5 road, the motel was ideally placed for visitors heading toward Ogwen Valley, the Carneddau range, or the slopes of Snowdon itself. Its setting in the Nant Ffrancon Pass made it not only practical but also dramatically scenic—surrounded by towering mountains and sweeping views, a natural draw for outdoor enthusiasts and tourists alike.

The site continued as a motel-style accommodation for several decades before undergoing a transformation. In 1993, it was officially incorporated as a business under the name Snowdon Lodge, later operating briefly as Snowdon Lodge Ltd, and finally adopting the name Snowdonia Mountain Lodge Ltd by 2008.