Wales Guide
North Wales
New roads may have made the North Wales coast considerably more accessible in recent times, but this hasn't tamed the wilder aspects of this stunningly beautiful area. As you walk around most of the brash seaside towns along the eastern section of the coast, only the street signs give any indication that you are in Wales at all; further west, there are places where English is seldom spoken other than to visitors.
Highlights
1 Llangollen Robust and enjoyable riverside town, with an internationally famous eisteddfod.
2 Snowdon Wales's highest mountain is a stunning hike, or a gentle ascent by rack-and-pinion railway.
3 Beddgelert Fabulously atmospheric slate-mining town amid rugged mountains, best reached by a wonderful narrow-gauge railway.
4 Portmeirion Pretty, quirky fantasy village, the "home for fallen buildings".
5 Caernarfon Castle The mightiest link in Edward I's chain of Norman castles.
6 Beaumaris A good base for Anglesey's beaches and Neolithic remains.
7 Conwy Compact town, with a fantastic castle and an intact ring of walls.
8 Llandudno The town's classy gentility is nicely offset by the ruggedness of the neighbouring Great Orme peak.