3 PLACES IN NORTH WALES THAT CAN BE VISITED IN ONE DAY
Recently, I arrived for the first time in Wales, more precisely in the northern part. I can't say that I had very high expectations. This may be the reason why I postponed a visit here. I know that it is not a very popular destination among tourists, it is not very promoted, or maybe because it is more difficult to reach especially without a car, but believe me, it is one of the most beautiful countries I have visited so far now. I dare to make a top of the United Kingdom 😂 and rank it in second place, the first being Cornwall from England, surpassing even Scotland in the top of personal preferences.
Located in the western part of Great Britain, Wales is a country with a rich history and distinctive culture. With Celtic origins and deep historical influences, it is known for its picturesque landscapes, which include deep valleys, imposing mountains and beautiful coastline. Most of the beaches are absolutely gorgeous. Probably, if it had a Mediterranean climate, it would have been full of tourists. But, to keep it between us, it's better this way, to be able to enjoy peace, nature and views.
In this country, although English is spoken frequently, Welsh is also spoken. The Welsh language is of Celtic origin and represents an important feature of the country's cultural identity. The Welsh are also proud of their traditions, and cultural events such as music and dance festivals reflect their community spirit and passion for preserving their unique heritage. As expected, they are not very happy to be called, or confused with, the English. This confusion is encountered very often, especially among tourists, who refer to Great Britain, or the United Kingdom as England.
HOW TO GET TO WALES:
If you come from abroad the closest airports are in Liverpool and Manchester. As a means of transportation, renting a car is necessary (everything is quite far from human settlements and there is no public transportation). The traffic is very light, the drivers are understanding, and driving on the left side should not scare any driver. From my own experience, of all the European countries I have driven in, in the UK it seems to me that driving is the most relaxing. I leave a small guide about renting a car on holidays.
If, however, you don't want to rent a car, or you don't have a driver's license, you can visit other locations in Wales (not the ones I present to you), if you buy an organized trip. Tickets from Liverpool here.
WHERE TO STAY IN NORTH WALES:
I had accommodation at The Bull Hotel, which I booked through Booking.com. The hotel also has a pub, where the locals gather for a beer, and in the evening it becomes very animated. It's a nice atmosphere, but I don't recommend it if you're with kids, it can be a bit of a hassle for them. I also tried breakfast at this hotel, but this one I don't recommend it wasn't the best.
Other accommodation options: - Oak House, the house that can be rented entirety and can host up to 8 adults and 4 children. It has a garden, a barbecue and a view to the mountains; - Awel Y Mor, is a three-bedroom house, quite simple, with garden and barbecue. Accepts pets; - Luxury Log Cabin, is a wooden cabin with two bedrooms, which has garden, barbecue and sea view; - Emlyn's Coppice is a glamping accommodation, located in the middle of nature;
3 PLACES TO VISIT IN NORTH WALES:
If you arrive here in the summer, when the day is longer, you have time to see all the 3 places that I talk about in this article, in a single day. In fact, I do not recommend visiting this area if it is not summer, because the weather can be quite bad, especially because it is a coastal area and the wind is extremely strong.
So, I leave below the 3 locations in Wales that I absolutely loved:
Aber Falls it is a spectacular water fall of approximately 37 meters. The whole area is an open field, with the exception of the part of the mountain from which the water flows. A wooden footbridge is also built over the pond, which complements the landscape very well. The waterfall is not very close to the parking lot, so to get to it, you will have to walk along a two-kilometer path, which can take about 30 minutes. The road is very easy, without differences in level and can be easily done by children or elderly people.
The location has two parking lots, one of them equipped with toilets. At the time of our visit, the parking machines were quite old and only accepted coins (they did not accept banknotes or card payments).
It can get very crowded on weekends, especially if the weather is nice, but even so, you can enjoy nature. The area is green and there are many places where you can organize a small picnic, if you bring some snacks with you. I recommend being cautious about ticks, they are extremely numerous and can be in the grass, even if it is very cold outside.
Llanddwyn Island which is actually an island only when it is high tide. During the low tide it is connected to Llanddwyn beach. It is a huge beach, where you can walk or even spend a whole day, if the weather is favourable.
The parking can be paid by card or cash, and the maximum amount for the whole day is £ 7.
On the so-called island is housed an old building, where once was a lighthouse. Also here you will find the ruins of a monastery, which also has a legend, of a princess who chose to become a monk at the monastery which was located here in the 5th century.
To get to this location there are two options: either walking on the beach or walking through the pine forest. We tried both options, went to the island on the beach and on the way back we went through the forest. The area is absolutely beautiful and I am sure you will enjoy the walk in that area.
The distance from the parking lot to the lighthouse area is quite large, but the beauty of the landscape will make you not notice this aspect
The third location I recommend at the end of the exploring day is the South Stack Lighthouse, one of the most impressive locations I've seen. I recommend arriving there last, if you see all these three locations in one day, that way you have a pretty good chance to enjoy a spectacular sunset over the small island.
Although the location is named after the lighthouse located on the islet, it is not the lighthouse itself that is the star of this place (although it plays an important role and complements the landscape very well), but the view of the small island on which it is located.
The lighthouse can also be visited indoors during the summer. To get there you have to go down about 200 steps. More information and buying tickets can be found here.
If you want to get here as part of an organized tour, find tickets here.
If this article has not convinced you of the beauty of these places, maybe a video will convince you. I made a vlog with these locations, in English, I leave it here. Like and subscribe if you liked it.
OTHER PLACES TO VISIT IN THE NORTHERN PART OF WALES:
Wales is very diverse, and if you don't want to complicate yourself with driving, below I leave a list of some organized trips that you can opt for:
Departing from Llandudno, trip to Portmeirion, Snowdonia and the Castles in the area, tickets here;
Departing from Liverpool, trip to North Wales, tickets here;
Departing from Chester, a day trip to North Wales, with a guide, tickets here;
Departing from Manchester, day trip to North Wales and Snowdonia, tickets here;
Canoeing in Snowdonia, tickets here.
CONCLUSIONS ABOUT WALES
Wales managed to pleasantly surprise me and make me want to return there on other occasions, to discover more beautiful places. I think it is one of the most undervalued and underestimated countries in Europe. Its touristic potential is very high, so I can only recommend that you visit it, while it is still not full of people from all over the world. The only aspect that could influence the visit to this location would be the typical weather of the United Kingdom, which can be quite changeable and mostly quite gloomy. If you come prepared for all that bad weather means, especially rain, which in most cases comes together with the wind, then you have every chance that your plans will not be messed with. If you are lovers of quiet locations, nature and want to escape from the heat during the summer, then you have just found out about the perfect location.
Read about other great locations in Great Britain that are worth visiting: Scotland, 7-day tour, Aberdeen, Durdle Door, Howard Castle, Edinburgh, or Bath.
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