People come to Betws y Coed for many reasons. Some come for the scenery, some for the climbing, the hiking, the biking, the camping or the riverside walks. Cotswold came to Betws y Coed to make a difference, and thirteen years on we are still here. We are still here thanks to one thing, and one thing only… you, our customers. Since October 1990 we have done everything we can to help you get what you want from your visit. Some people want excitement, others safety. Some want adventure, some want tranquillity. Whatever you're after we have the equipment and expert staff to help you make the most of your stay. We are proud to have helped you exhaust the limits of the possible for the last thirteen years, and we look forward to helping you all again in the future.

Parking
We have the biggest car park in the centre of the village (65 spaces). It's free and there's even a beer garden right next to it.

Local Knowledge
Because all our core staff live locally we are usually able to provide the best advice available on local outdoor activities. We know the routes, the trails, the walks, the campsites, the people, the car parks, the peaks, the distances, the times and the tides. We post a local five day weather forecast every day and keep an eye on local conditions. (Unfortunately, due to the volume of enquiries, we cannot and will not give forecasts or answer questions about conditions over the phone).

Want to trial any of our products at home?
No problem. In fact we recommend you do. Pay for your new gear and you can trial it at home at your leisure. We think it's especially important to trial footwear at home, but also jackets, rucksacks, electronics... you name it. All we ask is that if you decide you don't want to keep your purchase you return it as new in the original packaging and retain your receipt. You can also take all the time you like, although we'd prefer you to return your goods within a month.

Need to know what to take where?
All our core staff at the Royal Oak are outdoor screwballs of one sort or another. They have travelled all over the world from Namibia to Nepal. They have bummed lifts across Europe, sailed across the Atlantic, jumped off bridges and climbed peaks in the Great Ranges. Our expertise covers just about everything from rock climbing to world travel. Mountain biking to Mountain leadership. We also like to hear your stories and learn a lot from customer feed back. So if you have a story to tell, or can advise us on techniques and gear you have used then feel free to drop in. We'd love to see you.

Forgotten something?
Coming camping or cragging for the weekend? Well, if you're unlucky enough to forget something we can usually help you out with a suitable alternative, whether it be a tent, a stove, a sleeping bag, a waterproof jacket or a roll mat. Stop in on your way through and we'll fix you up for the weekend without breaking the bank. We even stay open to 7pm on Fridays (Saturdays as well).

Open all hours?
Almost. We are open every day of the year except Christmas day and Boxing day.