Conwy

Conwy stretches from the wide sweep of Llandudno's Victorian seafront to the mountain passes of Snowdonia, giving a mix of traditional resort towns and quiet inland villages. Llandudno remains the busiest base, with its pier and promenade, while Abergele, Llanfairfechan and Penmaenmawr offer calmer coastal alternatives. Llandudno Junction serves as a practical hub for onward travel around the county.

Inland, Betws-y-Coed and Capel Curig draw walkers and climbers heading into the hills, while Dolwyddelan and Trefriw suit those wanting a slower pace among river valleys and old stone cottages. Llanrwst offers a market-town feel with historic buildings, and smaller settlements such as Dolgarrog and Tyn-Y-Groes make good stopping points for exploring the Conwy Valley at leisure.

Conwy's places to stay fall roughly into three camps. Llandudno has the seafront hotels and Victorian townhouse B&Bs, many along the terraces near the promenade, giving a choice between grand old hotels and smaller guest houses such as Bromwell Court Hotel or Gwynfryn B&B. Conwy town itself offers characterful B&Bs like Aberconwy House B&B, often just a short walk from the castle and quay.

Inland, Betws-y-Coed suits walkers and Snowdonia visitors, with guest houses such as Bryn Guest House and Cae Garw B&B geared towards early starts and muddy boots. Elsewhere, smaller properties including Lynton House, Mulberry House, Granby House and The Rosedene add further options, from adults-only stays like Between the Bays to family-run bed and breakfasts.

Deciding where to base yourself depends largely on whether you want coast, castle or mountains on your doorstep.

Conwy county covers a lot of ground, from the seafront at Llandudno to the mountains around Betws-y-Coed, and its attractions reflect that range. Conwy Castle and the town's medieval walls anchor the historic side of things, while the Great Orme dominates Llandudno with its cable car, mines and coastal golf course, plus the tram ride up for anyone who fancies the views without the walk.

Inland, Betws-y-Coed and the surrounding valleys are where the adventure operators cluster. Zip World's Betws-y-Coed site, Go Below's underground expeditions and Climb Wales all make use of the old slate landscape and forestry for activities that would be hard to find on the coast. Back towards Llandudno Junction, smaller family attractions like Johnny Throws and the Home Front Experience offer a change of pace for wet afternoons or younger children.

Deciding where to base yourself often comes down to whether you want sea air and Victorian architecture or forest trails and hill country, though the distances involved make it easy enough to sample both within a day.

Conwy's coastline and market towns bring together seaside cafes, traditional pubs and smarter dining rooms, with Llandudno holding the largest concentration of places to eat. Here you'll find everything from Dinos Llandudno's fish and chips to more considered plates at M & J Bistro, alongside relaxed daytime spots like Pip & Oat and Characters Tea House and Restaurant.

Away from the promenade, the choice broadens further, taking in Turkish grills such as Istanbul Cafe Bar And Grill and easy lunch stops like Asda Customer Cafe. Pubs and bistros tend to suit an evening out, while venues such as Venue @ the Clock House and Botanical Lounge work well for something more relaxed. Walking distance and opening times vary considerably between the harbour, the town centre and the seafront, so it's worth checking before you set off.

Conwy's mix of coastline, farmland and mountain gives campers plenty to choose from, and the county holds a good spread of small touring sites alongside its glamping options. Certificated locations such as Ffridd Uchaf Touring Site and Tan Y Ffordd suit those wanting a quiet field with basic hook-up, often on working farms tucked into the hills, while larger caravan parks like Pen Isaf offer more in the way of facilities.

For something more sheltered, huts and pods have spread across the county's smallholdings, from Cwt Tyddyn Shepherd's Hut to Three Streams Glamping and Meadow Sweet Glamping. Pen Cefn Farm and Waenfechan Glamping and Camping combine both approaches, with pitches and structures on the same site.

Choosing between them often comes down to how much you want to walk from your tent. Sites near Conwy itself put the castle and estuary within easy reach, while those further into the hills, like Pitch and Hike, favour those keen to head straight into Eryri on foot.

Conwy's self-catering cottages range from stone-built terraces in the old walled town to countryside conversions and coastal lodges scattered across the county, with 246 properties to choose from. Places like Pen Y Bryn Cottage and Gwynfryn suit those wanting a base within reach of the castle and harbour, while others sit further out towards the Conwy Valley or along the coast near Bron Y Wendon Holiday Park, better for travellers prioritising sea views or quiet lanes over town proximity.

The mix includes small one-off cottages such as 19 Palins and Bron Elan alongside static caravans and lodges like North Wales Holidays' ABI Ambleside, so budgets and group sizes vary widely. Families often gravitate towards holiday parks with a bit of space to spread out, while couples tend to favour smaller conversions such as The Lodge at Orchard Hill or The Shepherd's Rest. Given the spread across the county, it's worth deciding first whether you want to be within walking distance of Conwy itself or happier with a short drive to reach it.