**Major £8.1 Million Transformation Proposed for Beddgelert Caravan Park**
A landmark redevelopment valued at £8.1 million is poised to reshape a prominent holiday destination in the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. Forest Holidays, a celebrated operator of woodland holiday sites, has unveiled an ambitious blueprint to transform its Beddgelert location, signalling a significant evolution in the region’s tourism infrastructure.
The project, if approved, will see a fundamental shift in holiday accommodation at the site. Forest Holidays, which operates 13 nature-centric resorts across the UK, plans to increase the number of self-contained cabins in Beddgelert, while phasing out traditional touring caravan and camping pitches. This move marks a departure from the site’s existing configuration, which was permitted in 2017 to host up to 85 caravans and tents alongside the original 16 timber lodges.
The proposal does not appear in isolation. It comes as part of a comprehensive vision developed in partnership with the Roberts Group—owners of fellow Beddgelert campsites Cae Du and Cae Canol. The intention is to realign and expand tourist accommodation across the village, balancing the increased focus on cabin stays at Forest Holidays by enhancing provisions for caravans and campers at the Roberts Group sites.
Key features of the proposed overhaul include the introduction of 22 year-round, self-catering holiday cabins designed to blend with the local landscape, as well as the construction of a new café and a contemporary reception hub. Efforts to improve connectivity to the village are also central to the masterplan, with upgrades to the multi-user route linking the site directly to Beddgelert’s picturesque centre. Forest Holidays has also pledged to contribute to community amenities by sponsoring public toilets in the village, reflecting a commitment to shared local benefit.
Cadnant Planning, the agent overseeing the planning application, reported outstanding demand for the site’s existing cabins, noting they were nearly fully booked throughout the year, maintaining an impressive 97% annual occupancy rate since their introduction in 2018. This enduring popularity, according to the agent, demonstrates both the appeal of Beddgelert as a holiday destination and the positive integration of Forest Holidays’ facilities with the area’s scenic character.
The proposed alterations aim to ensure a net gain—not a loss—in the variety of holiday experiences available in Beddgelert. The planned expansion of caravan and camping capacity at Cae Du and Cae Canol is intended to safeguard the village’s longstanding tradition of welcoming visitors seeking a closer connection with the outdoors, all while accommodating the upward trend in demand for privately serviced lodge-style getaways.
Local economic boosts are anticipated should the scheme move ahead. Besides the multi-million-pound construction investment, the development promises to create 16 new part-time posts as well as one full-time job, injecting fresh employment opportunities into the local area. Additionally, visitor spending connected with the new cabins is projected to generate a further £642,000 for the community on an annual basis.
Despite the fanfare surrounding the ambitious plan, it remains subject to approval from the Eryri National Park Authority, which will be tasked with weighing its potential impacts on both the natural environment and the socio-economic fabric of Beddgelert.
Beddgelert itself enjoys an enduring reputation as one of Wales’ most scenic villages, renowned for its tranquil beauty, rich heritage, and the legendary story of Llywelyn the Great’s loyal hound, Gelert. For many in the area, the proposed changes invite important questions about the future shape of tourism, the balance between preservation and progress, and the best ways to support communities living within the Park.
As the application progresses, stakeholders from every corner of the village—business owners, residents, conservationists, and visitors alike—will be watching closely to see how this landmark proposal might shape the next chapter of Beddgelert’s story.