Llandudno – Queen of Welsh Resorts 2027

WHAT TO DO IN THE AREA

Penderyn Distillery Tour & Tasting, Llandudno
Take a tour and tasting and learn about the founding of this famous and award-winning brand and what makes the different whiskies taste as they do. It’s reputation as a quality whisky producer is growing by the year.

Ride to the top of the Great Orme
Enjoy a ride on a renovated Victorian tram to the top of the Great Orme for wonderful views back to Llandudno and across Anglesey as well as the peaks of Eryri (Snowdonia). Climbing to 1,500 metres, there’s a stop at the Halfway Station to visit the exhibition telling all about this fascinating funicular.

Isle of Anglesey
Nearby Anglesey has much to enjoy and one of North Wales’s best kept secrets is Plas Cadnant with its beautifully restored gardens. It’s close enough to Beaumaris with its medieval castle, to visit both in a morning. From here it is easy to take a boat cruise to Puffin Island Cruise. Alternatively, a trip to Halen Môn (Anglesey Sea Salt) makes an interesting visit.

Little Trains of North Wales
There’s a great choice of railways both heritage and narrow-gauge, we have selected a few to consider:

At 3,560ft, Mount Eryri (Snowdon) is the highest mountain in England and Wales and a ride on the Snowdon Mountain Railway will take you to “the rooftop of Wales” and, weather permitting, spectacular views. The Visitor Centre has a gift shop and café. Llanberis Lake Railway is a narrow-gauge railway which follows the shores of the lake. Ffestiniog Railway in the heart of Snowdonia, is a 13.5-mile journey with dramatic views of mountains, lakes and waterfalls around every corner. Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid Ltd, (Bala Lake Railway) is a narrow-gauge railway that runs along the southern shoreline of Lake Bala, the largest natural lake in Wales, and travels from Llanuwchllyn to Bala, enjoying magnificent views of the lake and beautiful Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. Keep eyes peeled for possible sightings of the herons and buzzards that nest close by. Llangollen Railway, which is primarily a steam hauled heritage railway, offers a 90-minute return journey. It begins beside the Dee River Bridge in the town centre and continues for 10 miles upstream to Carrog station, with spectacular views over the River Dee.

Castles
It wouldn’t be a visit to Wales without seeing a castle or two, and Llandudno is close to two of its finest. Firstly, Caernarfon Castle; a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a stunning example of architecture from the Middle Ages, it stands regally on the banks of the River Seiont and still stirs the imagination. Conwy Castle is of a similar mould, built by Edward l. Towering over the town, it is considered one of the most magnificent fortresses in Europe. Thanks to a restoration project, the battlements are accessible and offer wonderful views. Picture-perfect Chirk Castle reveals 400 years of changing tastes and fashions in its lavishly furnished rooms. The historic kitchen offers a lunch stop, whilst strolling through the beautiful gardens and standing on the terrace will reveal the 18th century ha-ha at the bottom of the garden and stunning views over the Cheshire and Salop Plains.

Llangollen Horse Drawn Canal Trip
Take a step back in time and experience a relaxing 2-hour horse-drawn canal boat cruise, admiring the Chain Bridge across the River Dee and marvelling at the manmade Horseshoe Falls, a striking feature on the river, whilst gliding along one of the most beautiful lengths of canal you will ever see.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Enjoy a 2-hour motorised canal boat trip on the Llangollen Canal. The trip includes crossing the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, known as the ‘Stream in the Sky’.

Portmeirion
This iconic Italianate architecture was designed by Welsh architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis in the early 20^th century and makes for an intriguing visit. The colourful collection of buildings is fringed with wondrous ornamental gardens, giving the village a subtropical feel that seems far removed from Wales. There’s also a great range of shops, restaurants and cafés, so you won’t be short of shopping and eating opportunities.

Chester
Why not spend a day in the historic city of Chester with the most complete city walls and largest Roman Amphitheatre in Britain, plus a 1,000 year old cathedral and 700-year-old unique shopping rows. Visit the cathedral (free entry) and its 13th century refectory before heading to the High Cross at midday (11am on race days) to hear the Town Crier’s public proclamations (Tues – Sat Jun – Aug). In the afternoon, why not take a 30-minute return river cruise on the River Dee, sailing upstream, under the suspension bridge to the city limits.

Llandudno Lifeboat station
Dating back to 1861, the Llandudno Lifeboat station has a fascinating history. It was established in 1861 as a condition of a gift from the Misses Browne of Toxteth Park, Liverpool, in memory of their sister who died in 1860.The three sisters had been regular visitors to the town for many years. The first coxswain, Hugh Jones, was a copper miner and it was the duty of his daughter, in the event of a service call, to rush to the top of the shaft, halfway up the Great Orme, and signal her father. Her method was to rap with a stone in a certain manner and up the shaft Hugh Jones would come and dash for the shore. These days the state-of-the-art, modern lifeboat is housed in the recently refurbished boathouse and now under a wide range of rescues.