There are so many beautiful sights to see in North Wales that I had trouble deciding where to go. I decided to make my home base in the beautiful old seaside town of Llandudno.
When travelling, I usually like to make my own way around an area so I can spend as much time as I want at each stop. If you are doing a road trip around North Wales, you can easily drive from town to town, but as I was without a car on this short Welsh adventure, I opted to book a day trip to allow me to see as much as possible. In Llandudno, I booked a full day trip to see Portmeirion, Snowdonia & Castles with Adventure Tour Snowdonia.
Leaving from Llandudno, we made our way up and around the Great Orme, with breathtaking views of the Irish Sea and the neighbouring towns, before stopping at the nearby town of Conwy. Voted one of the best places to live in Wales, this town is definitely worth a visit.
The medieval walls here are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Conwy Castle as well as Beaumaris and Harlech Castles. They are some of the finest and most complete walls remaining in Europe, running almost uninterrupted for three quarters of a mile around Conwy’s heart, with 21 towers and three original gateways.
The best part is you can walk almost all the way around the top of the walls, giving you a great view of the town, Conwy Castle, and the countryside.
Conwy Castle towers at the entrance of the town 700 years later.
King Edward I had it built in 4 years from 1283-1287. Monks had been living here before he ordered them to leave or be killed and he then moved the castle to its current location.
The outer walls of this medieval fortress and the spiral stairs have been restored over the years so you can still climb the levels of the eight towers throughout and imagine what it would have looked like. Apart from the absence of roofs, the interior is largely intact, especially the grand 40m/130ft Great Hall and King’s Apartments. Peer into the prison tower, check out the view from the King’s Tower, and admire the beautiful stained glass in King Edward’s private chapel tower.
(Open daily, entry £11.70.)
Down along Conwy Quay, you’ll find the Smallest House in Britain. This small red house measures 10ft x 6ft and was last lived in by Robert Jones, who was 6ft 3″ tall, until 1900. Since then, it has become a tourist attraction. In the early 1920s, The Guinness Book of Records confirmed its status as the smallest house in Great Britain.
Since then, it has become a tourist attraction. In the early 1920s, The Guinness Book of Records confirmed its status as the smallest house in Great Britain
(Open daily, entry £1.50.)
Also nearby is the town of Caernarfon, home to another one of King Edward I’s medieval castles.
For the best views of this one, head over the bridge to get a great view of the castle with the boats in the harbour. Caernarfon Castle is recognized as one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages. The castle was born out of conflicts with Welsh Princes and, along with the town walls and quay, it took 47 years to build. A section still remains of Caernarfon’s walls, but not nearly as intact as Conwy’s.
(Caernarfon Castle – Open daily, entry £12.50.)
Another must-see in North Wales is Portmeirion Village—the Welsh Riviera! Designed by Welsh architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925-1975, the village is said to be modelled on the famous Italian town of Portofino. He acquired the land in 1925 and continued developing the grounds for the next fifty years.
Wandering through the village with its pastel-coloured buildings and ornate architecture make it worth the price of admission (£18). There are two hotels and a number of self-catering cottages for those wishing to stay the night, as well as shops and cafes to enjoy.
(More about my time in Portmeirion here.)
The most famous site in the area is Snowdonia National Park, the largest National Park in Wales, covering 823 square miles of beautiful landscape along the West Coast. In Welsh, it is known as ‘Eryri,’ which translates as “the place of the eagles.” Snowdonia is the oldest national park in Wales, having been founded in 1951, and is home to the tallest mountain in Wales and England, Mount Snowdon, at 3,560ft. Each year, Mount Snowdon is climbed by thousands of people by one of the many paths leading to its summit or via the popular Snowdon Mountain Railway.
The weather can be very unpredictable here and it began to pour just as we arrived, making for low visibility. If you plan to hike, be sure to check the forecast and be prepared for sudden changes in the weather.
A few other quick stops along the way:
The Ugly House, which isn’t ugly at all, is a tearoom and garden with a mysterious history, as nobody knows who built it or when.
Swallow Falls—a cascading, multi-level waterfall found where the river Llugwy flows through a narrow chasm in the woods. A spectacular sight! (Entry £2.)
Tu Hwnt i’r Bont is a historic grade II listed 15th century tearoom located in the small town of Llanrwstwast. It was built as a residential dwelling in 1480 and from there became the Courthouse for the surrounding area. This fairytale-like dwelling is one of the most photographed sites in Wales. It was beautiful when I was there in the spring, but for the real magic, go in the fall when the leaves have all turned a majestic red. Looking at photos, I will definitely need to get back to see it in its full splendor!
With so many things to see and do in beautiful North Wales, if you haven’t already added it to your travel list, now’s the time to do it!
Tales of a Travel Addict 
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