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You may view the information for ALL the locations in this area
by clicking HERE (the page may be very large) or you can view your
preferred location from the list on the left.
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Dovey Estuary - Photo:
Nick Leverton
CCL |
Aberdovey is a
small harbour
resort situated
at the mouth of
the Dyfi estuary
and within the
Snowdonia
National Park.
The shelter of
the estuary
provides an
ideal location
for a wide range
of water sports
including windsurfing,
sailing and a
number of
available boat
trips and
excursions.
During the
summer,
Aberdovey also
hosts a sailing
regatta. The
long, award
winning, golden
sand-dune backed
coastal beaches
are popular with
swimmers,
sunbathers,
surfers and
fishermen.
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Away from the
water, the
village also
boasts an 18
hole
championship
golf course.
You don't have
to go far from
Aberdovey to
explore the
picturesque
valleys and
stunning
mountain scenery
of the Snowdonia
National Park,
an ideal area
for walkers,
climbers and
wildlife
watchers.
Aberdovey is
also an ideal
base for
visiting many of
the major
attractions in
North Wales and
Mid Wales.
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A
picturesque,
white-washed
village on the
beautiful Llyn
Peninsula, this
is the kind of
Welsh resort
by-the-sea, set
inside a bay
with a sweeping
beach, you will
never forget. A
haven for
surfers and
other water
sports
enthusiasts, it
is also a
sailing centre
and, oddly, a
Mecca for fans
of jazz who
flock in great
numbers to the
town’s annual
jazz festival.
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Looking towards Snowdonia from Abersoch Beach
- Photo:
Peter Messum
CCL |
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Amlwch Harbour - Photo:
John Tomlinson
CCL |
Once the most populated part
of Anglesey with more than 1,000 ale houses, the
fortunes of Amlwch rose and fell with the copper
industry of nearby Parys Mountain. Although the
Neolithic Ordovices tribe and the Romans extracted
copper ore from the mountain, it wasn’t until the
18th century that extraction reached an industrial
scale and Amlwch became a key trading port. Later
faced with strong international competition,
though, Amlwch returned to its role as a fishing
port. Our Lady Star of the Sea is an unusual 1930s
church built from reinforced concrete. Its ribs
represent an upturned boat complete with round
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Bala is a
picturesque and
historic little
market town
consisting of
little more than
a main street,
lying on the
edge of the
Snowdonia
National Park in
a designated
area of
outstanding
natural beauty.
Bala was founded
by Royal Charter
around 1310 by
Roger de
Mortimer in
order to tame
the rebellious
Penllyn District
populace. Today,
Bala is possibly
one of the best
places in Wales
to hear the
spoken Welsh
language (one of
the oldest
languages in
Europe), with it
being the first
language of
around 80% of
the 2000 or so
population.
Bala is within a
scenic hours
drive of many of
the coastal
resorts of north
and mid Wales,
though many
people find all
they need in and
around Bala
itself. Though
small, the town
has all the
shops and
amenities you
could need.
Surrounded by
the high peaks
of Aran Benllyn,
Arenig Fawr and
the spectacular
Berwyn
mountains, Bala
boasts the
largest natural
lake in Wales,
Bala Lake or
Llyn Tegid,
which offers
excellent water
sports and
fishing
facilities.
Indeed, Bala
lake is home to
a unique species
of fish called
the Gwyniad, a
kind of
land-locked
herring which is
said to date
back to the
Ice-Age.
Running along
the south shore
of the lake is
the Bala lake
narrow-gauge
Steam Railway
which is an
ideal way to
take in the
breathtaking
scenery, or if
you are feeling
more energetic,
why not take to
the many walking
and cycling
routes in the
area.
In a nearby
valley to the
north is another
lake, Llyn Celyn,
which is
entirely
artificial.
Canoeing
competitions are
held on the
white water
downstream from
its dam.
