Top Things to do in North Wales
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10 Things to do Good for Couples in North Wales That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in North Wales, United Kingdom including Snowdon, Plas Mawr, Snowdonia National Park, Cader Idris, Cwm Idwal National Nature Reserve, Caernarfon Castle, Conwy Castle, Plas Newydd Historic House and Gardens, Great Orme, Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways.
Restaurants in North Wales
1. Snowdon
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,629 reviews
The highest mountain in Wales (higher than any in England) at 3,560 feet.
Reviewed By PD280875 - Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Came here this year instead of the lakes for our annual walking holiday , an amazing area of outstanding beauty , we went up via Crib Goch which was an exhilarating experience (dont look down) , some fantastic views all the way up and some challenging areas to scramble over , plenty of different paths too the top and even a steam train ! would deffo like to do this again
2. Plas Mawr
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 909 reviews
Plas Mawr, or the Great Hall, is quite simply the finest surviving Elizabethan town house anywhere in Britain. This was a golden age when fabulously wealthy merchants invested in mansions, rich fittings and lavish entertaining. Robert Wynn, third son of a local landowner, wanted a piece of the action. The house’s main frontage is discreetly hidden away in a steep narrow lane. So the High Street gatehouse only hints at the grandeur within, as you rise via a series of terraces to explore 17 impressive rooms. The displayed opening times are our general pattern. Please check the Cadw website for specific times and days, including closures. Advanced booking required.
Reviewed By Don_G_Wright - Vancouver, Canada
I’m so glad the person at the ticket counter at Conwy Castle recommended we pop over to Plas Mawr before we left the area. This is a delightful Elizabethan era townhouse that has been wonderfully restored and set up to show the life of the wealthy merchant, Robert Wynn, who built it in the 1570s. Furniture and decorations from the time tell a fascinating story, and all the painted heraldic emblems and fanciful figures are very intriguing, especially all the severed heads! They are associated with the family of his wife, Dorothy Griffin. An hour is plenty of time for a visit.
3. Snowdonia National Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 202 reviews
Reviewed By captaingreggs - Liverpool, United Kingdom
Came on holiday to snowdonia this weekend and the first days it was a visit to Betsi Co Ed, spent the day walking around the town spreading corona virus and generally causing a nuisance with our North Face Jackets on. After the big Betsi day it was time to climb the biggest mountain in the Uk, actually I think Europe, maybe even the world. Snowdon Car park was full so we just double parked on the road, there were signs up saying no parking but they must have been for Somone else. I set off climbing in my best pair of Adidas sliders and now they are ruined due to the appalling state of the path, I really think this needs to be repaired before more people ruin their best flip flops. Great to get to the top although the que to touch the summit was about an hour. Decided we wanted to ‘wild camp’ as we had seen it on Instagram so we took our 15 person tent to Llyn Gayreoned where we pitched it up in the middle of the car park. It was a totally epic experience, we collected fire wood by breaking branches off all the near by trees and had a huge campfire on the nice bit of grass next to the lake. Sadly the bins were overflowing so we just had to leave our rubbish all over the grass and car park but it was ok as the wind got up and blew it all away in to the lake Does Bear Grills poo in the woods? Yes he does and so do we, what a Liberating experience pooping where ever we fancied, we also left little piles of toilet paper where ever we dropped one off, like a cute little calling card On our last day we decided to visit conwy, so many people, carnt believe how busy it was, no chance of social distancing, ah well. Ate chips on the quay, fed most of them to the cute seagulls. Had ice creams, got attacked by the seagulls, perhaps they aren’t that cute. All in all a good holiday but really hope we can go on our package holiday to Benidorm next year, it’s warmer, beer is cheaper and they speak English not that funny Welsh
4. Cader Idris
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 503 reviews
Reviewed By lucyharries_89 - Cardiff, United Kingdom
After reading about the different tracks you can take up to the summit, I decided to opt for the Minffordd path, and I was not disappointed! I managed to get here on the T2 bus from Dolgellau - it drops you off next to Dol Idris Car Park - just ask the driver where to jump off if you're unsure. Once you reach the car park, follow the signs to the start of the track - there is also a little cafe en route if you need any supplies, but don't rely on it too much as it wasn't open on the day that I went! The Minffordd Path itself is relatively easy to follow. After a steep initial ascent (with lot's of steps through a woodland) you reach a split in the path - a little stone bridge going right will take you up the Mynydd Moel path, which is a giant scree slope. The left will continue your journey along the Minffordd path and takes you to Llyn Cau,which is a really pretty lake, and a gorgeous spot to have a chill and recharge before continuing. After you've relaxed a bit, or just stopped for a photo opportunity, continue along the ridge, keeping the lake to your right and prepare for another steep climb towards Craig Cwm Amarch, the first peak you reach (after climbing over a stile). After taking a moment to admire the views, continue along the downward path for about 10-15 minutes and eventually the path will start ascending again - the path is pretty clearly marked until you get to this point, but then it becomes a bit difficult to follow as you begin the ascent as there is a lot of loose rock - just try and keep to the right and you'll eventually reach the trig point! From the top, you can choose to either go back the same way or choose a different descent. For anyone relying on the buses, like me, you can take the Mynydd Moel path back to the Dol Idris car park. Follow the flat ridge on the summit for a good while (it is essentially a circular route around the opposite side of Llyn Cau that you ascended). After a while you reach a stile - cross this and begin your descent down the scree slope. You eventually cross the little stone bridge that you saw on the way up, which then joins the Minffordd Path again for the final part of the descent back to the car park. Be warned, the descent down the Mynydd Moel is really tough on the knees - I thought mine were okay but this mountain proved me wrong! Overall, this was a challenging hike, but I would do it gain. The views never get tiring and, having done Snowdon 2 years previously, this was a far more spectacular walk. It really is not to be missed!
