Places of Interest - Snowdonia & North Wales

Places of Interest - Snowdonia & North Wales

CLWYD, GWYNEDD and POWYS.

CLWYD / Aberconwy House / Plas Mawr

Aberconwy House Castle Street Conwy LL32 8AY Tel: 01492 5592246	Dating from the 14th century this is the only medieval merchant's house in Conwy to have survived the turbulent history of the walled town for nearly six centuries. The furnished rooms reflect daily life from different periods in its history. A National Trust property where charges apply.



The Lodge Hotel, Conwy	.... in a peaceful rural village in the heart of the spectacular Conwy Valley, this 3-star family-run hotel lies on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park, framed by the Carneddau Mountains.	.. located about 8 miles from Conwy.



Plas Mawr High Street Conwy LL32 8EF Tel: 01492 580167	At the heart of medieval Conwy stands Plas Mawr, the "Great Hall", built between 1576 and 1585 for the Welsh merchant Robert Wynn. This richly decorated building is an architectural gem, the finest surviving town house of the Elizabethan era in Britain. It is especially noted for the quality and quantity of its ornamental plasterwork, now fully restored to its original splendour.

CLWYD / Bodnant Garden / The Welsh Mountain Zoo

Bodnant Garden Tal-y-Cafn Nr Colwyn Bay Conwy LL28 5RE	Bodnant Garden is one of the most beautiful gardens in the UK, spanning some 80 acres and is situated above the River Conwy on ground sloping towards the west and looking across the valley towards the Snowdonia range.	Telephone: 01492 650460



Rathlin Country House	.. .. in the beautiful Pwllycrochan Woods conservation area, in a large red-brick B&B set within almost an acre of its own grounds	....just minutes away from Colwyn Bay town centre.
	.. or ..
Lyndale Hotel	.. centrally situated near Old Colwyn village, with sea views	....where you can sample the delights of oriental cuisine at the hotel’s Thai Tamarind restaurant.
	.. or ..
Bryn Holcombe	.. in this friendly accommodation offering a warm welcome, comfy en suite rooms and a tasty, hot Welsh breakfast.	.....offering double, twin and family rooms, all tastefully decorated and furnished to a high standard.



The Welsh Mountain Zoo Colwyn Bay Clwyd LL28 5UY Tel: 01492 532 938.	Set in North Wales, high above Colwyn Bay with panoramic views and breathtaking scenery, its beautiful gardens are home to this caring conservation zoo. Roam the wooded pathways, relax on the grassy slopes and spend a lovely day learning about many rare and endangered species from Britain and around the world including Snow Leopards, Chimpanzees, Red Pandas and Sumatran Tigers. www.welshmountainzoo.org.

CLYWD / Plas Newydd / LLangollen Railway

Plas Newydd Museum Plas Newydd Hill Street Llangollen LL20 8AW	Plas Newydd was home to the Ladies of Llangollen, Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby, from 1780 - 1829. They became celebrated throughout the country as the story of their friendship spread through Regency Society. The house retains the Gothic features they introduced. Plas Newydd is set in peaceful gardens surrounded by trees and include the font from the nearby Valle Crucis Abbey.	Tel: 01824 708223



Tyn Y Wern Hotel	.....just outside the picturesque market town of Llangollen, this charming house presents itself as the ideal base from which to explore North and Mid Wales.	.....set within its own beautifully manicured gardens.
	.. or ..
The Royal Hotel Llangollen	.. .. by the banks of the River Dee, in the heart of this historic market town that nestles within the Welsh mountains.	.....with superb views of the impressive Langollen Bridge, the hotel offers modern comforts whilst retaining its original, period charm.
	.. or ..
Wild Pheasant Hotel and Spa	.. ..in a peaceful, idyllic setting, the hotel combines the traditional charm and attractive original features of a 19th century building	.....with the contemporary chic of extensive and luxurious spa facilities.



LLangollen Railway Abbey Road Llangollen LL21 9 BD	The LLangollen Railway runs for 7 ½ miles along the banks of the River Dee from Llangollen to Carrog through some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK. It operates on most weekends throughout the year, and on weekdays between June and October.	Tel: 01978 860 979

GWYNEDD / Penrhyn Castle / Cochwillan Old Hall

Penrhyn Castle Bangor Gwynedd LL57 4HN Telephone: 01248 371337 (Infoline)	A 19th-century fantasy castle with spectacular contents and grounds and magnificent views over Snowdonia. Unique furniture collection and the best private art collection, in context, in Wales. Large gardens and grounds with formal Victorian walled garden. Dolls museum, extensive Victorian kitchens, railway museum and adventure playground. A National Trust property where charges apply. (Photo: © NTPL / Matthew Antrobus).



