Conwy, Llandudno & Colwyn Bay
Conwy
Conwy is one of the largest city areas of north Wales, containing a number of main settlements including Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, Llanrwst, Abergele and Penmaenmawr. All in all there are 115,000 people living in Conwy. Places like Cerrigydrudion and Llangernyw have the highest percentage of Welsh speakers.
Llandudno
Right at the top of Conwy, Llandudno stretches out into the Irish sea and is the largest seaside resort in all of Wales.
The stretch of sandy beach runs between two headlands; the Great Orme and the Little Orme, and most of it is in the form of a wide, curving Victorian promenade. This is where a lot of the hotels aer, as well as the Llandudno Sailing Club, and an award-winning pier built in 1878 (the longest in Wales).
You can also visit the so-called Happy Valley, an ex-quarry which has been landscaped and now provides beautiful gardens, mini golf courses, and open-air theatre. This is where the Great Orme Cabin Lift goes from!
A smaller beach is on the West Shore, perhaps best known for being the summer holiday destination of Alice Liddell.
Best time to visit: In the May bank holiday weekend, when we host a three day Victorian Carnival!
Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay is a little further inland than Llandudno, and about half way across the north coast of Wales. We have some surprisingly nice temperature up here – winds come from the South over the mountains, and we have the record for the highest Welsh temperature!
Most of the attractions here are tourist based, like beaches, but we’re also a Fairtrade Town. Eirias Park is one of our many beautiful parks and gardens, and we also have the Welsh Mountain Zoo which is worth a visit. If you’re feeling a bit more active we’ve also got the Porth Eirias Watersports Centre, where you can learn sailing, power boating and windsurfing.
Bonus: Timothy Dalton was born here!