North Wales is probably one of my favourite places in the world and I spent four years living in Bangor, Gwynedd for my undergrad degree. Honestly, if I could, I would move back tomorrow. I loved living so close to the beautiful beaches which sprawl the glorious Anglesey coastline and you really can’t beat a spending your weekend walking around the lakes in Snowdonia. So I thought I would put together a little North Wales bucket list for you of my favourite North Walian spots.
fairy glen | FFOS ANODDUN
Snowdonia National Park, Betws-y-Coed, Wales
A bit off the beaten track, this gorgeous little spot is well worth the somewhat treacherous steps down (do be aware the steps are steep and pretty slippy). Stick your change in the honesty box on the way through the field and enjoy this magical little gorge – stunning whatever the weather, but particularly pretty in the sunlight.
menai bRIDGE lookout point
Ffordd Caergybi, Llanfairpwllgwyngyll LL61 5YH
Whenever we visit Bangor we always cross over the Menai Bridge to check out the view over the straits, force of habit but we just love the view out over the straits towards Snowdonia National Park.
LLANDWYN BEACH | Traeth Llanddwyn
Llanfairpwllgwyngyll
Possibly one of my most favourite beaches in the world. Walk through the soaring pine trees of Newborough Forest (look out for the red squirrels) across the sand dunes and you will be greeted with this fabulous beach with a seriously impressive back drop of Snowdonia.
Don’t miss Llanddwyn Island (Ynys Llanddwyn) located at the far end of the beach.
Swallow Falls Waterfall | Rhaeadr Ewynnol
Snowdonia National Park, Swallow Falls, Betws-y-Coed LL24 0DW
You definitely need to take a trip to see this spectacular natural wonder. It will cost you a very reasonable £1.50pp to enter through the little turnstile in order to see this crazy impressive waterfall. Carry on a little further down the A5 to spend some time wandering around Betws-Y-Coed afterwards.
bangor pier
Bangor Garth Pier, Garth Rd, Bangor LL57 2SW
Look how gorgeous my little uni home looks on a sunny day! Take a wander through Bangor down to the pier (the second longest in Wales) and take in the stunning 360 degree views across the Menai Straits. Make sure to check out the little gift shops and stop for a coffee at The Pavillion cafe at the end of the pier.
llyn idwal
Bethesda, Bangor LL573LZ, Wales.
Truly breathtaking and so peaceful, I love spending time here. Situated just off the A5 with plenty of nearby free parking, Idwal is not to be missed – perfect whatever the weather. We visited just after some heavy rain once and the sound of the water crashing down the mountainside was deafening. Incredible.
penmon point
Beaumaris LL58 8SN
One of Anglesey’s gems. A lovely little unspoilt beach with car park close by, a little tricky to get to, due to winding down narrow roads, but a beautiful place for a long walk and a bbq.
climb mt snowdon
Llanberis Path
If you haven’t already made the journey to the summit, then you absolutely have to add it to your bucket list. The sub three hour walk up is worth the effort for the views alone, although most of the year the summit is surrounded by clouds so make the most of the views on the way up and back down again. Oh and don’t be ridiculous, like the many, many students every year who attempt to climb in shorts and flip flops throughout the winter – the mountain rescue have got so many more important things to be doing!
If you don’t want the hassle of finding your own way to Snowdon’s summit and want more time to soak up the region’s striking views then check out this guided hike from Llanberis via Viator.
beaumaris
Perfect for a stroll around, home to the cutest little shops, definitely stop by the Janet Bell Gallery for some awesome local art pieces, grab an ice-cream or a cone of chips (or both!!) and watch the world go by on the seafront after checking out the quaint little colourful houses.
zip world
Bethesda, Bangor LL57 4YG
A way to spend your pennies. Although not free like most of the items on this list, this one is entirely worth the expense. Soaring across an old slate mine head first at speeds of up to 100mph (depending on your weight and the weather) – I booked this for Josh’s birthday before we left university, but sadly I appear to have mislaid any of the photos we actually took on the day… oh and if you’re not up for zip-lining they also have a forest coaster course and Bounce Below.
bODNANT gARDEN
Bodnant Rd, Tal-y-cafn, Colwyn Bay LL28 5RE
Bodnant Garden (Welsh: Gardd Bodnant) is a National Trust property near Conwy, Wales. The Gardens were founded in 1874 and were gifted to the National Trust in 1949. Th gorgeous gardens sprawl across 80 acres of hillside and include Italianate terraces, a waterfall and a plethora of plants from around the world.
watkin path waterfalls
Super easy to get to, just off the A498 in the heart of the Snowdonia national park, this succession of waterfalls is perfect for an afternoon in the sunshine. You have to walk along a moderately steep path before you reach the falls but it takes roughly half an hour and you can always dip your toes in the falls to cool off when you get there.
Oh and if its a warm enough day (like the scorching 30 degrees we had in June 2016) then make sure you pack your swimwear!
stop by Llangollen & walk along the canals
Visit the gorgeous little town of Llangollen, wanted along the canal, browse the shops, grab an icecream, have a rummage through the rails at the vintage store and head out to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct a rather excellent piece of engineering designed by Thomas Telford.
I always bang on about using booking.com and for good reason. There are so many perks, from becoming a Genius member, to discount deals – you can’t really go wrong. Just bear in my mind what you are looking for and filter that search down to the small print. For instance, we always filter for ratings 8+, Wifi and often air conditioning.
WHERE TO STAY:
I’ve popped some recommendations below that hopefully cater to your budget option, whether that be a sod it, it’s pay day let’s splash all the cash or a, I need a comfy bed to fall into asap kinda trip.
A SPLURGE OPTION:
The Quay Hotel and Spa – this stunning hotel and spa is located on the breathtaking Deganwy Marina, with views over the Conwy Estuary. The views are marvellous, the facilities excellent and Conwy is an excellent base for exploring the surrounding North Walean area.
A SLIGHTLY KINDER TO THE BANK BALANCE OPTION:
Gwynfryn – cosy accommodation in a beautifully converted chapel in Conwy, again a perfect location for exploring North Wales. The rooms have been updated in a quirky style and are equipped with a flat-screen Smart TV, refrigerator and a private en-suite bathroom.
A BUDGET FRIENDLY OPTION:
Woodlands Centre – within close proximity to many of the bucket list hotspots, check out this option in Betws-y-Coed the accommodation offers a garden and a shared lounge, as well as free WiFi.
Thankyou so much for reading, your support means the world and please do subscribe to receive notifications of new posts by email, for more north wales recommendations, check out this delightful hot tub hideaway on the Llyn Peninsula.
What stunning places!! I’ve never been to Wales, and so I’m definitely writing some of these places down. Llyn Idwal looks beautiful. Thank you for sharing! x