Category: Activities

The fantastic landscape and fascinating history North Wales has to offer mean that there’s always a fantastic attraction just round the corner. From the sheer cliffs covered in rare seabirds to the sandy beaches and crystal clear oceans to the jagged summits and deep gorges of Snowdonia, there’s always something to keep you entranced by magical North Wales.

The island of Anglesey (Welsh: Ynys môn) is home to many attractions and makes for ideas cycling country, as it’s one of the few areas in the whole of North Wales to be substantially flat! Here you’ll find the ancient cromlech of “Bryn Celli Ddu”; which predates Stonehenge and is one of the best preserved ancient monuments in Europe. Anglesey also boasts some of the best beaches in the whole of North Wales, though the water is often cold! To the north-western point of the island, just outside the seaport town of Holyhead is the South Stack. Here on the sheer crags, you’ll find many nesting seabirds including Guillemots, Gannets, Razorbills, Puffins and (occasionally) Peregrine Falcons. On the south-western coast is the tiny island of Llanddwyn, which is only reachable by foot and during low tide. According to legend, St. Dwynwen was an early Christian who took refuge on the island, building the first church there. To this day, she is the Welsh patron saint of love, perhaps the equivalent of the English “St. Valentine”.

Anglesey is easily accessed by one of either two bridges spanning the Menai strait – the older “Menai Bridge” lies to the north, whereas the southerly “Brittania Bridge” was built by Robert Stevenson as part of his Irish postal railway. Nearby is the town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch – the second longest place name in the world.

The university town of Bangor lies in a steep-sided valley leading up from the Menai strait. Its cathedral is the oldest continually-used place of worship in the UK, dating from the 5^th century AD. Here you’ll find the University of Wales and the Deiniol shopping centre, as well as many cafés selling traditional Welsh snacks. Thomas Telford’s famous Irish postal route, the A5, passes nearby to Bangor on its way from London to Holyhead. It’s along this road that you can see some of the most stunning views of Snowdonia, including the Carneddau, Glyderau and Snowdon ranges.

East of Bangor lies the small village of Abergwyngregyn (translated as: Estuary of white shells). A moderate walk from the town leads to the feet of the Carneddau mountains, where the spectacular Aber Falls cascades elegantly down the cliff faces. Abergwyngregyn is also a portal for many of the walks into the mountains, being a great starting point for hikes up Foel Fras, Foel Grach, Carnedd Llewelyn, and for strong walkers, Carnedd Dafydd and Pen-yr-ole-wen.

The A55 dual-carriageway runs along the coast of North Wales, and between Menai Bridge and Conwy offers spectacular views of Snowdonia to the south and the Great Orme to the east. It passes through many tunnels as it clings to the sheer coastline, bypassing the sleepy quarry towns of Llanfairfechan (trans: Little St. Mary’s) and Penmaenmawr (trans: Large headland). On the clearest days, the Isle of Man can be seen across the Irish Sea from the beaches here.

Conwy is one of the most historic and beautiful of all Welsh towns – its three bridges span the river gracefully from its ancient castle, stretching from which are the famous walls which circle right the way around the town, dating from 1283. Conwy is often bustling with visitors; either enjoying seafood and sunshine on the quay or browsing through the town’s many neat little shops. The walls are open most days and can provide a fascinating elevated walk, though care is advised in wet or windy weather. The statue in the town square is that of Llewelyn the Great (Welsh: Llewelyn fawr) a famous defender of Wales during the times of English invasion in the 13^th Century.

Just across the bridge over the river Conwy is an RSPB nature reserve and a multiplex cinema complex. This area offers spectacular views of the Carneddau to the west, and it is here that the A55 (Chester – Holyhead) intersects with the long and winding A470 (Cardiff – Llandudno).

A short drive up the A470 leads to Llandudno, the Queen of Welsh resorts. Llandudno is perhaps the best known of all Welsh towns and is an ideal place to stay as a base to visit North Wales as a whole. Detailed information on Llandudno can be found elsewhere in the blog, including this page on the History of Llandudno.

