Local Essentials
The practical stuff most travel sites skip. Everything you need to know before visiting Betws-y-Coed, from parking to pharmacies.
Accessibility
Swallow Falls
Betws-y-Coed Community Council says disabled and pushchair access to Swallow Falls is available from April to the end of October, 10:00 to 15:00 only.
Station
Transport for Wales lists the station as step-free category B1, with step-free access from Station Road.
Royal Oak
The Royal Oak's access statement lists a level ground floor, a lift in the annexe, one adapted bedroom and accessible toilets in the hotel and Y Stablau.
The village centre is flat along Holyhead Road; the falls, the forest and the Fairy Glen are not. Contact venues about access before you travel.
Emergency Services
General Emergency
999 or 112
Police Station
Policing here is North Wales Police. Call 101 for non-emergencies and 999 or 112 in an emergency.
Betws-y-Coed has no hospital. The nearest emergency departments are both run by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and both listed by NHS 111 Wales as open 24 hours: Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, 03000 840840, about 36km by road over the A5, and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd at Bodelwyddan, 03000 843843, about 37km by road via the A470 and A55. For minor injuries, the Minor Injury Unit at Llandudno General Hospital is open 08:00 to 20:00 daily for patients over one year old; NHS 111 Wales asks patients to phone 03000 851792 first.
03000 840840Llandudno General Hospital Minor Injuries Unit
Hospital Road, Llandudno, Conwy County Borough, LL30 1LB
03000 851792Minor Injuries Unit (NHS Wales, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board)
Listed by NHS 111 Wales as open 08:00 to 20:00 every day, including bank holidays, for patients over one year old; it cannot X-ray children under five. NHS 111 Wales asks patients to phone 03000 851792 first so they can be triaged. It treats minor injuries, not chest pain, breathing difficulty or stroke symptoms, which need 999. It is down the Conwy Valley on the coast, not in the village.
NHS 111 Wales is the free 24-hour number for urgent advice that is not life-threatening. In the mountains, dial 999 and ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue. Prescriptions are free in Wales when they are issued in Wales, for example by a Welsh GP or a Welsh out-of-hours service. A prescription issued in England and dispensed at a Welsh pharmacy is charged unless you hold an exemption, according to GOV.WALES and the NHS Business Services Authority.
Parking
Betws-y-Coed station car park
Capacity: 75 spaces, 4 accessible
Run by Conwy Council and listed as free by Transport for Wales. It fills on summer weekends.
Pont y Pair car park
By the bridge; the start for NRW's Gwydir Forest trails from the village. Charged, per Natural Resources Wales; check the tariff on the machines.
Pet-Friendly Info
Falls
Conwy Falls welcomes well-behaved dogs on its woodland walk, per the operator. Keep dogs on a lead near the rivers.
Pubs
Y Stablau at the Royal Oak describes itself as dog friendly, and the Pont-y-Pair Inn has a few dog-friendly rooms.
Ty Hyll
The Snowdonia Society welcomes assistance dogs in all areas of the house and grounds at Tŷ Hyll.