North Wales Sightseeing, Attractions & Activities Guide

recommended places to visit and things to do in North Wales


  • tourist railway
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • film
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  • history
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  • transport
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  • trains
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  • TV

with some of the most comfortable carriages on any preserved railway – standard or narrow gauge – step back in time to a more civilised age

  • archeological site
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  • park
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  • family-friendly
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  • free admission
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  • seasonal opening
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  • café
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  • guided tours
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  • shop
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  • visitor centre
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  • archeology
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  • geology
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  • history
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

magnificent coastal scenery and wildlife, archaeology, geology in the Special Area of Conservation along the Heritage Coast

  • museum
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  • park
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • visitor centre
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  • architecture
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  • history
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  • local history
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

with 70 acres of woodlands, ancient monuments, industrial and farming history and children friendly interactive displays

  • film/tv location
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  • tourist railway
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • film
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  • history
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  • transport
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  • trains
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  • TV

often used in film and TV, with seven and a half miles through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The views from the carriages are breathtaking

Plas Brondanw Gardens

Penrhyndeudraeth

  • garden
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, who was also responsible for Portmeirion Village, and made up of a series of 'rooms' with a mixture of yew and box privet forming the architecture of the garden, with a centuries old Holme Oak taking centre stage

  • landmark
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  • something different!
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • World Heritage Site
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  • shop
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  • architecture
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  • history
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  • transport
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  • boats

you can walk across Pontcysyllte, or save your legs and take a leisurely boat ride. But there's one thing you have to take with you. A camera. The views are something else.

  • park
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • virtual tours
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  • shop
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  • visitor centre
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  • cycling
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

from underground audiovisual tours to farm tours, narrow gauge railway trips through breathtaking countryside and for the more adventurous, white water rafting

  • nature reserve
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • guided tours
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  • shop
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  • visitor centre
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  • cycling
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  • nature
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  • photography
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

providing wonderful views down across the seabird cliffs and across the Irish Sea. In spring, guillemots, razorbills and puffins breed on the iconic cliffs

Bodnant Garden

Tal-y-Cafn

  • garden
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  • seasonal opening
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

With year-round colour, this garden is a hive of activity or a haven of tranquility and relaxation; this is truly a special place

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • seasonal opening
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  • café
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  • guided tours
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  • shop
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

retaining a true Victorian style, from snowdrops and spring blue bells to summer water lilies. A wide array of birdlife, amphibians and other animals makes this garden a wonderful experience for any nature lover

  • fortress

mighty 13th century castle constructed not just as a military stronghold, but also as a seat of government and royal palace

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • seasonal opening
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • needlecraft
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

the state rooms include a 17th-century Long Gallery, grand 18th-century saloon with rich tapestries, with extensive gardens and children's play areas

  • fortress
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  • ruin
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • World Heritage Site
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  • shop
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  • architecture
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  • history
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  • military history
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  • walking

with breathtaking views from the battlements and much of the connecting walls intact, the circuit walk is well worth the effort

  • fortress
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  • ruin
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • architecture
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  • history
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  • military history

sensors and modern technology bring to life crossing the drawbridge, with the sound of the portcullis thundering down, chains rattling and the din of horses and marching soldiers

Erddig

Wrexham

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • nature
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  • needlecraft
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

a large collection of servants’ portraits and carefully preserved rooms capture their lives in the early 20th century, while upstairs is a treasure trove of fine furniture, textiles and wallpapers

Foel Farm Park

LlanfairPG

  • farm park
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • nature

lots of children's attractions and activities, including mini trailer rides, pony rides and meet, greet and feed the animals

  • tourist railway
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • history
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  • industrial heritage
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  • transport
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  • trains

a five-mile return journey alongside Lake Padarn, right in the heart of Snowdonia, stopping at Cei Llydan, a beautifully tranquil place that's ideal for a lakeside picnic

Pili Palas

Menai Bridge

  • zoo
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • nature
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  • wildlife

Meet butterflies in the Tropical Hide, visit the Lizard and Snake House, or meet the pets in the farmyard and indoor and outdoor play areas

  • garden
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  • seasonal opening
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  • café
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  • visitor centre
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

Something of interest right through the seasons from camellias and azaleas, to the double herbaceous borders in the summer months and a wide variety of hydrangeas at the end of the season with the waterfalls of the River Cadnant close by

Plas Newydd

LlanfairPG

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • visitor centre
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • history
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

set on the Menai Strait with stunning views of Snowdonia, elegantly designed by James Wyatt and containing Rex Whistler's largest painting; all set in magnificent grounds

  • garden
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • visitor centre
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

set alongside the Snowdonia National Park Authority's Study Centre, these period gardens have been extensively restored, offering a variety of colourful vistas throughout the spring, summer and autumn with stunning views across the nearby mountains

  • garden
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • pre-booking advised
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

started in 1994, these gardens have matured into a wonderful array of laburnum covered pergolas, rose gardens, castellated yew topiary and even a fort and zip wire for the children

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

this vast 19th Century Neo-Norman creation captures the imagination with creeper-clad turrets and dramatic views of the peaks of Snowdonia

  • place of worship
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  • open year round
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • religion

a wealth of fantastic carved animals adorn the walls and benches – scaly dragons, serpents and other strange whimsical monsters; with the carved roof painted in a glorious, flowing floral design

  • tourist railway
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • pre-booking advised
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • history
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  • industrial heritage
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  • transport
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  • trains

since 1896 visitors from around the world have travelled on Snowdon Mountain Railway offering dramatic views of the surrounding landscape

  • aquarium
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • nature
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  • wildlife

see Britain's marine life up close and personal, including a colourful reef , a kelp forest and an eerie shipwreck brimming with conger eels!

  • fortress
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  • ruin
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • World Heritage Site
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  • shop
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  • architecture
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  • history

the most technically perfect medieval castle in Britain, that wasn't ever quite finished. with a digital trail and family picnic tables

  • fortress
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  • ruin
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • architecture
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  • history
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  • military history
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  • walking

commanding astonishing views over the town and across the wide sweep of Cardigan Bay, with an on-site explanatory exhibition

  • fortress
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  • ruin
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • free admission
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  • architecture
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  • history
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  • military history

its spectacular situation, foreboding might, and great power were not sufficient to ensure the fame of this magnificent castle, Harlech is also inseparably linked with Welsh myth

  • archeological site
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • visitor centre
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  • archeology
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  • history
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  • industrial heritage

these copper mines discovered in 1987, represent one of the most astounding archaeological discoveries of recent time

  • garden
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • nature
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  • toys & models

popular model village, featuring many Anglesey landmarks set in beautifully landscaped gardens with water features

  • museum
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  • place of worship
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  • open year round
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  • guided tours
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  • architecture
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  • history
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  • religion

according to the legend, St Winefride's Well first erupted at the spot where her would-be rapist Caradog cut off her head with his sword.

  • place of worship
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • free admission
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  • shop
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  • architecture
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  • history
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  • literature
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  • religion

with magnificent architecture and stained glass windows. home of the first Welsh language bible translated by William Morgan

Portmeirion

Penrhyndeudraeth

  • film/tv location
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • craft shop
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • film
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  • food & drink
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  • history
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  • nature
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  • TV
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  • walking

a cluster of historic cottages, iconic architecture, a spa, stylish shops, award-winning restaurants, casual cafes, an Italian ice cream parlour, exotic gardens and sandy beaches

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