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Situated to the
North of the
Snowdonia
National Park
and home to the
university of
Wales, Bangor is
one of Wales'
oldest cities
which grew up
around a
monastery in the
6th century.
Indeed, its name
comes from the
protective fence
or "bangor" that
encircled the
monastery. The
present day
cathedral was
designed by Sir
George Gilbert
Scott, famed for
London's Albert
Memorial, and
stands on the
site of the
early church.
A popular
attraction with
visitors is
Penrhyn Castle -
a Neo Norman
building dating
from the early
19th century,
which today is
run by the
National Trust.
There is also
the Bangor
Museum and Art
Gallery.
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Barmouth - Photo:
Janine Forbes
CCL
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Barmouth is one of those
pretty, traditional Welsh seaside resorts, with
miles of golden sands overseen by the peaks of
Snowdonia. As well as amusement arcades and donkey
rides, it offers a "land train" running the length
of the promenade, while visitors are free to go
off the beaten track to find drovers' trails,
forests walks, wild moorland and mountain treks.
The poet Shelly visited Barmouth with his wife
in 1812 and later talked of its "sands and
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The half-mile long viaduct known simply
as "Barmouth Bridge" spans the
swirling waters of the Mawddach Estuary,
providing an exciting walkway that links the town
with Morfa Mawddach Station. It was built in the
mid-19th century for Cambrian Railways.
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A small family-oriented
resort, Benllech benefits from a sandy beach which
merges with the great sweep of Red Wharf Bay, an
ideal spot for bird-watching. Benllech has
fascinating coastal walks – along the cliff to the
neighbouring village of Moelfre or through
woodland to Pentraeth.
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Benllech Sands - Photo:
Keith Williamson
CCL |
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A town whose rugged slopes
bear the scars of the world’s largest opencast
slate quarry, Bethesda nestles beside the
beautiful River Ogwen. It leads to the spectacular
Nant Ffrancon Pass, offering a route from which to
explore Snowdonia National Park whose mountains
link arms above the rooftops. The town took its
title from a nonconformist chapel built here in
the early part of the 19th century which, in turn,
derived its name from a healing pool in Jerusalem.
The Ogwen Valley itself is a focus for thousands
of walkers and contains the Rhaeadr Ogwen
waterfall. The Joys of Life Visitor Centre has,
among other things, railway memorabilia and a
quarryman’s kitchen.
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Betws-y-Coed winter scene - Photo:
Alan Fairweather
CCL |
Betws-y-Coed is
the most popular
inland resort in
North Wales and
is situated in
the heart of
more than 800
square miles of
the Snowdonia
National Park.
Largely dating
back to
Victorian times,
Betws-y-Coed was
built up around
where the River
Conwy meets its
three
tributaries
flowing from the
West. (The
Llungwy, the
Lledr and the
Machno). |
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Surrounded by
deep forest
covered valleys,
still glacial
lakes, cascading
rivers and water
falls, ancient
bridges and
dramatic rocky
mountains, the
village is an
outdoor
enthusiast's
paradise.
Holyhead Road,
the main street,
is where you
will find most
of the
accommodation,
along with a
host of outdoor
clothing
specialists and
tourist
information. The
surrounding area
is steeped in
history and you
can find well
preserved sites
such as the
Neolithic stone
circles, Bronze
Age chambers,
Celtic Iron Age
fortifications,
Roman forts and
monuments of the
great Welsh
princes.
Betws-y-Coed is
an ideal base to
explore this
spectacular
region either on
foot, by car, or
on one of the
many mountain
railway routes. |
River through the centre of Betws-y-Coed -
Photo:
Dot Potter
CCL |
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Caernarfon is a busy
market town, inhabited without a break since
pre-Roman times and famed for its castle, one
of the best preserved in the world. Caernarvon
Castle was built by order of Edward I in 1283,
not only as a military stronghold but also as
a seat of government and royal palace. It was
the birth place of the first Prince of Wales
and centuries later the castle was also the
setting for the investiture of Prince Charles
as the present Prince of Wales, in 1969. Most
of the buildings in the walled town date back
to the early 19th century when Caernarfon
became a major port, and its slate industry
grew. |
Caernarvon Castle -
© Wales
Tourist Board |
Today, the
castle houses
the Museum of
the Royal Welsh
Fusiliers,
Wales' oldest
regiment, and
there are a
number of
exhibitions
housed within
its towers. You
can also take a
walk around the
well preserved
town walls.
