Explore the North Wales Coastal Route

Conwy Castle, Conwy 

Built by Edward I between 1283 and 1287, Conwy Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the English King’s four great Welsh fortresses, alongside Caernarfon, Harlech and Beaumaris. Clients can relive history while clambering up spiral staircases, patrolling the battlements with sweeping views of Snowdonia, and exploring the King’s Great Chamber. Don’t miss the secret ‘watching chamber’ with its own private latrine, where royalty could discreetly observe religious services. With its eight towers and the most complete set of medieval royal living quarters in Wales, Conwy Castle is history your clients can climb and walk through. 

Getting there: The nearest major airport is Manchester Airport. Conwy is around two hours 30 minutes by train from Manchester Piccadilly Station. 

Bryn Williams at Porth Eirias, Colwyn Bay 

For refined seafood dining, Bryn Williams at Porth Eirias is the flagship restaurant by Welsh chef Bryn Williams and it puts regional produce centre stage. Set right on the Colwyn Bay seafront, the bright, open-plan dining room serves bistro-style dishes focusing on locally sourced seafood, from mussels and prawns to cod. Sample menus include dishes like whole plaice with beurre noisette and roast halibut with pancetta and mushroom dressing. The restaurant has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand three years running and was named AA Restaurant of the Year for Wales in 2019/20.  

Getting there: The nearest major airport is Manchester Airport. Conwy is around two hours 30 minutes by train from Manchester Piccadilly Station.     

Caer Rhun Hotel, near Conwy 

Just five miles (8km) south of Conwy, Caer Rhun Hotel rises from the trees, with turrets and gables framed by Snowdonia (Eryri) in the background. Set near the River Conwy, the Grade II-listed Victorian mansion sits within 18 acres of landscaped gardens and houses 32 bedrooms, with several featuring freestanding bathtubs. Inside, contemporary interiors in muted heritage tones complement original period details. Downstairs, the Bar and Apothecary feature cosy leather armchairs, dark wood furniture and glass cabinets, welcoming clients for a relaxed evening drink. 

Getting there: Caer Rhun Hotel is a ten-minute drive from Conwy and approximately one hour and 30 minutes by car from Manchester Airport. 

Caernarfon Castle, Caernarfon 

Dominating the waterfront of Caernarfon, Caernarfon Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of Wales’ most striking medieval fortresses. Edward I’s 13th-century stronghold boasts polygonal towers, curtain walls and battlements that invite clambering, with panoramic views over the Menai Strait and Snowdonia (Eryri). Inside, clients can wander the King’s Gate, explore the Great Hall, and trace the footsteps of royalty. Interactive exhibitions bring the castle’s turbulent history to life, while its cinematic fame includes a starring role in The Crown, where Prince Charles’ investiture as Prince of Wales was recreated. 

Getting there: The nearest airport is Manchester Airport. The drive to Caernarfon Castle is approximately 100 miles (160 km) and takes around two hours and 15 minutes. 

Henry Robertson at Palé Hall, Bala  

For aristocratic splendour with Michelin Green Star finesse, Palé Hall fits the bill. This Victorian mansion in the Dee Valley was once graced by Queen Victoria. Today, it’s an AA award-winning, five-star retreat with lavish rooms, landscaped gardens and gourmet dining at the Henry Robertson Dining Room, named after the hall’s original owner and headed by chef Ed Marsh. Guests can explore Snowdonia (Eryri) by day and feast like nobility by night. The menu focuses on classic Welsh cuisine with a contemporary twist. Highlights include hogget with asparagus and black garlic, and cod with smoked pike roe.   

Getting there: The nearest larger town to Palé Hall is Wrexham, about 65 miles (105 km) east, a journey which takes around one hour 40 minutes by car. Wrexham offers train connections to Chester, Liverpool and Birmingham, and from there clients can reach major airports including Manchester Airport and Birmingham Airport. 

Castle Deudraeth Hotel, Portmeirion 

At Castell Deudraeth, clients can check in above a fantasy village and wake up with Snowdonia (Eryri) on the horizon. Situated on a hill overlooking the Italianate village of Portmeirion, the former Victorian private house turned four-star retreat offers far-reaching views across the Dwyryd Estuary. The hotel has 12 spacious, contemporary rooms and suites – many with lift access – dressed in Welsh oak, slate and stone with underfloor heating throughout. Art lovers can stay in rooms displaying works by Sir John Kyffin Williams RA, Marc Chagall prints from Susan Williams-Ellis’ private collection, and paintings by leading Welsh artists. Downstairs, the Castell Deudraeth Brasserie looks onto an early Victorian walled garden, while Portmeirion’s architectural wonders and coastal paths are just outside the door.  

Getting there: The hotel is a 10-minute drive from Porthmadog and is around two hours by train from Birmingham New Street station. 

Beaumaris Castle 

Beaumaris Castle may never have been fully completed, but it remains a near-perfect medieval stronghold. Built by Edward I in the 13th-century, it is famed for its concentric design – a fortress within a fortress – complete with a broad moat, battlements and towers built to intimidate friend and foe alike. Today, the UNESCO World Heritage Site feels anything but static: clients can roam its well-preserved passageways, peruse exhibitions and imagine armour clanking and knights getting ready for battle.  

Getting there: The nearest major international airport is Manchester Airport. From there, a direct train to Bangor takes around two hours. The castle is a 20-minute taxi across the Menai Bridge to Beaumaris on Anglesey. 

Dylan’s Menai Bridge, Menai Bridge 

Part of a chain of five award-winning restaurants across North Wales, Dylan’s Menai Bridge occupies a former ferry booking office located right on the edge of the Menai Strait, overlooking the Menai Suspension Bridge. The group’s flagship restaurant boasts floor-to-ceiling windows framing passing boats, changing tides and Snowdonia’s (Eryri’s) peaks in the distance. The menu leans heavily on Welsh seafood, from Menai mussels to local catches, but also serves Italian classics like pizza and pasta dishes. Dylan’s also has restaurants in Criccieth, Llandudno, Conwy and Barmouth. 

Getting there: The nearest major international airport is Manchester Airport. From there, a direct train to Bangor takes around two hours. Dylan’s Menai Bridge is a 10-minute taxi across the Menai Bridge and into the town centre. 

Tre-Ysgawen Hall, Capel Coch 

For a luxury escape, clients can stay at Tre-Ysgawen Hall, set within 11 acres of formal gardens and parkland. Behind its grand stone façade, this 19th-century country house hotel offers individually designed rooms ranging from traditionally furnished doubles with antique pieces and rich fabrics to larger suites with garden views and period features. In the spa, clients can unwind in the 16-metre indoor pool, sauna and steam room, or book massages, facials and body treatments in one of the dedicated therapy rooms. Dining spans refined and relaxed: the fine-dining restaurant, Romanas, serves British and Italian-influenced dishes – from seafood to classic Sunday roasts – while The Clock Tower offers a more informal setting for light bites and snacks. 

Getting there: The nearest major international airport is Manchester Airport. From there, a direct train to Bangor takes around two hours. Tre-Ysgawan Hall is a 30-minute taxi across the Menai Bridge. By car, it’s a two-hour drive from Manchester Airport.