Day Trips

Chester:  Walled Roman city and Roman fortress town with a stunning collection of Tudor buildings/shops in the high street, Hop On Hop Off bus tours, boat trips, Chester Racecourse (check out their calendar for dress up race days) and Chester Zoo. Explore the surrounding chocolate box Cheshire villages.

*****

Llangollen:  Horse drawn canal rides, walk or take a barge trip across the famous Pontcysyllte viaduct, take a steam train, ride the high adrenaline white water rapids, or have a go at paddle boarding and abseiling. Mountain bike hire and trails are available in nearby Llandegla Forest and travel to Llangollen from the cottage by driving across the nerve racking but extremely scenic horseshoe pass.

*****

Llandudno: Traditional Victorian seaside town with a pier and amusements, tram and cable car rides to the top of the famous Great Orme cliffs, ancient tunnels lead to a cavern at the Great Orme mines, outdoor dry ski slope, toboggan ride and shopping. Bodysgallen Hall just outside Llandudno has a highly rated fine dining restaurant and offers an award winning afternoon tea (I’ve tried the afternoon tea in the winter, sat in front of a roaring fire in a beautiful country house setting - scrummy!).

*****

Conwy: Conwy Castle, harbour and old town is a very nice place to visit and don’t miss the smallest house in Great Britain and the nearby Welsh Mountain Zoo.

*****

Bodnant:  Bodnant Gardens are quite possibly the nicest gardens I have ever visited and where you will find the world famous Laburnum Arch in full bloom during the spring. Return to your car, head back to the main road and continue for one mile until you reach the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre where you can buy local produce, they also serve extremely filling afternoon teas.

*****

Snowdonia:  Stunning National Park full of majestic mountains to admire and climb, lakes, waterfalls, myths and legends.  Here you will find some of the best walking and climbing in Great Britain, wild swimming spots and an abundance of outdoor adventure and thrill activities, including the fastest zip wire in the world and the longest in Europe. Surf Snowdonia, the world’s first commercial surfing lake, coasteering, cannoning and canoeing. Mountain horse Trekking, Snowdon Mountain Railway, Festiniog & Welsh Mountain Railway and various copper and slate mine tours. Visit here to find out so much more. http://www.visitsnowdonia.info/

*****

Aber Falls:  On route to Anglesey, this beautiful low level walk with wonderful views will lead you to a glorious 120 ft. waterfall. Stand at the bottom and look up and around in awe (don’t miss the smaller second waterfall slightly higher up on the right).

*****

Anglesey:  Beaumaris seaside town, Beaumaris Castle, old prison museum tour, various super-fast speed boat rip rides and a boat trip to Puffin Island. My favourite place to visit is Llanddwyn Island (known as Lovers' Island), approach through Newborough Forest, walk along a golden sandy beach to reach the island (check tide timings) and discover the amazing isolated swimming coves, wild ponies, lighthouse and monuments. The superb views of the Snowdonia mountain range and Llyn Peninsula make this a captivating and magical place to visit.

*****

Worth a visit: Denbigh Moors, Llyn Brenig reservoir and visitor centre, Gwydyr Forest Park, Betws-y-Coed and nearby Conwy Falls, Fairy Glen, Swallow Falls. Caernarfon Castle, Portmeirion Italian village (where they filmed the 60’s series The Prisoner), Beddergelert village and the Legend of Gelert. Llyn Mair lake and the surrounding ancient woodland walks, all of the Gwynedd National Trust walks, Lake Bala and the beautiful mountain pass and scenic drives around the area.

You could stay in this area of North Wales for weeks on end and still not be short of something to see, do, experience and explore.