Aside from the
castle there is
also a Roman
fort, the Welsh
Highland
Railway, a
floating
restaurant, the
Performing Arts
Centre, craft
shops,
restaurants, the
area's largest
"Fun Centre", a
golf course and
indoor swimming
pool and sports
facilities at
the Leisure
centre. Whatever
your interests,
you'll be able
to find
something to do,
even if the
British weather
lets you down.
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Middle Mouse Rock - Photo:
Stephen Elwyn Roddick
CCL |
Cemaes has one of the
prettiest harbours along the northern coast of
Anglesey. It was once an important centre for
shipbuilding but the arrival of the railway in the
mid-19th century sparked its decline. The small
church of Llanbadrig on the eastern headland of
Cemaes Bay is said to have been founded by St
Patrick who had been stranded on Middle Mouse Rock
on a journey to Ireland.
The church was restored in the 19th century by
Lord Stanley, a Muslim who insisted on using
Islamic imagery in the stained glass and tiles. |
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View across to Rhos-on-Sea, from Colwyn Bay -
Photo:
Dot Potter
CCL |
Colwyn bay is a
pretty seaside
resort with a
long promenade
running along
the beautiful
beaches from Old
Colwyn round to
Penrhyn Bay,
giving access to
slipways for
fishing, sailing
and jet skiing,
and also to the
pier and harbour
at Rhos-on-Sea.
There are a
number of
award-winning
beaches on this
stretch of the
coast, ideal for
sunbathing and
beach games.
The shopping
area of Colwyn
Bay is close to
the renowned
Welsh Mountain
Zoo and a number
of golf courses,
not to mention a
leisure centre,
tennis courts
and an athletics
stadium. It is
also a stone's
throw from
Snowdonia and
the Isle of
Anglesey, ideal
for cycling and
walking.
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As if the
backdrop of distant mountains were insufficient,
Edward 1 gave the quaint, strategic fishing town
of Conwy, (Conway) a vast castle which even
today, more than seven centuries later,
dominates the Welsh skyline. Its walls were
designed to keep the Welsh at bay and are still
intact, despite the castle falling into the
hands of both Owain Glyndwr and Oliver Cromwell.
They act as a magnet for thousands of awe-struck
visitors and from its history-packed turrets are
panoramic views overlooking the town, the ocean
and old road bridges built by Thomas Telford and
Robert Stephenson.
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Conwy Castle -
© Wales Tourist Board |
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Conwy Mountain - Photo:
Chris Shaw
CCL |
The smallest house in Britain is here, measuring
just 3 metres tall by less than two metres wide!
In contrast, Conwy’s most imposing property is
Plas Mawr, renowned for its plasterwork and
arguably the best preserved town house in
Britain. Aberconwy House, cared for by the
National Trust, is a 14th Century merchant's
house. Strangely, Conwy is also home to ‘Teapot
World’, which proudly displays hundreds of
novelty teapots dating back to the 18th century. |
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Known as the
"Crossroads of
North Wales",
Corwen is
located on a
flood plain, at
the junction of
five river
valleys. It was
once the base of
the Welsh leader
Owain Glyndwr
whose troops
harassed the
English troops
of Henry II into
retreating back
to England in
the fifteenth
century. The
town had its
heyday during
the Victorian
period when it
was the main hub
for road and
rail transport
to the North and
West Coasts of
Wales. The heavy
development of
Corwen stopped
towards the end
of the Victorian
period as
improved
transport links
meant fewer and
fewer people
were stopping at
the town. |
Corwen Town Centre - Photo:
Dot Potter
CCL |
Today, Corwen is
a small market
town, and the
town centre is a
conservation
area and an area
of special
architectural
and historical
interest.