Over the little Orme are the towns of Penrhyn Bay, Colwyn Bay and Abergele. Colwyn Bay boasts many shops and a bustling main street, lined by famous gabled buildings. The beaches here are popular with tourists, and a short drive south up the many lanes leads into the Cambrian hills; a vast and rural green landscape interrupted only by tiny villages.

Driving towards Rhyl, the long bank of round hills visible ahead is the Clwydian Range. These hills were once the border between England and Wales, verified by King Offa of Mercia when he built a long dyke along the summits, stretching from Prestatyn all the way to Chepstow, on the Severn in south Wales. These hills make excellent walking country, and though are far safer than the peaks of Snowdonia offer equally impressive views of Liverpool, the Cheshire Plains, and the Welsh mountains. The deep and flat Vale of Clwyd lies at their feet, home to the historic and beautiful towns of Rhuddlan, St. Asaph, Denbigh and Ruthin. Above Ruthin is ‘Moel Famau’, which at 1818 feet is the highest summit in the Clwydian range, easily recognisable by the square structure visibile on the top, which was once part of a tower commemorating the Jubilee of King George III. The summit offers spectacular views of the Northwest of England and is easily reached from a car park at Bwlch Penbarras, just a few miles to the east of Ruthin.

The town of Rhyl, located on the estuary of the River Clwyd (welsh: Afon Clywedog) is often described as a ‘mini-blackpool’, with its arcades, shops, activity centres and theatre. It has been another popular tourist destination for over 100 years, first pioneered by Victorian workers to satisfy their cravings for sun, sea and sand for a few weeks a year. Nearby are Towyn and Kinmel Bay, highly popular with static caravan owners.

A few miles further east from Rhyl is the large town of Prestatyn – famous Prestatynians include Carol Vorderman and John Prescott. The beach here is particularly fine, and just a few miles up is the ‘Point of Ayr’, giving magnificent views of the Wirral and the North Wales coast. Its lighthouse is particularly photogenic as it slants out of the sand, making appearances on many local postcards as a famous landmark.

Llandudno is a great location for a holiday, even for those with children. The town is bursting full of shops and arcades, and the magnificent headland of the Great Orme is a fantastic natural adventure park to keep those of all ages occupied and captivated, with its Victorian funicular tramway and ancient bronze-age copper mines. The famous ‘Happy Valley’, located on the southern end of the Orme, is home to an artificial ski slope and toboggan run, as well as botanic gardens and many ice cream shops and cafés. The north shore of Llandudno boasts a pebbly beach, with cool and calm waters whilst the tide is in and rock-pools bursting with crabs and anemones when it is out. Local theatres are always presenting an interesting show or two, and the multiplex cinema in Llandudno Junction is only five minutes drive or train ride away. Accommodation in Llandudno is abundant and welcoming.

Day 1

Arrive in Llandudno. The town is easily reached from all directions via the A55 and A470. If you are driving from the east, why not detour slightly and approach Llandudno via the A5115, which winds over the rocky Little Orme and breaks out into the most spectacular elevated view of the north shore in the area. If you choose to travel by train, there are regular services running from both Chester and Bangor to Llandudno Junction. Simply change trains here and in five minutes you’ll be right in the centre of Llandudno itself. There are also services running direct from Blaenau Ffestiniog and Betws-y-Coed if you are approaching Llandudno from Snowdonia. Settle into a hotel of your choice, there are many to choose from, the most famous of which line the curve of the promenade on the north shore in their preserved Victorian splendour. Self-catering accommodation is preferred by some, although such places tend to lie outside Llandudno itself in the region of the Conwy valley. With your bags unpacked, you can either dine at your hotel or choose to visit one of Llandudno’s many restaurants or pubs in the centre of town, most less than two minutes walk from the promenade hotels. A cool evening stroll along the promenade is enough to settle even the most troublesome stomach, and the view of the sun setting over the Great Orme accompanied by the gentle wash of the waves is always satisfying.

