Travel Guide: North Wales

When you think of travelling to the UK do you immediately think London?

There is so much for everyone to do there and so many well-known sights to see it's the obvious choice.

There are of course many beautiful places to visit in the UK but right now I want to tell you about North Wales.

This has to be one of my favourite places to visit in the UK and I agree with one of my nephews that the A55 is my favourite road! Sounds like a strange thing to have, but when it takes you past the sea on one side and the mountains of Snowdonia on the other it is difficult to beat.

North Wales has everything I'm looking for in a holiday, the sea, mountains, castles and plenty of places for a good walk. Looking for these things too? Then read on!

Getting there

You will ideally need your own transport for getting around and about when you are in North Wales so going there by car is the best way. You could use the ferry or train to cross the channel or, if you want to have your steering wheel on the correct side, fly into airports such as Liverpool, Manchester or Birmingham and hire a car. The area is beautiful to drive through with many towns and villages dotted around to stop off for coffee, lunch or just to admire the view.

My experience

I first visited north Wales as a teenager when my family, plus my grandparents, decided it would be a good idea to climb Snowdon, the second highest mountain in the UK! At the time walking was not my favourite pass time, but if my 60 year old grandparents were going to do it how could I say no (I did try!).

Despite my aversion to walking at the time I had a wonderful holiday and the area keeps pulling me back. I have since climbed Snowdon again, taking a more adventurous route than with my grandparents. There are a number of routes to climb the mountain, choose carefully and pick one that will suit all of your group. Information on the routes and walking the mountain can be found here: Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) - Your Guide to the Six Walking Routes to the Summit | Visit Snowdonia This website also offers other walking routes and great suggestions for places to visit and stay in Snowdonia.

North Wales is home to some fantastic castles which are great for all ages to explore. The Norman castles are mostly ruins and so make great places for children to run around, explore and use their imagination. During the UK school holidays there will often be activities for children to take part in. The castles may also provide audio tours that will bring the ruins to life for adults too.

The blue flag beaches of north Wales are not to be missed, especially on the island of Anglesey which is where I spent most of my last visit. We were very fortunate with the weather and enjoyed temperatures in the mid 20's with blue sky and sunshine. Even if it's not so warm the beaches are a great place to go for a walk, as many of them are dog friendly your four-legged companion can have a great day out too.

The pros and cons

Pros

The scenery is stunning! Beaches, mountains, lakes, castles plus small towns and villages. The roads are good which makes it easy to get around by car. There are plenty of car parks in the towns with spaces even in the height of the summer. The people we met were all very friendly and we had some great meals out in pubs and restaurants.

Cons

A car is ideally needed to get here and explore the area fully, however if you don't want to drive on the 'wrong' side of the road there are options for you to still enjoy this amazing part of the UK. Base yourself at the seaside resort of Llandudno and you can use the local bus and train services to get around.

Of course the weather will play a part, as with any UK based holiday, however there are enough shops and museums in the area to help you dodge the showers.

The final word

Visit north Wales! It's a fantastic part of the UK and offers something for every budget. I have stayed there in a caravan, bed and breakfast and a 10 bedroom farmhouse. I have only mentioned a small number of the places it's possible to visit so go online and explore what north Wales has to offer you.

After writing this I can't wait to plan my next holiday to the area!

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