However, because
it is one of the
last sizable
towns on the A5
from London the
Holyhead, it
maintains a
large number of
hotels which
were used in the
past as staging
hotels for the
stage coaches.
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Known as "The
Pearl of Wales
on the Shores of
Snowdonia",
Criccieth is
situated on the
Llyn Peninsula
in North Wales.
The scenery in
and around this
town is truly
breathtaking,
located as it is
in the Snowdonia
National Park.
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Cricceith, Llyn Peninsula - © Wales Tourist Board |
Criccieth Castle dominates
the town's skyline, towering above on its
green felsite rock outcrop. Once a ruin, it
was restored some years ago and now houses an
exhibition. From the castle there are
fantastic views of the town, the sea, the
mountains of Snowdonia, and the coastline as
it sweeps south past Cader Idris and the
mountains of Mid Wales. |
There are two
excellent
beaches with
promenades,
popular with sun
bathers and
swimmers, but
also frequented
by groups of
porpoises who
come to play in
the surf.
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An ancient market town,
Denbigh lies on a hillside overlooking the Vale of
Clwyd. Above it is the ruin of the town’s
limestone castle, created as a border stronghold
after Llywelyn The Last was defeated in battle in
1282 by Edward l. The remains include an
impressive gatehouse with no less than three
towers. So sturdy was this fortress that it later
took Cromwell’s troops four months to bring about
its fall during the English Civil War in 1646. The
layout of the town itself has hardly changed since
the Middle Ages.
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Denbigh Town Centre - Photo:
Dot Potter
CCL |
It once enjoyed fame as a glove-making centre and
was the birthplace of a certain John Rowlands who
changed his surname to Stanley and eventually
located the explorer David Livingstone in darkest
Africa, uttering those immortal words: "Dr
Livingstone, I presume".
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Eldon Square, Dolgellau - Photo:
Martin Bodman
CCL |
Dollgellau is a
market town
lying on the
River Mawddach.
It was
originally a
Roman site, and
was also the
location of the
last Welsh
Parliament held
in 1404, under
Owen Glendower.
The town later
became known for
Gold
Prospecting, and
indeed today has
one of the only
sources of Welsh
Gold at "Gwynfynydd
Gold Mines".
The town is
popular for
activities such
as walking,
hiking, horse
riding and white
water rafting,
and the wild and
beautiful
surrounding
countryside
provides a
perfect setting
for this. |
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Dolwyddelan is
located on the
A470 between
Blaenau
Ffestiniog and
Betws-y-Coed
deep in the
Snowdonia
National Park.
It is the site
of Dolwyddelan
Castle, built in
the early 13th
century by
Llywelyn the
Great, ruler of
Snowdonia. The
castle was built
to control a
strategic pass
though the vast
mountain range.
Restored in
victorian times,
the castle now
provides an
excellent
vantage point to
take in the
spectacular
mountain vistas
all around the
site.
As well as by
road, this small
town can be
reached by train
on the Conwy
Valley Line.
