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ProAdventure
Ltd. Once home to the world's largest slate mines, North Wales is now characterised by its breathtaking scenery - purple, heather-clad mountains, lush green countryside, lakes, waterfalls, rivers, sandy bays and wild rocky cliffs. It is also renowned for its traditional agricultural shows, sheepdog trials, wildlife (including seals, puffins, red deer and peregrine falcons), Welsh choirs and dancing, fresh local cuisine such as lamb and cheeses and warm log fires. North Wales' jewel in the crown is of course the Snowdonia National Park, with Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales dominating the skyline at 3,560 ft or 1,085m. The mountain attracts walkers from all over the world and views from the peak are impressive - on a clear day it is said that you can see Ireland! And for the less energetic there's always the option of taking the narrow gauge railway up to the top. At the foot of Snowdon is the town of Llanberis, which caters for the needs of serious climbers and walkers. It's also where Sir Edmund Hilary trained for his Everest climb. Surrounded by lakes and breath taking scenery, the town is a former slate and copper producing community and there are museums and mines to visit. At Betws-Y-Coed visitors can see the famous Swallow Falls and Conwy Falls and nearby Trefriw is famous for its healing spa. The Snowdonia National Park covers 840 square miles of North Wales, other mountain ranges include the rolling hills of the Clwydian range to the east of Snowdonia and the Berwyn Mountains and Cader Idris to the south. The Berwyn Mountains are served by the towns of Llangollen and Y Bala. Llangollen is best known for its International Eisteddfodd music competition. In July each year up to 100,000 visitors come to the town to see Welsh choirs and dancing. Y Bala is a traditional Welsh market town established in 14th century. On the banks of the largest natural lake in Wales, the town is famous for its choirs, harps, sheep dog trials, and water sports facilities, particularly white water rafting.
The dramatic and tranquil Ceiriog Valley lies to the south as does breathtaking Lake Vyrnwy. The lake of Llyn Celyn tells a sad tale - in the early 1960s the Liverpool City Corporation built a reservoir at Capel Celyn and in the process drowned a Welsh speaking community. Today a commemorative chapel overlooks the still waters of the lake and during dry months, the ruined village can be seen as a reminder of what was lost. Down the road at Dolgellau is the challenging peak of Cader Idris at 878m high. Legend has it that anyone who sleeps the night on the summit will wake up blind, mad or a poet! Coed-Y-Brenin, near Dolgellau is home to some of the best purpose-built cycling tracks in Britain. But North Wales is not just an area of extreme mountainous beauty - it's also home to some of the most stunning coastal scenery and beautiful golden beaches where memories of a lifetime are made. To the very north are the resort beaches of Rhyl, Prestatyn, Colwyn Bay and the famous Victorian resort of Llandudno. At the top of Great Orme there are fantastic views of the Conwy estuary, Puffin Island, Anglesey and Snowdonia. The medieval town of Conwy has ancient town walls with 21 towers and three gateways. There's also a remarkable castle with a suspension bridge and the smallest house in Britain, a 16th century home measuring 2m by 3m and occupied right up to 1900. Above the town is Conwy Mountain with its iron age fort and great views of the town, sea and mountains. The cathedral city of Bangor has an ornate Victorian pier and the nearby Aber Falls at Abergwyngregyn, are the highest in Wales at 100ft - they have been known to freeze over in winter! Anglesey, known as the Mother of Wales or "Mam Cymru", was the heartland of the ancient Druids. It is also famous for its sea birds and Llanfairpwllgwyngyll Station, the Victorian railway station with longest name in the world. At Caernarfon there's a famous castle built by Edward I, in the 13th and 14th centuries. The town also has a pretty harbour and there are the remains of a five-acre Roman fort on the hill above the town.
Porthmadog is the gateway to the beautiful Llyn Peninsula. It was once the busiest slate port in Wales. There's a beautiful castle overlooking Cardigan Bay and a steam railway which takes visitors through the breathtaking scenery of Snowdonia National Park. The Llyn Peninsula is 24 miles long and juts out into Irish Sea. It is famous for its golden sands, surfing, sailing, wildlife, fishing villages and the coastal resorts of Pwllheli, Llanbedrog, Abersoch and Aberdaron. From Aberdaron you can take a boat ride out to Bardsey Island - an ancient Christian pilgrimage site, now famous for wildlife. Portmeirion is a beautiful Italianate hillside village designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis in 1925. Nearby Harlech Castle was built by Edward I and is amongst the best preserved medieval fortresses in Britain. It is a world heritage listed site. To the south the Cardigan Bay resort of Aberdyfi is a very pretty resort and sailing centre and Barmouth is a lively, boisterous seaside resort.
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