Snowdonia National Park is, in my opinion, one of the most colourful National Parks in the country, and is as diverse as it is beautiful. Its Headquarters lie in Penrhyndeudraeth, a small town in the southern part of the Park, and like several National Parks, many areas are supported by the National Trust. Snowdonia National Park runs from near Bethesda in the North, to Machynlleth in the South. Snowdonia takes its name from the famous Mountain, Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in Wales, and excluding Scotland, the highest mountain in Britain. It also has one of the wettest climates in Great Britain, helping Wales to maintain its reputation as one of the rainiest places in the world!

Snowdonia is a national park that caters for everyone. There are beautiful beaches along the coast near Harlech and Barmouth for families and children - very popular with summer holidaymakers; for those who like climbing, both Snowdon and Cadair Idris are excellent places, as well as all the smaller mountain ranges - Carneddau and Glyder in particular. For those who like forest walks, there are *huge* forests around Beddgelert and Betws-y-Coed; coastal paths follow along by Harlech and Barmouth, whilst small villages offer something quaint for those who find themselves physically restricted.

A huge amount of money is invested in upkeep for the National Parks each year, and the hard work of the National Park Association employees ensures that the beautiful NP surroundings are maintained to the highest standards. Conservation is clearly a number one priority, as well as making sure that visitors and residents alike are given the highest standard of environment.

The one drawback I've experienced in my many explorations of the Park is the cost of parking my car in the main spots. The majority of places people choose to visit - Snowdon, Beddgelert Betws-y-Coed, etc, cost between £2-£5 to park for the day, which in places where public transport is not viable, can become expensive - paticularly if you're a resident in the area. I think that the government contributions to the running of parks could be a little higher anyway, and perhaps this could reduce or abolish the cost of parking one's car. I've noticed a lot of people choose to park on the main road instead - causing congestion; or the park in residents' areas instead, which is unfair.

Snowdonia is a stunning place to visit, work, and live, and I implore anyone who's considering a UK based holiday to pay it a visit.