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This small village lies in the
Vale of Ffestiniog just south of the more famous
Blaenau Ffestiniog. Perhaps this is the ‘real’
Wales because here you will find a blend of beauty
and industry in the shape of woodland - and
mountains of slate. You will also encounter trains
run by the Ffestiniog Railway, the oldest
independent railway company in the world, as they
steam through the special scenery of Snowdonia
between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Passenger services on this line started in 1865,
carrying over 100,000 passengers per year together
with 100,000 tons of slate. |
A Quiet Blaenau Ffestiniog Street - Photo:
Martin Bodman
CCL |
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This photo of the
Ffestiniog Railway was taken between Blaenau
Ffestiniog and Tanygrisiau. Note that the
railway doesn't run from Ffestiniog itself! - Photo:
Martin Bodman
CCL |
On a hillside lies Plas y
Dduallt, one of the oldest inhabited houses in
Wales, dating back to the 15th century. Occupied
for hundreds of years by descendants of Llewelyn
the Great, it was restored by Colonel Campbell, of
the Black Watch, who also used his knowledge of
explosives to blast rocks to re-open the rail line
up to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Apparently, Britain’s
art treasures were kept inside a local
cathedral-sized cave during World War 11. They
included the Crown Jewels. |
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Flint is
situated on the
estuary of the
river Dee, and
is home to the
first castle to
be built by
Edward I as he
advanced into
Wales in the
thirteenth
century. The
castle is also
of note as it is
where Richard II
was handed over
to his enemy
Henry
Bollingbrooke in
1399 after
returning from
Ireland - a
scene depicted
by Shakespeare's
play "Richard
II".
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Flint Castle - Photo:
Phil Williams
CCL |
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Harlech is situated where
the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park
meet the sea, so offers the best of both
worlds. Take off and explore the spectacular
mountain scenery, simply relax on one of the
the award winning beaches, or perhaps take a
round of golf on the local championship
course. There is also plenty to do in and
around the town itself including a visit to
Harlech castle, built in 1283 on a rocky
outcrop against which, at one time, the sea
lapped. |
Harlech
Castle
- © Wales Tourist Board |
The castle was
besieged on
several
occasions when
ownership passed
from English to
Welsh and back
again but a
siege started in
1460 is
particularly
significant. At
that time,
during the
English War of
the Roses, the
castle was held
by Lancastrians
who repelled the
Yorkists for
seven years
before famine
forced an
honourable
surrender.
What ever your
preference for
activities or
scenery, Harlech
has something to
offer.
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Sitting on Anglesey’s Holy
Island and home to the UK’s busiest Irish ferry
terminal, Holyhead’s Welsh name is Caergybi. Here
is a Roman fort and, within its high walls, the
medieval church of 6th Century St Cybi. The
church’s late Victorian chapel contains
stained-glass windows by Edward Burne-Jones and
William Morris.
The award-winning Ucheldre
Arts Centre has an ever-changing programme of
performances, workshops and exhibitions and the
town’s lively arts and cultural scene is brought
together each July with the three-day Holyhead
Festival.
From Holyhead the visitor can
explore the island’s archaeological remains,
spectacular scenery and RSPB observation posts.
Nearby South Stack Lighthouse has a visitor centre
and is accessed via a bridge and a steep flight of
400 steps.
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Padarn Country Park, Llanberis - Photo:
Chris
Plunkett
CCL |
Llanberis is
nestled amongst
the mountains of
Snowdonia, at
the foot of
Mount Snowdon
itself, the
tallest mountain
in England and
Wales.
Its two lakes
add to the
picturesque
scenery and it
is easy to see
why this is
designated as an
area of
outstanding
natural beauty (AONB).
The town has
excellent
choices for
shopping and
dining. Always
popular with
walkers and
climbers,
Llanberis now
has a growing
reputation for
all sorts of
outdoor pursuits
including water
sports, pony
trekking,
cycling,
paragliding and
diving.
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Llandudno is Wales's largest
holiday resort and its legacy as a popular
Victorian Holiday destination is still more than
evident today. It has a magnificent promenade
lined with grand elegant hotels, and a classically
Victorian Pier.
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Llandudno Beach & Seafront - © Wales Tourist Board |
Situated in Llandudno bay,
there are two beaches; the popular North
Shore, and the quieter West Shore which is
backed by sand dunes. At one end of the bay
lies the famous "Great Orme", an enormous
towering limestone rock. Views from the top
are truly breathtaking. You can gain access to
the top by either the tramway, or cable car.