Day 2

Breakfast at your hotel, and then walk up through town to the Great Orme. Rising sharply 679 feet up from the Irish Sea, the Orme is surrounded by legend, as well as being in 3^rd place for having the most annual UFO sightings in the world! The town of Llandudno (literally meaning ‘Parish of St. Tudno’) was once situated on the western cliffs of the Orme, but following the upsurge of tourism in the 19^th century expanded out onto the flat marshy land now housing your hotel. Walk up the steep hill to Happy Valley (stopping to let your kids explore ‘Elephant Cave’) and try out your skill on the ski slope and toboggan run. The Toboggan is probably the most applicable attraction here for your children, as all that is needed is the operation of a brake, the use of which is clearly signposted! From the top of happy valley, take the long and winding path over the bleak marshland and enjoy the sight of Llandudno getting smaller and smaller until you reach the summit of the Orme. On clear days, the view is spectacular, with Blackpool tower, the Lake District, Liverpool and her Cathedrals, the Isle of Man, and occasionally at sunset, the mountains of Ireland being visible over the horizon. Have lunch at the summit café, then board one of Llandudno’s famous trams and ride down the steep mountainside (on the approach to Llandudno the gradient reaches one in three). In the afternoon, explore the town and do some shopping, choosing between the many arcades and department stores in Llandudno. Spend your evening either visiting the theatre, cinema or just relaxing in your hotel or on the promenade. There are many good fish and chip shops to be sampled.

Day 3

Pack some sandwiches and drinks and rise and shine early: today is your day to explore the spectacular peaks and valleys of Snowdonia. It is only 35 minutes drive to the beautiful town of Betws-y-Coed, lying in the foothills of the Snowdonia national park. From here, you can take the A5 through the impressive ‘Cwm Ogwen’, shadowed by steep mountains, many of which tower over 3000 feet. The beautiful ‘Tryfan’ is a must visit, a sharp and spiny ridge crest rising straight up from the roadside at a height of 3006 feet above sea level.  Alternatively, branch off the A5 at Capel Curig, follow signs to Caernarvon and drive straight towards the summit of Snowdon and her four sisters, imposing on the valley and often blocking out the sunlight!  For those with children, it is probably best to continue along the Llanberis pass and take a train up the mountain, by means of the oldest rack-and-pinion railway in the world. Of course, this day is weather-permitting; the views from the summit of Snowdon are so impressive on a clear day that it would be pointless to ascend when the it is in cloud. After a hot tea in the summit café, ride back down and visit the Dinorwic Power Station, or as it is known locally “The Electric Mountain”. There are many tours daily around this subterranean hydro-electric station, buried death beneath a hollow mountain. On the drive back to Llandudno, take time to visit the town of Caernarvon and the impressive castle which was the pride and joy of King Edward I when he built it in the 1280s. If castles aren’t your thing, stop over for photos in the world-famous village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch – the second-longest place name in the world. Return back to your hotel over the famous Menai Suspension Bridge, built by Thomas Telford, and spend an evening relaxing your legs as a pub of your choice in Llandudno.

Day 4

Today is beach day. Llandudno became famous in the late 19^th century as a holiday spa town, and to this day its famous north shore beach is one of the finest in the UK, despite its pebbles. The sea is in easy reach from most hotels, cool but never freezing –  the water makes for fine swimming and there is an offshore paddling pool for kids who love to play and splash. Enjoy the summer sunshine (not guaranteed!) and feast on as many ice creams as you can. Llandudno is also well known for its Punch and Judy puppet show, which has been run on the promenade by the Codman family for over 150 years. Take a stroll along Llandudno’s Victorian pier, stretching out 2’295 feet into the sea (the fifth-longest in the UK), where brass bands occasionally play during the summer months. Spend the evening relaxing on the promenade, or visit the beautiful nearby town of Conwy, taking notice of the impressive castle, three bridges, town walls and the smallest house in Great Britain.

Day 5

Leave Llandudno. Driving times to Manchester and Liverpool are 1.5 hours, to Bangor 30 minutes, to Birmingham 2.5 hours and to London 4.5 hours. We hope you enjoyed your stay in Llandudno!

For more information, please see our Accommodation in Llandudno section.