North Wales offers some of the most stunning scenery south of the Scottish Highlands aswell as quaint villages and picturesque coastal towns. The area is a haven for hikers and offers a multitude of different level walks for all types of people.
Travel
North Wales is easily accessible from the North coming in just south of Liverpool, it is about a 5-6 hour drive from London and bear in mind that a lot of the roads in North Wales are single lane so roads can get quite slow moving. Trains run to all the main towns, although getting to the more remote area is more tricky. It is a good idea to pick a pace and hire a car or some bikes if you are not already travelling by car. The weather in Wales is very changeable so make sure you check the forecast and go prepared if you are going walking in the hills.
Accomodation
Most of the YHA's in North Wales get snapped up well in advance so it is advisable to book ahead if you can, also bear in mind that most only offer bunks so if you are looking to share a room then you might have to think of other options. Saying that there are a lot of affordable B & Bs in the area but again it is advisable to book in advance so you can get a place in a location you want to stay. Campsites also get very crowded so advance booking is advisable, unlike the Highlands, it is not permitted to camp anywhere unless you have prior permission from the owner of the land.
Click here to view YHA's in the North Wales area
Click here to view Bed and Breakfast's in the Wales area
We recommend:
Melin Meloch - Delightful 13th Century Watermill cottage with separate ensuite bedrooms contained with their own front doors. Only 20-25 mins walk (or 6 mins in car/taxi) from Bala. At this current time they were not offering breakfast, but at £48 a night for a room this represents good value.
If you'd like to add your hostel, guesthouse or hotel to this list please email us
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Things to do
Snowdonia - No trip to North Wales would be complete without a walk up Mount Snowdon, there a variety of different walks ranging from 4-10 hours and easy to hard. Make sure you check the weather forecast in advance as conditions can deterioriate rapidly. We did the Snowdon Ranger Walk which takes about 4-5 hours (up and down with half hour at the summit), the walk isn't that demanding but steep in places. It is advisable that you take warm, waterproof clothing, supplies of food, map, torch, compass, whistle, sturdy walking boots and useful contact numbers. Don't forget to take your camera aswell as there is some stunning scenery to capture! Click on the links below to learn more about Snowdon. I almost forget there is also a train that runs up the mountain for those of you too lazy to walk.
Mountain Walks
Mountain Weather
Portmeirion - Fantastical coastal town with splashes of the Amalfi Coast and Classical architecture, Portmeirion was the developed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis in 1925, it was also made famous by the 1970s TV series, The Prisoner, which still has a large cult following. Entry to the site is about £6.50 and is open till 5.30pm. Click here to go to the Portmeirion website
Bars/Restaurants
Bala
Plas Yn Dre - Bar/Restaurant serving top quality food, can get busy but they make a real effort to try and fit you in, they even offered us a lift at the end of the night back home to our B & B!
Awel Yr Awan - Delightful little restaurant run by Mike and Wendy serving up moderately priced food that wouldn't be out of place at the table of some of London's top restaurants, matched with a homely atmosphere and a good wine list this place is a must!
The Ship Hotel - Probably best avoided but the left hand side of the bar serves pub food and has Sky TV, the right hand side is for fighting.
Ye Olde Bulls Head - Very local pub which at times becomes so cloudy with cigarette smoke that you struggle to find the bar, an amusing place to watch the locals on a Saturday night.
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