For a quicker route down, why not try the dry
ski slope! It is the longest artificial ski
slope in Britain and each year plays host to
the Artificial Ski Championships. |
The Orme is also
home to an
ancient network
of copper mines
dating back to
the Bronze Age.
First discovered
by "The Great
Orme Exploration
Society", they
were opened to
the public in
1991 by "Great
Orme Mines".
From the visitor
centre you can
actually go on
an underground
visit where you
can watch
archaeologists
at work.
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Debate rages over the precise
translation of this Welsh name but it roughly
translates as Glade of the Mead (brewers). By the
16th century Llanerch-y-medd was one of Anglesey’s
major market towns. When copper mining and slate
quarrying were at their peak on the mainland there
were more than 250 cobblers in Llanerch-y-medd
making shoes for the workers. But, as with so many
Anglesey towns, modernisation (in this case the
mechanisation of shoe making in Northamptonshire)
resulted in a decline in this traditional
industry.
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Llangefni town centre - Photo:
Keith Williamson
CCL |
As is expected of the county
town of Anglesey, Llangefni tells the island’s
story in the Oriel Ynys Mon Anglesey Museum and
Art Gallery. The tale involves a series of themes,
from history to nature, with exhibitions of local
artists and regular music and drama performances.
Some of the archaeological findings from an
important pre-historic Celtic site at Valley can
be seen here. |
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Llangollen
stands on the
banks of the
River Dee close
to the
Shropshire
Border. It
became a popular
holiday
destination
thanks in part
to the
Victorians who
came for the
stunning scenery
and the fresh
air. Today, it
is as popular as
ever and has
excellent
shopping
facilities, not
to mention
superb
restaurants and
pubs.
There are many
historical
attractions in
the town,
including the
Iron Age Dinas
Bran Castle
which overlooks
the town and the
medieval Valle
Crucis Abbey and
town bridge.
Many of the
town's other
attractions are
firmly rooted in
its past... the
Llangollen
Wharf, Plas
Newydd, the home
of the Ladies of
Llangollen and
Llangollen
Railway. |
Llangollen station - Photo:
Charles Rawding
CCL |
Outside the
town, there are
more adventurous
activities to be
undertaken,
including
canoeing,
white-water
rafting, golf,
superb
hill-walking,
rock climbing
and even
potholing.
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Roadside waterfall at Coed-y-Brain - Photo:
Nigel Williams
CCL |
Llanrwst is a
market town
located on the
River Conwy,
famed for its
clock making,
harp making and
printing. Points
of interest
include the
Gwydir Castle,
which is open to
the public, and
the Pont Faw
bridge,
reputedly
designed by the
great architect
Inigo Jones. At
one end of the
bridge
is Ty
Hwnt I'r Bont,
an old 16th century court house, now a
National Trust tea room |
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A handsome market town,
Machynlleth sits on the River Dyfi near
Aberystwyth and it was here in 1404, in Maengwyn
Street, that the Welsh freedom fighter Owain
Glyndwr held an historic parliament. The town
centre has a 78ft clock tower – more like a Gothic
church steeple – which was presented to the town
in 1873 to mark the coming of age of the son of
the Marquis of Londonderry who lived at Plas
Machynlleth, now used as council offices. A few
miles out of town is the Centre for Alternative
Technology, a unique attraction which shows the
many ways that energy can be produced with minimal
impact on the Earth’s finite resources. |
Machynlleth town clock - Photo:
Barry Jones
CCL |
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Devotees of fresh air, brisk
exercise and coastal activity head for this rocky,
sea-side destination which is famous as the
birthplace of Welsh movie star Hugh Griffith who
won an Oscar for his role as a sheik in Ben-Hur.
He died in 1980.