5. Cwm Idwal National Nature Reserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 244 reviews
Reviewed By LejasLou - San Francisco, United States
If you are visiting Snowdonia/Eryri: do not miss this hike! Parking in the summer can be challenging, so it’s best to get here before 11am (9:30am if you want a spot in the paid parking lot). Many cars end up parking on the side of the road, but even that space fills quickly and can be a bit dangerous with little kids/buggies/etc. There is a stand that sells coffee and ice cream just next to the paid parking lot but pretty much all seating is outside so if the weather isn’t great, you might want to keep that in mind. The hike to the lake is a mild/moderate incline but generally well-maintained path with stone steps - for those who don’t hike much it’s absolutely do-able and fun, just take your time. Once you reach the lake, it’s mostly flat with some gentle inclines/declines. It can take anywhere from 45-90 minutes to do the entire loop from the parking lot to around the lake - the time depends on how fast you want to go. For the more more advanced hikers, this is also a gateway to more challenging hikes into Devils Kitchen and then beyond access to a range of some of the Eryri’s 3000s mountains (ie the Glyderau range). If you want to do the range, definitely start early but can be done in a day.
6. Caernarfon Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,011 reviews
After all these years Caernarfon’s immense strength remains undimmed. A brute of a fortress. Caernarfon Castle’s pumped-up appearance is unashamedly muscle-bound and intimidating. Picking a fight with this massive structure would have been a daunting prospect. By throwing his weight around in stone, King Edward I created what is surely one of the most impressive of Wales’s castles. Worthy of World Heritage status no less. Please check the Cadw website for specific times and days, including closures.
Reviewed By WendyH291
The castle is huge, be prepared for a lot of climbing up steep narrow stairs to negotiate walking right around the castle battlements. There is an interesting short film to watch giving the history of the castle which is worth watching and quite a big museum which is devoted to the history of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers . The views from the towers over the town and the water are very good. We enjoyed walking around the town afterwards.
7. Conwy Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,503 reviews
Advance booking required Built in the late 13th century and reputed to be haunted by a past resident, this picturesque castle was built for King Edward I and is a perfect example of the "concentric castle" design. The displayed opening times are our general pattern. Please check the Cadw website for specific times and days, including closures.
Reviewed By esorlegin - Conwy, United Kingdom
An amazing 800 year old castle. The more you know about the history of North Wales and the Celts, the more you will appreciate the role this castle played in Welsh history (British/Welsh history 101 : Celts invaded by Romans, Invaded by Vikings, Saxons, Angles etc. Invaded by the French Norman’s etc etc. Each invasion pushed the Celts back into the mountains reducing their lands) Try and visit in dry weather as the stone steps up the towers can be a bit slippery. One tip - last weekend of September there is free admission!!!
8. Plas Newydd Historic House and Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 370 reviews
Covid-19 Update ~ Plas Newydd Tearooms will be open 10AM - 4PM daily. The Gardens and Grounds are open daily and free to explore! Plas Newydd Historic House will unfortunately be closed until further notice. Home of the ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ Miss Sarah Ponsonby and Lady Eleanor Butler captured the imagination of Regency society when they ran away and set up home together in Wales. Visit their extraordinary gothicised home and hear of the stream of famous visitors they received. Learn how they won the hearts of local people and turned a simple cottage into a fantasy of oak carvings and stained glass. Stroll through the gardens they developed and try homemade cakes in the tea rooms.
Reviewed By Goldbunny23 - Liverpool, United Kingdom
This house has an amazing history. There are excellent examples of wood carving and clear and concise explanation about the lives of its two famous occupants.The gardens are lovely to wak round and to top it all a really great tea shop.
9. Great Orme
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,195 reviews
Reviewed By georgebriggs6 - Leeds, United Kingdom
Just had a splendid three days break in llandudno well I was there we visited the great orme tramway for the first time it was a fantastic views was magnificent and the was very friendly and helpful well worth a visit good value for the money
10. Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,011 reviews
The Ffestiniog Railway takes you on a 13 1/2-mile journey from the harbour in Porthmadog to the slate-quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. We are recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest railway company in the world, being founded in 1832. We still build steam locomotives and carriages in our own workshops and the world's oldest steam engine, Prince, is still in regular use today - more than 150 years after it was built. Our historic trains climb over 700 feet from sea level into the mountains through tranquil pastures and magnificent forests, past lakes and waterfalls, round horseshoe bends (even a complete spiral) clinging to the side of the mountain or tunnelling through it. The Welsh Highland is Snowdonia's newest railway. Trains start their spectacular 25 mile scenic journey from beneath the historic castle walls at Caernarfon. The trains - hauled by the world's most powerful narrow gauge steam locomotives - climb from sea level to over 650 feet on the foothills of Snowdon, before zig-zagging dramatically down the steep hillside to reach Beddgelert, nestling in the heart of the National Park, then through the magnificent Aberglaslyn Pass - voted the most beautiful spot in the UK by the National Trust - and on to Porthmadog.
