North Wales bordered to the south by Mid Wales and to the east by England.
It comprises the island of Anglesey, the Llyn peninsula and the Snowdonia mountain range, together with the catchments of the Rivers Conwy, Clwyd and Dee.
The area is mostly rural with many mountains and valleys. This, in combination with its coast (on the Irish Sea), has ensured that tourism is the principal industry.
Farming, which was once the principal economic is now much reduced in importance. |
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When it comes to attractions and activities, North Wales offers something to suit every taste from family and heritage attractions to zoos, farm parks and steam trains to Castles, Historic Houses and Gardens. Regional events include cultural festivals, agricultural shows. The area also offers a wide range of activities including walking, cycling, fishing, golf, kite Surfing and water sports to name but a few.
If you prefer a more relaxed pace, you can visit one of many Castles – Beaumaris, Carnarfon, Rhuddlan and Conwy are some of the most popular.
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You can potter around charming towns and villages, explore the rugged coastline, feel soft sand between your toes, or have some family fun at the many events taking place all year round. Whatever the weather, there is something for everyone.
To the West lies Snowdonia, a magnet for climbers and walkers and on the Llyn Peninsula you will find some of the best sailing and surfing beaches in North Wales.
Crossing the famous Menai bridge will take you to the Isle of Anglesey which is surrounded by 125 miles of coastline and a host of historical sites. |
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Rhyl
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Fun filled days abound for the whole family, with the Children’s Village on the Promenade, golden sands, amusements, boating pools, and all the fun of the children’s fair.
The Sun Centre is a multi-million pound indoor tropical island the pools contain 4.5 million litres of bubbling water! A ride on the indoor monorail will give you a bird’s eye view of all the fun, including Wales's longest water slides. |
You can also visit the Sky tower this 240 ft observation gyro tower has been in operation since 1993, giving superb views of
the surrounding area.
The SeaQuarium, walk through the underwater tunnel, the first one in Wales - without actually getting wet!
Here you will see hundreds of animals from many different species, including salamanders that never grow up, animals with lots of legs but no bones, frogs that think they're skydivers and a moray eel disguised as a zebra.
With regular talks, touchpools and feeding demonstrations. |
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Rhyl’s Pavilion Theatre shows top class entertainment and the town also stages many theatrical productions. You will also
find a multi-screen cinema and several nightclubs.
In an effort to regenerate and boost declining tourism, a number of projects are underway or being proposed. As well as the £85 million Ocean Plaza complex on the site of the former Ocean Beach Fun Fair, projects include the reopening of the town's miniature railway around the Marine Lake and the recent completion of the Drift Park on the promenade.
The West End of Rhyl is undergoing much rebuilding. One of the major investments is at Rhyl College, a satellite site of Llandrillo College, with the investment being worth approximately £4 million.
Llandudno
With its unique combination of Victorian style and Edwardian elegance, Llandudno is the largest holiday resort in Wales. Dubbed the Queen of Welsh resorts, it stands on a peninsula jutting out into the Irish Sea, between the twin headlands of the Great Orme and Little Orme.
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The town boasts two superb beaches - the North Shore, backed by an imposing crescent of large Victorian hotels, with its graceful pier (at 2,220ft it’s one of the longest in Britain), has all the ingredients for a memorable family holiday. The beach also offers donkey rides, boats trips, Punch and Judy shows, and a whole host of summer events and activities. In contrast, the West shore is quieter, with miles of sandy shoreline backed by sand dunes, with superb views westwards along the coast towards the Isle of Anglesey and Puffin Island. |
For the best views, you can reach the summit of the 679ft Great Orme using either the Great Orme Tramway, the longest cable operated tramway in Britain, or by taking an exciting cable car ride of over a mile. Once at the top, you’ll find a Visitor Centre and Summit Complex with a bar and restaurant. |
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Llandudno is also the main retail centre. All the famous high street shops are here with many undercover in the attractive Victoria Shopping Centre. A stroll under the pretty Victorian canopies in Mostyn Street reveals a tremendous choice. |
Beaumaris
The picturesque 13th century castle town of Beaumaris nestles by the Menai Strait enjoying stunning views to the Snowdonia Mountains.
Beaumaris castle was built by English monarch, Edward I to stamp his authority on the Welsh, regarded by many as the finest of all the great Edwardian castles in Wales.
The town grew around the castle and became a thriving port, and is still an important yachting centre today.
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There is a varied selection of shops and numerous eating places, catering for every taste from a sandwich to five course feasts. Beaumaris provides the facilities for relaxing in its idyllic surroundings, enjoying fun with the children or pursuing more energetic pursuits, sail your own boat or observe the puffins and seals from a pleasure cruise. Cycle along leafy lanes, go fishing or go horse-riding, play on the numerous golf courses, swim from safe clean beaches, take a walk and enjoy breathtaking scenery. |
Rhuddlan Castle
Rhuddlan Castle like Caernarfon and Conwy, was built as one of the 'iron ring' of fortresses by Edward I, in his late 13th-century.
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Its massive twin-towered west gatehouse - heralding the inner core of a characteristic concentric 'walls within walls' system of defences - immediately catches the eye. But possibly the most impressive engineering achievement here is the way in which access for ships to the castle from the sea - almost 3 miles away - was made by canalizing the River Clwyd, a mammoth task involving 1,800 ditchers. Remains of a defended river gate can still be seen in the outer ring of walls, overlooked by the towers of the powerful-shaped inner ward. |
Dyserth Waterfall
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The River Ffyddion rises 4.5 miles to the east of here and is joined a mile away at Marian Mills by water from a spring called Ffynnon Asa.
After falling some 70 feet over this waterfall the river makes its way westwards and joins the River Clwyd west of Rhuddlan. |
It is probable that the massive pair of walls to the left of the falls were built to support a water wheel which would have been driven by water diverted from above the waterfall.
The walls could be medieval, but their history is unknown.
The path up the steps between the walls continues over the hill and joins public footpaths to the upper village and the Dyserth-Prestatyn walkway. |
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Aber Waterfalls
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Aber Falls, Rhaeadr Fawr, is a waterfall located in the beautiful valley behind the village of Aber or Abergwyngregyn in Gwynedd.
The Falls are formed as the river plunges 37m from the foothills of the northern Carneddau range of mountains.
The A55 expressway runs close to the village of Abergwyngregyn but the final mile or so to the falls is accessible only by foot.
The Aber valley is a National Nature Reserve with several walks. |
Talacre Beach
Point of Ayr lighthouse stands on the beach near Talacre a few miles up the beach from Rhyl. Built in 1776, and inactive since 1883, this brick tower of 18 metres is surrounded by water at high tide.
Talacre Beach also boasts fantastic views out to the Irish Sea and back on to the Wirral Peninsula. |
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