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The Menai Bridge. Designed and built by
Thomas Telford, completed in 1826 - Photo:
Andy B
CCL |
Lying in the shadow of the
world’s first iron suspension bridge, Telford’s
Menai Bridge lies in the small town of the same
name. The 14th Century church of St Tysilio on
Church Island can be reached from the town along a
causeway that was built by Flemish refugees during
World War One. Nearby, at Pili Palas, visitors can
examine both native and exotic butterflies. There
is a good selection of shops, pubs and restaurants
in Menai Bridge.
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A picturesque
seaside village
with a superb
beach, Moelfre
is well placed
as a base to
visit some of
the island’s
finest, unspoilt
beaches. Nearby
is a 12th
century chapel
at Lligwy, a 5th
century
Romano-British
village and a
burial chamber
dating to 3,000
BC. The village
has excellent
views of Puffin
island, the
Great Orme at
Llandudno and
the mountains of
Snowdonia. A
memorial acts as
a reminder of
the power of
nature – it was
here that 452
passengers and
crew of a steam
clipper met
their deaths
during a
hurricane in
1859.
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Overflowing with maritime
history, Porthmadog was at one time a thriving
port taking slate overseas from the now redundant
quarries of Blaenau Ffestiniog via the Ffestiniog
Railway. Now purely a place of holiday pleasure on
Tremadog Bay, it was given both its name and its
pretty boat-bobbing harbour by local MP William
Madocks in the early 19th century. It
was from Porthmadog, according to Welsh legend,
that the intrepid Prince Madog sailed to North
America in the 12th century. Was he the
continent’s real discoverer?
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Portmeirion - Photo:
Gareth Hughes
CCL |
A unique fantasy village,
Portmeirion is a richman’s folly on a grand scale,
the ultimate dream of lifelong conservationist and
architect Clough William-Ellis who created it in
the 1920s to prove that building in such a
naturally beautiful place did not necessarily mean
ruination. Run by a charity and inspired by the
Italian town of Portofino, this unusual,
pastel-coloured holiday village has many
Italianate buildings, some with skewed
perspectives. It comes complete with shops,
restaurants, a pottery and a hotel and is
surrounded by sub-tropical gardens, woodland and
miles of near-empty beaches. The cult television
series The Prisoner was filmed here between
1966-67. |
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Situated a little way
along the coast from Rhyl, Prestatyn is
another popular holiday spot with families. It
has three long golden sandy beaches and its
main attraction is the Nova Centre, a huge
entertainment complex with a 25 metre pool,
water slides, toddlers pool, and poolside bar.
It also has a large health and fitness studio
and spa. On the sandy Ffrith beach can be
found an indoor bowls centre and donkey rides,
whilst from Barkby beach you can indulge in
some of the sailing and other water sports on
offer.
Away from the
beach front,
Prestatyn has
two golf courses
and a sports
centre with
squash and
tennis courts. |
View over Prestatyn from the Graig Fawr trig
point - Photo:
Dot Potter
CCL |
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Phllheli, Llyn Peninsula - © Wales Tourist Board |
Still famous for its vast,
former Butlin's camp, this ever-popular market
town stands at the entrance to the beautiful Llyn
Peninsula and has much to commend it to visitors,
with narrow streets and an ancient open-air market
vying for attention with one of Britain's finest
marinas and sailing centres. The harbour was one
of the main fishing and shipbuilding centres in
North Wales.
Pwllheli has many other attractions including
houses such as The National Trust’s Plas yn Rhiw,
a part-medieval Welsh manor house set in
ornamental gardens and overlooking the west shore
of "Hell’s Mouth Bay".
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Rhosneigr Shoreline - Photo:
Colin Smith
CCL |
Still popular with
holidaymakers, the Edwardian resort of Rhosneigr
benefits from two broad sandy beaches. Its
conservation area is home to the Anglesey Golf
Club. The town was once famous for the 18th
century ship wreckers who hid in the nearby
Crigyll estuary and lured ships onto the nearby
rocks before plundering their cargoes. Today, the
resort thankfully attracts seafarers of a
different type and is awash with windsurfers when
the conditions are right. |
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As one of Wales'
most popular
seaside resorts,
Rhyl has
something to
offer all of the
family. As well
as the golden
sandy beaches
there is
the
Children's
Village on the
Promenade,
amusements and
boating pools.
