Family Activities
Our guest information booklet has lots of information on recommended places to visit and activities, plus we have a number of guide books, walking routes and tourist information leaflets. Many of our previous guests have also been kind enough to make recommendations and share their experiences whilst staying with us and you can read these in the guestbook.
Conwy Town Walls
Built around 1285, Conwy Town Walls are considered the best surviving medieval walls in Europe. The walk will take you around the whole of the Town with lovely countryside views and it’s FREE! The circuit is approx. 3⁄4 of a mile in length with 21 towers and several bridges (including the one to the rear of our cottage).
Conwy Mountain & Coastal Path
This has to be one of the best short walks in the UK straight from the Cottage door! Head through the Upper Gate, up Sychnant Pass Road and turn right along the path when you come to a field with a kissing gate. Once you have crossed the field and the bridge, the path starts to climb quite quickly – follow the path over the stile and after approx. 50m you will be on the ridge. To the left you will see Conwy Slab (a popular climbing spot) and behind you there are wonderful views of the Castle (it looks small from here!). To the West, the fabulous Carneddau mountain range,. Head over the ridge for lovely coastal views of Llandudno, the Great Orme, Puffin Island and the Isle of Anglesey. With luck you may be privileged to come across the Carneddau ponies that live up here – one of the few places on the planet where you can still see wild horses. You can often find the herd that roam this area in the dip below the remains of the Iron Age fort at the summit.
If you wish to continue, pick up the North Wales Path (clearly signposted) towards the famous Synchnant Pass and into the Snowdonia National Park - voted the best coastal walk in the UK by Lonely Planet!
Lanberis and Nantgwynant Pass
This is a ‘must-do’ and is one of the best drives in the Country. Whatever the weather, the views of Snowdon and surrounding rugged scenery are truly stunning (but try to keep your eye on the road!). Best
route is a circular loop which takes you right around Snowdon - starting from the A55 coastal highway take the road signposted Llanberis (approx. 15 mins drive from Conwy). Continue through Llanberis past the Slate Museum and Lake Padarn and you will quickly come to the pass, with Snowdon on your right. At the cross roads, turn right heading for Beddgelert. There is a parking area approx. 1 mile further on which is a perfect vantage point to enjoy the wonderful views of the 'Snowdon Horseshoe' and a cup of tea if you remember to bring a flask!
Continue along this road through the Nantgwynant Pass and you will come to Beddgelert. This is a lovely conservation village with some super walks along the river to Gellert’s grave and plenty of cafes and pubs for refreshments or an ice cream by the river. Continue on towards Caernarfon (another walled town but you will need to pay if you want to go inside the Castle) and then follow directions back to Conwy.
Once you are in Beddgelert you have the option of a slight detour through the famous Aberglaslyn Pass (1 mile from the village) with the steam railway and river running below. From the village, follow signs for Porthmadog. This is regularly voted on of Britain's best beauty spots and the walk along the river is truly gorgeous!
National Slate Museum
Located next to Padarn Lake in Llanberis, this is a really interesting museum with a giant water wheel, demonstrations on how to make roof slates or anything slate related! There are also some lovely lakeside walks and a steam railway. It’s FREE and open every day except Christmas Day.
Marine Parade
A four mile drive along the base of the Great Orme, it starts from just behind the Pier in Llandudno and is popular with walkers and cyclists. If you drive, there is a toll, but walkers and cyclists are free. You can also enjoy the ride on a lovely vintage bus from the Pier. Best time to go is at dusk to catch the sun coming down and enjoy a quite unique view of the Isle of Anglesey. Keep an eye out for dolphins and porpoises, and you should also spot our wild Kashmir goats which live on the Orme.
Happy Valley
These gardens are located just behind the Pier in Llandudno and are really beautiful in any season – in the summer there is a café and often free entertainment and it is a peaceful picnic spot away from the busy promenade.
Crabbing and Rockpools
There can be no better fun than crabbing and the most popular spot is on the harbour front. Crab lines and buckets are sold on the quayside, or you can make your own crab line with some string, a small stone for a weight and a loop tied about 5 inches from the weight to tie on your bait. A short piece of wood or a twig will make a good handle. I recommend bacon as the best bait, followed by cooked mackerel. Make sure to keep you bucket full of fresh salt water and don’t overfill with crabs or you will stress them out. Don’t keep them too long either!
Just the other side of the Castle is a great area for rock pooling – at low tide you can help yourself to as many mussels as you care to gather. Head out the upper gate next to the cottage and take the path along the walls through the community orchard down to the long stay car park at the side of the Castle. Follow a lane past the bowling green and boatyard and you’ll find a small beach. This is also the very best location to get good photos of the Castle and you’ll probably come across herons and other interesting bird life (RSPB nature reserve is just the other side of the estuary).