North Wales - a nature and adventure lovers paradise
Welcome to Rhos-on-Sea and surroundings. As befits a small town, Rhos is a friendly kind of place with interesting little shops you’ll not find elsewhere. Sailing, swimming and sea-fishing are popular, and cyclists can follow a track that stretches for miles down the coast. Slightly further afield, from the magnificent 700 year old Conwy Castle, along the many unspoilt and Blue Flag beaches, meandering through coastal towns and pathways to the majesty of the Snowdonian National Park, our little part of the world has something for pretty much everyone. Our personal highlights are:
Our Beach - so close we feel like it is ours and now yours for a while also. Literally step outside the front of No 3. Aberhod Cove and the beach is less than 50 feet in front of you. A host of beach side snack bars and cafes will keep you sustained, or of course you can nip 'home' to raid the fridge. An unusual treat awaits those who walk a little along the coastal path, the 6 seater Holy Well and Chapel of St Trillo is worth a tiny detour en route towards Llandudno.
Puppet Show - within the same grounds as the house, you will find The Harlequin Puppet Theatre, the first and only permanent Puppet Theatre to be built in Britain. It opened in 1958, is privately owned, and runs without subsidy or grants of any kind. It opens during all school holiday periods throughout the year and presents delightful entertainment for a family audience. Give Netflix the night off and support our/your new neighbours, you will have a great time.
Rhos-on Sea - within 5 minutes walk, Rhos has all the local amenities you could need from supermarkets to banks and plenty of eating options. Bryn Williams at Porth Eirias is a go to place - the famous chef and his establishment were AA Restaurant of the year for Wales Award 2019/20 whilst also retaining the Bib Gourmand by Michelin for a third year for their "exceptionally good food at moderate prices". Our other favourites are Marmelade Kitchen where you can have breakfast, afternoon tea, daily specials or even order a beach brunch box, all wonderful. The Galleon Fish and Chips does this classic to perfection. Just a short hop (sorry) along the Prom towards Colwyn Bay you will find your local, The Toad, a highly rated pub with sea view beer garden. For £5 you can indulge in The Toads Beans on Toast with 5 beans, roasted tomato, garlic and basil sauce, pesto & parmesan drizzled with balsamic on toasted bloomer. A Pina Colada should go just right with that! For grocery shopping, we recommend the local Spar run by a very friendly couple and there is a Co-op just opposite, both within a 5 minute walk.
Conwy and Castle - A World Heritage Site is enough to take the breath away. Especially when you consider that King Edward I and his architect Master James of St George built both castle and walls in a barely believable four years between 1283 and 1287. Local planners take note. This famous fortress is exceptionally well preserved. It contains the most intact set of medieval royal apartments in Wales. The high curtain wall and eight lofty towers rise almost as impressively as when they were built more than 700 years ago. The Town itself has an array of wonderful local shops, cafes and workshops.
Conwy Marina - why not have lunch at the Mulberry Pub and Restaurant which we highly recommend, whilst watching small fishing boats, sailing yachts and the odd Gin Palace maraud the beautiful coastline and river estuary.
The Great Orme - here there be Sea Monsters! The Great Orme headland is a massive chunk of limestone that rises 207m/679ft straight out of the sea. Little wonder that its name, given by the Vikings, means ‘sea monster’. Hop on the cable car or the Great Orme tramway and you’re soon at the top where you’ll find a Visitor Centre (closed in winter). You can reach the top by walking or driving too.
Llandudno - the quintessential beach resort's appearance is down to the fact that, unlike most other resorts, it has remained largely unchanged for over a century. There’s the Pier (the longest in Wales), more puppets with classic Punch and Judy, donkey rides on the beach and canopied shopping streets just behind the prom. Llandudno is the classic British seaside resort, just as you remember it.
Betwys-y-Coed - Time to burn off the fish and chips followed by ice cream (washed down with a Toffee Apple) calories. A full-on mountain resort with all kinds of attractions and activities. Take to the trees with friends and family at Zip World Fforest to tackle ropes, nets and swings strung through the canopy. There’s also the Fforest Coaster toboggan run and the new Plummet 2, a pulse-pounding 100ft/30m drop through a trapdoor that’s the closest things to free-fall this side of an aeroplane. For more woodland forays you can go walking, riding and mountain biking in the glades of the Gwydyr Forest. Other outdoor activities include canyoning and scrambling – and if you want subterranean adrenaline thrills there are these too, at nearby Go Below Underground Adventure. Bear Grylls would be cream crackered after all that! Betwys also has a remarkably fine selection of shops and curios you most certainly will not normally find on the typical high street, well worth a few hours shopping in addition to or instead of the outdoor pursuits.
Adventure Park Snowdonia - Surf, Zip-line, Climb, Ninja, SUP and Indoor Caving (who knew!) are but a few of the activities at this all weather attraction for the odd day our glorious weather fails to impress;-)
Snowdonia - Wow, a rare beauty of mountain adventures awaits, from the 'Men of Harlech on to glory' to the Ffestiniog railway you could spend weeks here and still only manage a small glimpse into the abundance of mother natures bounty.
Golf - Nearby Rhos-on-Sea Golf Club is – as you would expect – friendly too. This 18-hole parkland course with superb sea views is billed as being ‘at the forefront – and on the seafront – of golfing in North Wales’. Conwy Golf Club offers spectacular championship links also on the coast. Near the above mentioned marina.
Further afield, Chester is an easy 1 hour drive - a city full of historic treasures. The city is home to the most complete city walls in Britain dating from the Roman occupation 2,000 years ago built to protect the city. The unique 700 year old Rows are home to both independent and high street names taking shopping therapy to a whole new level. The city is home to the oldest racecourse in the country - The Roodee - check locally for events. The 1,000 year old Chester Cathedral is free to enter and hosts regular musical events and exhibitions. Chester Zoo completes our highlights of what is a great cultural and shopping city.