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| North
Wales |
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The North has popular
resorts like Llandudno and Rhyl, the island of Anglesey
and the scenic Snowdonia National Park.
Caernarfon
Facing the Isle of Anglesey across the Menai Strait is Caernarfon,
whose 13th-century castle dominate the town. Prince Charles' investiture
as Prince of Wales happened here in 1969. The Segontium Roman Fort
is also an attraction.
Conwy
With its impressive castle and complete medieval town walls, Conwy
is an important historic centre. It offers the tropical Butterfly
Jungle and riverbus cruises down the Conwy River. The
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art is also in the town, where
the Visitor Centre presents a multimedia show about the area. Nearby
are the Bodnant Gardens.
Llandudno
Beneath Great Orme Head is one of the country's busiest resorts.
It has almost every amenity as well as being within striking distance
of the beautiful hinterland, including the Snowdonia National
Park. The town's attractions are the Great Orme Mines,
the world's largest prehistoric site of its type, the Llandudno
Cable Car, climbing to the summit of Great Orme, and the North
Wales Theatre, an arts venue.
Rhyl
A town with a 5km or 3-mile promenade and extensive leisure and
recreation facilities. It is a good starting point for excursions
to St Asaph, a city with the smallest medieval cathedral
in Britain. Other attractions in Rhyl include the Sea Life Aquarium,
the Rhyl Museum and Art Gallery and the Pavilion Theatre.
Wrexham
Close to the English border, Wrexham is the biggest town in north
Wales. Attractions such as the Arts Centre, the nearby Minera
Lead Mines and Bersham Ironworks Heritage Centre are
the points of interest in an otherwise industrial town. A kilometre
to th south lies Erddig, a 17th-century squire's house containing
traditional furniture and with many of the outbuildings still in
original condition and in working order.
Elsewhere
One of the established tourist areas in the British Isles, north
coast beach resorts like Llandudno, Prestatyn and Rhyl
are still popular with holidaymakers. The line of resorts continues
almost unbroken for miles; Abergele, Colwyn Bay (site of
the Welsh Mountain Zoo), Prestatyn and Rhos-on-Sea
have good beaches. Further to the east lie Bagillt and Flint,
former capital of Flintshire (the modern capital is Mold).
Porthmadog on Tremadog Bay is also resort
town - close to here is the village of Portmeirion, site
of the 1960s Prisoner TV series and home of Portmeirion china. The
world's oldest independent narrow-gauge railway, the Ffestiniog
Railway, transports thousands of visitors from Porthmadog
to Blaenau Ffestiniog every year, many go to see the Llechwedd
Slate Caverns.
West from Porthmadog is the Lleyn Peninsula, with
its many beaches, particularly on the south coast, at towns such
as Criccieth (home to the Lloyd George Museum), Pwllheli,
Abersoch, Aberdaron, and, on the north coast, Nefyn and
Clynnog-Fawr. Anglesey is noted for the remarkable
Menai Bridge, the Anglesey Sea Zoo at Brynsiencyn, and Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
(commonly called Llanfair PG), which is the UK's longest place name.
The town of Beaumaris is home to a castle built by Edward I and
the Museum of Childhood Memories.
Back on the mainland is the cathedral and university city of Bangor;
its attractions include an enormous doll collection housed in Penrhyn
Castle.
Snowdonia National Park is 2200 sq km or 840 sq miles, containing
some of Britain's finest scenery, and 14 peaks over 915m or 3000ft,
the highest of which is Mount Snowdon 1085m or 3556ft. The Snowdon
Mountain Railway travels from Llanberis to the summit. Attractions
in the area include Betws-y-Coed, in the Gwydyr Forest; Bethesda,
southeast of Bangor; Bala Lake, which has a narrow-gauge
railway; and Beddgelert, site of the Sygun Copper Mine.
To the east of the region is Chirk Castle, a 14th-century
Marcher fortress built to guard the frontier. It sits in an area
of natural beauty, including the forests of Ceiriog, Dyfnant
and Penllyn. Llangollen overlooks the salmon-rich River Dee
and is a masterpiece of medieval bridge building. Nearby are the
13th-century Vale Crucis Abbey and the road across the Horseshoe
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