15/05/2021
NORTH WALES 🏴
Frith Tours has seen us road trip around Australia 🇦🇺 California 🇺🇸 and North Coast 500 🏴 to name but a few, but North Wales felt like a combination of them all. The weather was a blessing, changing vistas on every corner we turned, we’ve walked our little legs off, we’ve found that we’ve lived back in the 1990s for the last week (which was actually quite a refreshing way of life!), we’ve laughed our heads off at the lack of hospitality (albeit we’ve had some exceptional hospitality while we’ve been here too!), poor John hasn’t had a single drink in a pub garden for a week now (post lockdown measures 2021!), we’ve loved every minute. So many places we didn’t have time to see in just a week, so we will be back 🏴🥰👌🏼😍 If you like mountains, lakes and a beautiful beach or two then get this added to your list!
Day one: arrive in Y Felinheli. A quiet, remote town but beautiful views of the Menai Straight. Not many shops or restaurants but a good base all the same for Snowdonia and Anglesey. Would also recommend being on North Side of Llyn Peninsula for accommodation (stunning!)👌🏼
Day two:
(Walked Bethesda to Ogden Falls, walked Ogden Cottage to Llyn Idwal, drove over Menai Bridge to Beaumaris for a walk around then drove up to Portdafarch Beach). Exhausted after some beautiful hikes in the mountains, vistas across Lakes, and sea breeze in our hair
Day three:
Llanberis, Llyn Padern Circular Walk, Conwy beach at tea time
Day four:
Portmeirion (if you want - we couldn’t get in as not dog friendly and be warned it’s £26 per couple entrance fee!).
Harlech (castle); Llandanwg beach (walk to the left of the National Trust car park through nature reserve to the boats, if with dogs); drove to Barmouth then took road out towards Dolgellau (for stunning scenery); now take the road towards Betws Y Coed and take detour to Lakeside Cafe in Blaneau for a cuppa and views over the reservoir; quick stop in Betws Y Coed fit a bit of shopping (!) (good walks here too); drive to Menai Bridge and walked around the park off Beach Road & Church island (great views of the bridge(s))
Day five:
Nant Gwnant walk up Watkins Path to waterfalls (5 mile loop); https://www.mudandroutes.com/routes/cwm-llan-easier-walk-or-trail-run/; afterwards walk around the beautiful Beddgelert village; take the scenic drive to Abergele for Fly fishing 🎣; Drove up to the Great Orme for vistas across the bays & Llandudno finished by fish and chips and walk along the Llandudno promenade 🐠 🍟
Day six:
Walked up Snowdon (many options for routes but we chose Llanberis path which is dog friendly); it took us less than four hours there and back! Absolute must while you’re here. Don’t miss it off your list 🏔
Afternoon: took a drive around Anglesey to discover more of it’s beauty, including a walk along Aberffraw beach 🏝 Rhosneigr beach (stunning little town and beach!)
Day seven:
Took a drive out to Llyn Peninsula 👌🏼first stop was Trefor (the cutest, quietest Sandy beach & quay you’ll ever see); Nant Gwrtheyrn (drive the steepest little road to the village & feels like you’re in California); aberdaron (amazing bakery and coffee, gorgeous beach, national trust car park); Abersoch (Chelsea on sea!); avoid Pwllheli! Visit Criccieth (nice town/shops/castle/rocky beach); final stop a drive onto Black Rock Sands beach 🏝
Other places we didn’t get to:
Dinorwic quarry walk
Dolgellau walk
Aberfalls walk
The Watkin Path up Snowdon is one of the more popular routes to the summit, but can be heavy going when conditions are against you. This easier