If the British
weather lets you
down, then there
is the
multi-million
pound Sun
Centre, an
'indoor tropical
island' with
many different
pools and
features to
enjoy. There is
also the popular
sea life centre
and the Skytower
- a 240ft high
rotating
platform giving
excellent views
of the
surrounding
area.
During the
summer months,
Rhyl's Pavillion
Theatre plays
host to a
variety of top
class
entertainment,
and the town
also stages many
other
theatrical
productions.
Aside from the
holiday
entertainment,
Rhyl also has
excellent
shopping
facilities in
both the main
High Street, and
also it White
Rose
Shopping Centre.
There is also
a multi-screen
cinema, a wealth
of bars and
restaurants and
also many
nightclubs.
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Situated at the end of the
Vale of Clwyd in Denbighshire, Ruthin is a
market town of about 5000 people, and full of
Elizabethan, Georgian and Victorian
architecture. The name Ruthin means Red City
and reflects the large sandstone hill on which
the town was built, originally as a strategic
lookout over the River Clwyd. The remains of
its castle are some of the oldest in Wales.
Building started in 1277 by order of Edward 1,
predating the more famous castles of Conwy and
Caernarfon by many years. |
Ruthin - © Wales Tourist Board |
Situated on the
top of the hill,
the town centre
around St.
Peter's Square
is easily
located and
gives views to
the beautiful
surrounding
countryside.
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Situated on the
banks of the
River Elwy
between Rhyll
and Denbigh, St.
Asaph dates back
to AD560 and is
home to the
smallest
cathedral in
Britain.
St. Asaph is an
ideal base for
touring the
north east
corner of Wales.
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Valley is best known for its
RAF station, home to a search and rescue squadron.
Investigations at nearby Llyn Cerrig Bach have
unearthed Celtic treasures such as swords and
spears (thought to have been offerings to the
gods).
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Wrexham is a
busy market
town, the
largest in North
Wales, situated
close to the
Welsh borders
with Shropshire
and Cheshire.
The town
situated to the
North of both
the Clywedog
Valley and the
Ceiriog Valley,
both of which
offer
picturesque and
tranquil views
of the Welsh
Hills. The
Clywedog Valley
is home to a
number of
visitor centres
including Minera
Lead Mines, Nant
Mill, Bersham
Iron Works and
Kings Mill. All
of these
industries were
reliant on the
River Clywedog
for their
operation, and
the centres now
tell the story
of their past
lives.
The Town is
famed for its
parish church of
St. Giles which
is widely
regarded as the
finest example
of Gothic
Architecture in
Wales. Also, the
All Saints
Church, Gresford,
whose famous
bells may be
heard ringing
out on Tuesday
evenings, and
Sundays. The
town is also
home to a large
number of male
voice choirs.
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Erddig House - Photo:
Bob Bowyer
CCL |
Just outside Wrexham can
be found the 17th century, 200 acre country
estate of Erddig
house. Now run
by the National
Trust, there are
a number of
exceptional
displays of
antique
furniture and
ornaments plus a
joiners shop,
smithy, staples,
vintage car
display, and
bake house,
along with a
national trust
shop and tea
room.
Also nearby is
Farmworld, a
visitor centre
and working
dairy farm.
Ideal for
children, it has
lamb feeding in
season, tractor
tours, pony
rides, puppet
shows, milking,
a nature trail,
and many other
fun activities.
Special
environmental
shows are held
during the year.
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The area has
excellent
shopping
facilities, a
multi-screen
cinema, many
pubs and
restaurants and
several
nightclubs.
There are also
two excellent
swimming pools,
a number of gyms
and more
specialist
sporting venues
such as the
North Wales
Tennis Centre.
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