Abbeyfield Hotel	.. on the outskirts of the city of Bangor, in a region of outstanding natural beauty. Located just off the A5, it has the mountains, lakes and forests of Snowdonia National Park, as well as Gwynedd's dramatic coastline on its doorstep.	....with eleven en suite bedrooms featuring digital TVs and free wireless internet.



Cochwillan Old Hall Tal-y-Bont Bangor Gwynedd LL57 3AZ	The hall is considered one of the best examples of a Welsh medieval estate centre and it survives almost unaltered. The most striking feature of the late 15th century hall house is the roof of three bays, divided by trusses of hammer-beam type. The moulded hammer-beams have embattled crests and plain ends with pinholes in them; as these probably originally carried carved heads or heraldic shields, new shields have been fitted to harmonize with the ancestry of the old families of Cochwillan.	Tel: 01248 355 853 Located about 3 miles east of Bangor.

GWYNEDD / Plas Newydd / Beaumaris Castle

Plas Newydd Llanfairpwll Anglesey LL61 6DQ Telephone: 01248 715272 (Infoline)	Home of the Marquess of Anglesey, with spectacular views of Snowdonia. One of the UK's finest mansion house settings, with the largest collection of Rex Whistler works. Military museum with relics from the battle of Waterloo. Large gardens, woodland walks and a marine walk along the Menai Straits. A National Trust property where charges apply. (Photo: © NTPL / Nick Meers).



Bishopsgate House Hotel. Beaumaris	.....in a 9 bedroomed Georgian town house where antique furniture, glass and china collections adorn the tasteful interior.	... and an on-site restaurant,one of just 2 Anglesey hotels to have earned an AA rosette.
	.. or ..
The Bulkeley Hotel, Beaumaris	.. ..just yards from the beach and pier alongside the Menai Straits, enjoying stunning views across the water to the mountains of Snowdonia.	.....a Georgian show piece in 1832, the hotel now has 43 en suite bedrooms, a fine restaurant, coffee shop, Real Ale bar and lounge.



Beaumaris Castle Beaumaris Anglesey LL58 8AP Tel: 01248 810361	Beaumaris is the great unfinished masterpiece. Started in 1295, it was the last of the massive Edwardian fortresses of the 13th century to be built in North Wales, but money ran out before the fortifications reached reached their full height. It is still regarded as the finest Welsh castle. It is the most technically perfect castle in Britain, with a symmetrical concentric "walls within walls" design that was state of the art for the 13th century.

GWYNEDD / Portmeirion / Ffestiniog Railway

Portmeirion Penrhyndeudraeth Gwynedd LL48 6ER	This unique Italianate seaside village was built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis from 1925-72, and made famous by TV series "The Prisoner". It is surrounded by the lovely Gwyllt woodland gardens containing rare Himalayan flowering trees and other exotics.	Tel: 01766 770000



Estuary Lodge	.. set in countryside, this purpose-built 4-star, family-run guest accommodation is a haven for those seeking to discover the natural beauty of Snowdonia’s mountains and coast.	....offering all you need for an enjoyable stay, The Estuary boasts 10 en suite rooms, all of which are located on the ground floor.



Ffestiniog Railway Harbour Station Porthmadog Gwynedd, LL49 9NF	The railway takes you on a 13½-mile journey from the harbour in Porthmadog to the slate-quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Our historic trains climb over 700 feet from sea level into the mountains through tranquil pastures and magnificent forests, past lakes and waterfalls, round horseshoe bends (even a complete spiral) clinging to the side of the mountain or even tunnelling through it.	Tel: 01766 512340

GWYNEDD / Caernarfon Castle / Welsh Highland Railway

Caernarfon Castle Castle Ditch Caernarfon LL55 2AY Tel: 01286 677617	Caernarfon is possibly the most striking medieval monument in Wales, with its scale and commanding presence. Its unique polygonal towers, intimidating battlements and colour-banded walls were designed to echo Constantinople, the imperial power of Rome. Begun in 1283, its symbolic status was emphasized when Edward's son , the first English Prince of Wales, was born here in 1284. In 1969, the castle was the setting for the Investiture of HRH Prince Charles as Prince of Wales.	Tel: 01286 677617



Seiont Manor Hotel	..... within the countryside of Snowdonia, only a 5 minute drive away from the castle town of Caernarfon, in the the original farmstead of a Georgian manor house.	....where all rooms have either a small balcony or terrace to enjoy the view over the surrounding countryside.
	.. or ..
The Black Boy Inn, Caernarfon	.. ... within the historic town walls of Caernarfon, in an old Inn dating back to 1522, with wooden paneling, low ceilings, and thick wooden support beams.	..within easy walking distance to the town centre, and the famous 13th century Castle.



Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways Harbour Station Porthmadog Gwynedd LL49 9NF	The Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon) - Journey behind the most powerful 2' gauge steam locomotives in the world through the fabulous scenery of the Snowdonia National Park. We offer high-quality carriages with on-train refreshments, the superior comfort of a first class Pullman "Bodysgallen" or you could even experience the scenery with the wind ruffling your hair in our open coaches! The railway runs from alongside the awe-inspiring Caernarfon Castle, snaking around seemingly impossible bends, up hard gradients and around the foothills of Snowdon to arrive at Rhyd Ddu, about 12 miles from Caernarfon and high up in the Snowdonian mountains.	General Enquiries : 01766 516000 Booking Offices: Caernarfon (Limited winter opening) - 01286 677018 Porthmadog - 01766 516024 (Open all year)

GWYNEDD / Llechwedd Slate Caverns / Ffestiniog Railway

Llechwedd Slate Caverns Blaenau Ffestiniog Gwynedd LL41 4NB	There are 2 underground rides - The Deep Mine tour begins on Britain's steepest passenger railway (1:1.8) for a 25-minute walk through 10 "son et lumiere" sequences in an underground wonderland. The Miner's Tramway is a guided tour through an 1846 network of awe-inspiring man-made caverns of cathedral proportions, supplemented with tableaux and demonstrations of ancient mining skills.	Tel: 01766 830306



Estuary Lodge	.. set in countryside, this purpose-built 4-star, family-run guest accommodation is a haven for those seeking to discover the natural beauty of Snowdonia’s mountains and coast.	....offering all you need for an enjoyable stay, The Estuary boasts 10 en suite rooms, all of which are located on the ground floor.



Ffestiniog Railway Harbour Station Porthmadog Gwynedd, LL49 9NF	The railway takes you on a 13½-mile journey from the harbour in Porthmadog to the slate-quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Our historic trains climb over 700 feet from sea level into the mountains through tranquil pastures and magnificent forests, past lakes and waterfalls, round horseshoe bends (even a complete spiral) clinging to the side of the mountain or even tunnelling through it.	Tel: 01766 512340

POWYS / Powis Castle and Garden

Powis Castle and Garden Welshpool Powys SY21 8RF Telephone: 01938 551944	Powis Castle was originally built as a fortress by Welsh princes but was later adapted and enriched by generations of Herberts and Clives. The beautiful collection of treasures from India displayed in the Clive Museum includes textiles, armour, bronzes, jade, ivory and a magnificent tent. There are sumptuous period rooms and an elegant Long Gallery. The world famous Gardens are spectacular with 4 huge stepped terraces, an orangery and topiary that looks as if it is shaved daily!



Mellington Hall Hotel	.....at Mellington Hall, a family-run, elegant Gothic hotel nestling in the heart of the beautiful Mid-Wales countryside.	....the hotel is 10 miles from Newtown and Welshpool

POWYS / Centre for Alternative Technology / King Arthur's Labyrinth

Centre for Alternative Technology Machynlleth Powys SY20 9AZ Telephone: 01654 705 957	The Mid Wales eco-centre has been open to the public since 1975. The new multimedia display takes visitors on a journey through the last 30 years of the environmental movement from the 1970s up until the 21st century, featuring classic archive images, video clips. It is home to to a water powered cliff railway.



Wynnstay Hotel Machynlleth	....in a rambling, Georgian building, once the coaching inn for the Shrewsbury Stage, renowned for its atmosphere and critically acclaimed food.	....being the social centre in the town, catering for business travellers and tourists, mountain bikers, golfers, fishermen and those who just want to enjoy the beautiful surrounding area.



King Arthur's Labyrinth Corris Craft Centre Corris Machynlleth Powys SY20 9RF	Underground tours. Pottery, Jewellery Studio - Celtic and Contemporary Jewellery, Leather, Candle Studio, Bumblebee Quilting, Café, Glass, Glassware, Furniture, Wooden items.

Other UK Attractions (By County/Regions)

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Places of Interest - Snowdonia & North Wales