Travel
Bookended by beaches on a limestone peninsula, this vintage North Wales seaside town has plenty of outdoor appeal.
ByKarlina Valeiko
Published January 22, 2024
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
A Victorian favourite once billed as the ‘Queen of Welsh resorts’, Llandudno has kept much of the charm that made it so popular. The curving promenade framing Llandudno Bay, the aroma of fish and chips wafting in the air, pastel-coloured art deco houses lining the seafront and old-fashioned amusements on Llandudno Pier all combine to deliver a quintessential British seaside break. The town also serves as gateway to a wealth of natural attractions in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and water-based adventures in Colwyn Bay. And a stay in Llandudno can be combined with a trip to Conwy, across the river of the same name, which has a mighty castle and Britain’s smallest house.
What to do
Spend a day exploring the area in and around the Great Orme — the limestone headland that rises above Llandudno to the north west. Start by riding the cable-hauled Great Orme Tramway (in action since 1902) and exploring the Great Orme Mines, a legacy of Bronze Age copper mining. Then, if it’s not too windy, glide down on the Llandudno Cable Car and take a car or bike along Marine Drive for a scenic trip around the base of the peninsula, looking out across the Irish Sea to the Menai Strait and Anglesey.
Where to eat
Dylan’s, on Llandudno’s East Parade, is set in a Grade II-listed building and offers sea views plus a menu starring local produce. Dishes might include Welsh lamb tacos, Conwy pork or mussels plucked from the Menai Strait. Its attached shop has a range of award-winning Welsh sauces, pickles and preserves to take home.
Where to stay
Set in a Grade I-listed 17th-century country house, Bodysgallen Hall is one of only three National Trust-owned hotels. It has views of Conwy Castle and Eryri, a spa with a pool, and a restaurant serving local produce such as Anglesey scallops and Conwy lamb. Guests can tour the grounds and veg plots with the head gardener. From £260 per night, B&B.
What we like
A half-hour drive or train ride away, the picture-perfect market town of Llanrwst has an impressive three-arched bridge across the River Conwy. Take a stroll and drop by Blas ar Fwyd, a Welsh food hub incorporating a deli, wine shop and restaurant Amser Da. Highlights include Welsh cheeses and charcuterie, Anglesey sea salt and tipples such as rhubarb cider and mead.
Don’t miss
A 20-minute drive from Llandudno, the National Trust’s Bodnant Garden has Italian-style rose terraces, woodland peppered with giant sequoias, and a collection of hydrangeas and magnolias. The step-free Rose Walk takes in key parts of the garden, such as the terraces, waterfall bridge and Old Mill, set against the backdrop of the Eryri foothills. The longer two-mile River Walk is best tackled on two wheels.
This story was created with the support of Bodysgallen Hall.
Published in the Jan/Feb 2024 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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