North Wales

Caernarfon

This major centre in north Wales has an old centre surrounded by medieval city walls and an outstanding castle that dates from 1283.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

Oriel Pendeitsh, Castle Street, Caernarfon

Tel (01286) 672232

Website www.visitwales.com

Open winter Thu-Tue 9.30am-4.30pm; summer 10am-6pm daily

Accommodation

Totters

Plas Proth Yr Aur, 2 High Street, Caernarfon LL55 1RN
Tel (01286) 672 963

Sights

Caernarfon Castle

Breathtaking Caernarfon Castle dominates the old town with its massive fortifications and polygonal towers. It was originally constructed in 1283 as a royal residence for Edward I and it has been the site of much royal pageantry. The castle is home to the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, a regimental museum and the Eagle and the Dragon audiovisual display. It is a World Heritage Site along with another three of Edward I's castles.

Tel (01286) 677 617

Admission £4.50 (£3.50 students)

Open Jan-Mar Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm; 1 Apr-1 Jun 9.30am-5pm daily; 2 Jun-28 Sep 9.30am-6pm daily; 29 Sep-26 Oct 9.30am-5pm daily; 27 Oct-31 Dec Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm

Segontium Roman Museum

This museum portrays the Roman conquest and occupation of Wales. Exhibits include artefacts unearthed at the Segontium fort.

Beddgelert Road, Caernarfon

Tel (01286) 675 625

Admission free

Open Jan-Easter Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 2pm-4pm; Easter-Sep Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 2pm-5pm; Nov-Dec Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 2pm-4pm

Conwy & Llandudno

These two towns on Wales' north coast are only a short distance apart and are both very popular with tourists, but for entirely different reasons.

Conwy is a historic town that is dominated by a 13th century castle, but it also boasts an eclectic variety of other sights. On the other hand, Llandudno, which is only 6.5km away, is a Victorian seaside resort with an assortment of tacky attractions but it also features a pleasant beachfront promenade.

Practical Information

Conwy Tourist Information Centre

Conwy Castle Visitor Centre, Conwy

Tel (01492) 592248

Website www.visitwales.com

Open winter Thu-Sat 9.30am-4pm; summer 9.30am-5pm daily

Llandudno Tourist Information Centre

1-2 Chapel Street, Llandudno

Tel (01492) 876413

Website www.visitwales.com

Open winter Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm; summer 9.30am-5.30pm daily

Coming & Going

Conwy and Llandudno have good train connections to Chester, Liverpool and Manchester. There are stations at Conwy and Llandudno but most trains stop at Llandudno Junction station, which is the area's transport hub.

National Express coaches go to Holyhead, Chester, Manchester and London.

Local Transport

Arriva buses (website www.arriva.co.uk) run throughout North Wales and they're the best option for getting around Conwy and Llandudno. Buses 5, 5X, 14, 15, 19, 19A and 25 run between Conwy and Llandudno. An Arriva Day Pass costs £5 and lets you travel on most Arriva buses, but not long distance coach services.

Accommodation

YHA Conwy

Larkhill, Sychnant Pass Road, Conwy LL32 8AJ
Tel (01492) 593 571 or 0870 770 57741

Llandudno Hostel

14 Charlton Street, Llandudno, LL30 2AA
Tel (01492) 877430

Sights

Aberconwy House

This medieval merchant's house has endured six centuries of turbulent history. The house has been restored to represent life here in different historical periods. There is also an audiovisual presentation.

Castle Street, Conwy

Tel (01492) 592 246

Admission £2.20

Open 29 Mar-2 Nov Wed-Mon 11am-5pm

Conwy Castle

The World Heritage listed Conwy Castle was built between 1283 and 1287 for Edward I. It stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking Conwy and Llandudno and it features eight immense towers and a bow-shaped hall.

Tel (01492) 592358

Admission £3.50 (£3 students); joint ticket for Conwy Castle & Plas Mawr £6.50 (£5.50 students)

Open Jan-Mar Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm; 1 Apr-1 Jun 9.30am-5pm daily; 2 Jun-28 Sep 9.30am-6pm daily; 29 Sep-26 Oct 9.30am-5pm daily; 27 Oct-31 Dec Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm

Conwy Suspension Bridge

This tasteful suspension bridge, near Conwy Castle spans the River Conwy. It designed by Thomas Telford and built in 1826. The toll-keeper's house has been restored and furnished, as it would have looked 100 years ago.

Tel (01492) 573 282

Website www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Admission £1.20

Open 27 Mar-31 Oct 10am-5pm daily

Plas Mawr

Plas Mawr claims to be Great Britain's best-preserved Elizabethan townhouse. It features a gatehouse and tower and the interior reflects the style of the late 16th century.

Tel (01492) 580 167

Admission £4.50 (£3.50 students); joint ticket for Conwy Castle & Plas Mawr £6.50 (£5.50 students)

Open 1 Apr-1 Jun Tue-Sun 9.30am-5pm; 2 Jun-31 Aug Tue-Sun 9.30am-6pm; 1-28 Sep Tue-Sun 9.30am-5pm; 29 Sep-26 Oct Tue-Sun 9.30am-4pm

Llangollen

This pretty town by the River Dee is famous for the International Musical Eisteddfod (website www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk) that has been held here each July since 1947. The festival see the town's population explode from 3,000 to 80,000 people who come here for a hectic week of song and dance.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

Town Hall, Castle Street, Llangollen

Tel (01978) 860828

Website www.visitwales.com

Open winter Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm; summer 10am-6pm daily

Bangor

This university town makes a convenient base for exploring Anglesey and north Wales.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

Town Hall, Deniol Road, Bangor

Tel (01248) 352 786

Website www.visitwales.com

Open 10am-6pm daily

Accommodation

YHA Bangor

Tan-y-Bryn, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 1PZ
Tel (01248) 353 516 or 0870 770 5686

Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn)

Many travellers visit Anglesey to catch the ferry to Ireland from Holyhead; but many others come here for the wealth of prehistoric sites that are located here.

Another attraction is the small town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, which claims Britain's longest place name. The town is often abbreviated to Llanfairpwll or Llanfair P G.

Practical Information

Holyhead Tourist Information Centre

Stena Line Terminal 1, Holyhead

Tel (01407) 762622

Open winter Mon-Sat 10am-4.30pm; summer Mon-Sat 8.30am-6pm

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Tourist Information Centre

Station Road, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch station, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Tel (01248) 713177

Website www.visitwales.com

Open 10am-5pm daily

Local Transport

Although there are local bus services in Anglesey, the island is best explored with a car and it can be difficult to appreciate it fully by public transport. Bangor on the mainland is the best spot to make transport connections to Anglesey.

Sights

Plas Newydd

This graceful 18th century mansion was built in classical and Gothic styles and it features paintings by Rex Whistler including his largest work. In addition to an exhibition on Whistler's works, there is a military museum with relics from the Battle of Waterloo.

3.25km south west of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Tel (01248) 715272

Admission £4.70; garden only £2.80

Open 29 Mar-2 Nov Sat-Wed noon-5pm