The North Wales Way: Town and Villages
Starting at the Wales/England border and running westwards for 75 miles/120km to the tip of Anglesey, The North Wales Way is one of three Wales Way touring routes created to guide and inspire visitors. Each ‘Way’ has been designed as a fluid experience, not a route that’s set in stone, with plenty of diversions off the main path that allow you to explore further and deeper.
This four-day itinerary takes you through some of North Wales’s most vibrant communities. You’ll discover outdoor adventure hotspots, beautiful beaches and historic places – all linked by some of our most spectacular scenery.
Day 1
Begin your adventure in Chirk, just south of Wrexham, where you'll find the National Trust's Chirk Castle. Built by Edward I in the 13th century, it later became the home of the Myddelton family who left their mark over four centuries of occupation.
Take a scenic drive via Llangollen on the A542 over the Horseshoe Pass into the Vale of Clwyd for Ruthin, an architecturally fascinating market town – see local creativity at Ruthin Arts Centre and go behind bars at Victorian Ruthin Gaol.
Next, take the A494 through the heart of the Clwydian Range to Mold, home to Theatr Clwyd and the largest street market in North Wales (held every Wednesday and Saturday).
Suggested overnight: Mold
Day 2
Follow the A451 towards the coast at Abergele, where you can explore woodland walks (a stroll up to Tower Hill is great for sea views), or enjoy sea and sand on the nearby beach at Pensarn. Stay on the coast road for Rhos-on-Sea, a perfect, pocket-sized resort with a timeless charm, Victorian promenade and small harbour.
Carry on along the shoreline to mountain-backed Penmaenmawr. It’s a family-favourite seaside stop with a wide sandy beach and plenty for young explorers to do (hire one of the wooden beach huts for a traditional seaside experience).
Suggested overnight: Penmaenmawr or Llanfairfechan
Day 3
Head over the historic Menai Bridge (built by celebrated 19th-century architect Thomas Telford) from Bangor to the Isle of Anglesey. Make your way to Amlwch on the north coast, a pretty port town that was once the heart of Anglesey’s thriving copper trade (explore this industrial past at Copper Kingdom, the town’s award-winning heritage attraction). Next, head south to Moelfre, where you’ll find two beautiful beaches, Traeth Bychan and Traeth Lligwy. It’s also home to Lligwy Burial Chamber, Din Lligwy Hut Group and Capel Lligwy, a few of Anglesey’s many intriguing ancient sites. Finish your day in Beaumaris, a stylish seatown with stunning views across the Menai Strait to Snowdonia – plus mighty 13th-century Beaumaris Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Suggested overnight: Beaumaris
Day 4
Travel back to the mainland via the Britannia Bridge and follow the A5 to Bethesda. Once a major centre of the North Wales slate industry, it’s now a magnet for thrill seekers and outdoor enthusiasts where you can ride the world’s fastest zipline and access a host of Snowdonia walking trails and cycle routes. Next retrace your steps down the valley to the A4244 for Llanberis, a popular mountain village overflowing with things to see and do – from the Snowdon Mountain Railway, Llanberis Lake Railway and the National Slate Museum to Dolbadarn Castle and the waters of Llyn Padarn.
Finally, drive up the boulder-strewn Llanberis Pass and along Nant Gwynant (two of Snowdonia’s most scenic routes) to Beddgelert, a picturesque village nestled amid hills and mountains.
Suggested overnight: Beddgelert.
More itineraries are also available under the headings of adventure, walking, heritage, landscape, food and drink, castles and historic places, a Welsh journey, golf and a long weekend in North Wales.
