“Croeso I Gymru” (Welcome to Wales) road signs greet tourists as they approach this country, attesting to the Welsh’s warm, friendly hospitality. The charming small town of Llandudno is one of Britain’s oldest and most popular beach resort towns, and the North Wales coastal roads provide a wealth of scenery. The magnificent Snowdonia National Park is perhaps the most well-known attractions here, bringing millions of visitors per year to the area.
There are numerous historical monuments and attractive little villages in the area, as well as steep ravines and gorgeous valleys, making each trip a voyage of discovery. With our list of the top 5 tourist attractions in North Wales, you can learn about the finest locations to visit.
Caernarfon Castle
In 1283, Edward I built Caernarfon Castle as a residence for his eldest son, Edward of Caernarfon, the first Prince of Wales. This huge structure, with its 13 towers and two gates, is one of the most magnificent and well-preserved mediaeval fortifications in existence.
The castle has a long and tumultuous history, having resisted several sieges. While you’re here, visit the Royal Welch Fusiliers Regimental Museum, which is housed in the beautiful Queen’s Tower.
If you’re travelling with children, be sure to see Legends of the Sky, the newest addition to this popular park. You may control a “virtual dragon” and swoop, dive, and even spit fire over the castle in this exciting 3D adventure.
Portmeirion
Sir Clough Williams-Ellis dreamed of recreating an Italian town in Wales and had it erected on his own private piece of land. This idea came together with a home (now a hotel) and the magnificent Gwylt Gardens. The town was also the birthplace of the famed Portmeirion pottery line.
These Portmeirion-inspired items are now produced in Stoke-on-Trent, England, and may be seen on tables and shelves all around the world. This one-of-a-kind property is best experienced as part of an overnight stay; when the gates close for the night, visitors have the entire property to themselves to explore, from the lovely gardens, fountains, and chapel to the lower village’s seaside pathways.
Anglesey Island
The Menai Strait, which separates the Isle of Anglesey from the mainland by about a mile, is spanned by two majestic bridges, the most noteworthy of which is the Menai Suspension Bridge. Inland, you’ll discover several market towns and a slew of little villages connected by a maze of winding roads. Hills provide good grazing for large herds of sheep in the interior.
Visitors on caravan holiday can climb the stairs to the summit for spectacular views of the Irish Sea and the shoreline. Other popular sites include Beaumaris Castle and Holy Island. This tiny island, which is connected to Anglesey by a bridge, is a famous tourist destination with two promenades. Hiking the 200-kilometer Anglesey Coastal Path, which is part of the much longer Wales Coastal Path, is a fantastic opportunity to really see the island and its numerous attractions.
Welsh Highland Railways (Porthmadog & Ffestiniog)
The twin towns of Porthmadog (commonly referred to as “Port”) and Tremadog, located at the mouth of the Glaslyn River, are small industrial hubs known for slate shipping. Wide views of the surrounding region may be seen from Ynys Tywyn, near the port, where the poet Shelley resided for a while, as did Lawrence of Arabia, who was born here.
Today, kids (and adult-kids) can fulfil their dreams of riding the rails with the magnificent Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. This railway offers tourists the opportunity to travel over 40 kilometres of the UK’s only mixed gauge flat rail crossing. Discovery all the country has to offer with this narrow-gauge train while traveling through multiple tourist destinations.
Harlech Castle
Harlech Castle, perched on a rocky outcropping overlooking the Irish Sea, is part of Edward I’s line of strongholds erected to secure his conquest of Wales in the late 13th century. UNESCO currently considers the castle to be one of Europe’s greatest remaining examples of military construction from the 13th and 14th centuries, despite its years of neglect.
The castle, which is the subject of the unofficial Welsh hymn Men of Harlech, is a lovely location to visit today, with its rich history on exhibit at the tourist centre. Book one of the castle’s finest apartments in the centre, which was formerly a hotel, for a genuine treat.
Photo: The Central Piazza at Portmeirion by Jeff Buck