What’s your image of North Wales? A sandy coast? Green valleys? Misty moors? Rugged mountains? We tick all the boxes here in Conwy County. Take a trip from the beach in Llandudno up the grassy Conwy Valley and you’re soon into Betws-y-Coed, the mountain gateway to Snowdonia. It’s an amazingly varied landscape, easy to get to grips with and packed with an A to Z of outdoor experiences.
Up, up and away
You won’t have to travel far from Llandudno to start your journey of discovery. For countryside beside the sea explore Great Orme Country Park on the headland that rears up like a vast oceanic monster from the resort’s promenade. It’s a highly significant nature reserve, noted for its rare plants, butterflies, wild goats – and gobsmacking views of the North Wales coast and Snowdonia.
Flanking the Conwy Valley are two very different destinations, each beautiful in its own way. To the east there’s Mynydd Hiraethog, a high moorland that rolls away into the distance beneath big skies. Make a bee line to lakeside Llyn Brenig’s visitor centre for an introduction to Hiraethog’s rich heritage and wildlife.
The hills on the western side of the Conwy Valley are filled with the Gwydir Forest Park, a lovely swathe of woodland and hidden lakes you can explore on foot or by bike.
It’s great outdoors
Talking of which, walking and mountain biking are just two of the many outdoor activities we’re famous for. Add adrenaline-inducing experiences (ziplines and the like), watersports, cycling, climbing, fishing and golf and you’re beginning to get the full picture.
You can add wildlife-watching to that list. As well as those wild goats we mentioned earlier there’s birdlife (Conwy’s RSPB nature reserve is a must-visit), red squirrels and ospreys near Llyn Brenig and – at Colwyn Bay’s conservation-minded Welsh Mountain Zoo – exotica like leopards, tigers and bears, all kept in caring conditions.
The Official Tourism Website for Destination Conwy
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
