Our Quick Guide to Conwy
Medieval Conwy offers a wealth of attractions, shopping and activities, all within a few minutes walk of Castle View Cottage. The dramatic Castle is one of the best in Europe. Aberconwy House, from the 14th century, and Plas Mawr, the Elizabethan townhouse are all ideal for exploring.
Castle & Castle Walls
The world famous Conwy Castle was built by England’s King Edward 1 in 1289. Open daily 9.30am to 5.00pm (01492 592358). The visitor centre also has tourist information and an excellent shop.
Plas Mawr is a superbly restored Elizabethan townhouse and one of the finest in Britain. It’s located in the Town centre (you can see the tower from our roof terrace). Joint tickets are available for entrance into the Castle and Plas Mawr (01492 580167). The Royal Cambrian art gallery, located off the High Street, is just adjacent and well with a visit.
Bodlondeb Park
Immediately opposite Mount Pleasant, this park features a children’s play area, playing fields, tennis courts (free of charge) and some lovely walks through the woods with views of the estuary. The woods are particularly lovely in spring time when the Bluebells are in bloom. There are cricket matches at weekends during the summer and refreshments are available from the pavilion (take a picnic blanket). There is also an excellent library and cafe (Cantin) which is dog and child friendly.
Harbourside
In season, sightseeing boat tours and fishing trips are available from the pier. Bait, crab lines and buckets are sold from the kiosk on the harbour. We recommend using bacon if you want to catch plenty of crabs! You can buy mussels direct from the Fisherman on the quayside, or visit the Smallest House in Wales. The Liverpool Arms pub is always a very popular destination in the summer and a cosy place for mulled wine in front of the fire in winter (dogs welcome). Thomas Telford’s famous suspension bridge (run by the National Trust) is open to the public all year round.
Exploring Conwy
The Castle Walls are free, and it is possible to walk almost the way around the Town (approx. three quarters of a mile), but take care if you have small children or if you are not good with heights as it can be quite steep, and the railings are low in places! The easiest place to access them is from the bottom of our road, so just 50m from Castleview Cottage!
The Marine Walk (starts at the harbour) leads along the banks of the Estuary to Conwy Marina, and onwards towards the coast. It is mainly flat and suitable for pushchairs and bikes.
Another easy walk with children or pushchairs is across the bridge and along the river promenade to Deganwy and the new Marina.
Bodlondeb Woods, just outside the walls, has a network of footpaths, including ornamental gardens. There are also cricket grounds, tennis courts and playing fields.
We are also right on the edge of beautiful Snowdonia National Park and a visit is an absolute must. The Sychnant Pass is less than 2 miles from the Cottage (head right immediately from the Uppergate on Sychnant Pass road). There is a Nature Conservation Centre, car parking, marked paths, and some stunning wildlife. A popular circular walk starts from the car park at the top of the pass (Pensychnant Upland Walk) with spectacular views of the Carneddau mountain range and the coast.
If you would like a guided walk to see our famous mountain ponies we highly recommend our neighbour at Nant y Fedwen – just a mile up the road from Castleview Cottage. Tanya can tailor your experience and length of walk but we can guarantee you will encounter some wild ponies and have an enjoyable few hours on the mountain – tea and homebaking will be involved too!
Nant y fedwen fb page/ tanyamcc@jadetempletao.org/ 07944856253.
Conwy Mountain, with fantastic views of Snowdonia, Anglesey. Puffin Island and Llandudno, is also an excellent walk and forms parts of the North Wales Coastal Path. Start the walk from the Cottage, through Uppergate, along Sychnant Pass Road and follow the footpath on the right, a few yards after the Youth Hostel. The walk to the top takes about 2 hours door to door, with a picnic stop, but can be steep in parts, particularly on the ridge.
Details of North Wales Coastal Path, other routes and local walks can be found in the Tourist Information Centre. OS Maps and walking guides are also available from Conwy Outdoor Shop on Castle Street and mountain weather forecasts for Snowdon are posted in the window daily.
The Beach
Conwy Morfa is a lovely, wide sandy beach and best accessed from Conwy Marina, where there is a car park and slipway (signposted The Beacons). If you walk from the quayside, it takes about 20 mins. Head towards Puffin Island for the best sand. For rock pools, head the other side of the Castle, past the bowling green and boat yard. Llandudno West Shore, a quieter side of the town, has a large sandy beach with lovely views of Conwy. East shore is busier, with a wide promenade, donkey rides, and boat trips in season.
Cycling
From trails with great views of the coastline to trails high above the Conwy valley and into Snowdonia National Park, there is plenty to suit all abilities. Visit the Tourist Information Centre for maps and details of local trails and cycle hubs, including the Conwy Mountain Trail and Druid’s Circle Trail.
There are numerous cycle paths available from Conwy (look out for the signs), including Marine Walk, which is ideal for children. It is also possible to cycle to Deganwy along the prom, and further afield along the North Wales Path to Llandudno. The route is mostly on the level.
The area is well known for its world-class mountain biking trails combining challenging rides with stunning scenery. The nearest, Gwydir Forest is just 20 mins by car up the Conwy valley and offers miles of trails and forest roads. Gwydir is open all year round and in addition to technical, challenging routes such as the Marin Trail, offer a range of facilities and tracks for all the family. The nearby Penmachno Trail, about 3 miles south of Betws-y-coed, is possibly more of a challenge.