Conwy Tourism And Travel Guide

Conwy is particularly known for its daunting but incredible Conwy Castle with a number of other cultural attractions to explore and enjoy as well. While the castle has a dominant presence in the town, a short walk around the fortifications makes for a rather reminiscent understanding of the era during Edward I’s reign. Beyond the charming castle, the Royal Cambrian Academy is another attraction with a variety of exhibits created by Welsh artists in addition to a select collection of Conwy’s historic artwork. An evening at the Quay Hotel and Spa will have you admire the town’s beautiful night sky against an illuminated Conwy Castle.

Conwy’s busiest from a tourism perspective in January, followed by June and then July and you’ll find accommodation, and travel quite expensive during these periods. December’s dull for tourism in Conwy and perfect for those who enjoy winters with a double whammy of lucrative travel deals. Here’s a travel guide to help you get around in Conwy.

By Air:

One of the best ways of reaching Conwy is to fly from New Delhi to Manchester and make a train journey onwards. Alternatively, you can fly to Birmingham, Leeds Bradford, Cardiff, London Heathrow, Humberside, Bristol or Liverpool. Since there are no direct flights to Conwy, the quickest flight takes about 11 hours and 20 minutes with one stopover. You can book KLM, British Airways, Lufthansa, or Qatar Airways for your travel. The estimated cost of travel to Conwy from New Delhi ranges between INR 21,000-2,15,000, inclusive of transfers.

By Train:

From Manchester to Conwy, a train journey takes roughly 2 hours and 41 minutes at an approximate cost of INR 4,700. Alternatively, you can board a train for your destination from Birmingham to Crewe to Llandudno Junction and finally Betws-y-coed, Conwy in about an hour and 36 minutes. Trains operating on this route include West Midlands, Virgin West Coast Wales and Transport for Wales.

By Road:

If you like making a road trip, you can travel by bus or drive down to Conwy. While the drive down is about 1 ½ hour, the bus journey from Manchester would be about 6 hours or so. Alternatively, you can make the bus journey from Birmingham Coach Station, Digbeth to Llandudno Junction, Broad Street in roughly 5 hours and 42 minutes and then to Betws-y-coed, Conwy in ½ hour at an estimated fare of INR 700-950.

Getting Around:

Irrespective of whether you drive or not, there are varied options of getting in and around Conwy through public transport. From the local bus or train service options available you can explore the Conwy Valley railway line, which is a beautiful ride from Llandudno to Snowdonia for a scenic day trip into the mountains, or the Snowdon Sherpa, which you can hop on, in Betws-y-Coed, ideal for easy travel of Snowdonia and then, of course, there are the two wheels, which is best enjoyed on some of the best and most diverse cycle routes in the UK.

Spring (March-May):

Combined levels of temperatures and humidity make springtime in Conwy relatively cold, with temperatures ranging between 16°C and 8°C and the weather ending up being warm during the later months. The sea’s temperature varies between 9°C-12°C during this time and rainfall occurrence is somewhat common with over 10-12 days of noteworthy precipitation every month. Tourism is quite slow in spring which makes it an opportune time for travelers looking for lucrative deals.

Summer (June-August):

Conwy doesn’t have any dearth of beaches and while summers are the best time to hit the beaches, there’s more to the town than just the sand and surf! June through August experience relatively cool weather and sharp warm temperatures, with an average temperature of 17°C at sea. Early summer sees the arrival of seabirds to the coast, and it is only one of the best times to witness the porpoises, dolphins & whales!

Fall (September-November):

A woodland walk during the fall is a must in Conwy with ample forest trails and fallen leaves. With an average high temperature of 17°C and minimum being 7°C, it gets rather chilly this time of the year with nearly 11-18 days of rain or snowfall each month, from September through November. Fall is also one of the best times of the year to enjoy visiting Conwy.

Winter (December-February): 

Winters are very cold and rather uncomfortable for those who’re averse to cold weather conditions. However, despite the average temperature of 6°C-8°C and over 12 to 19 days of rain or snowfall each month, winters are considered an opportune time to visit the town. Come Christmas and you’ll see the seasonal markets springing up everywhere. This is that time of the year when you’ll enjoy sipping on mulled wine and appreciate handmade gifts.

Watersports:

North Wales has some of the best watersports activities, and with the Conwy Council having spent £5 million in the development of the Porth Eirias in Colwyn Bay, the idea’s to make the beach and promenade more accessible to the visitors. You can enjoy a variety of sports in Conwy including sailing, kayaking, powerboating, windsurfing, stand up paddle boating and canyoning.

Nature Reserve & Wildlife:

From bird watching to exploring the natural reserve at RSPB Conwy that spans nearly 47 hectares of landscape, you can witness captivating views of natural beauty, scrubland, grasslands, mudflats and enjoy watching flocks of water birds, dragonflies, frogs, participate in guided tours or participate in different activities. You can also visit the Welsh Mountain Zoo and have close encounters with the soft, furry and big cats, reptiles & amphibians, other marine life, bird species, primates & mammals and also explore the different zoo activities.

Beach Hopping:

With a variety of beaches with huge expanse of sand and surfs, Conwy’s abundant with coastlines that overlook the mountains, rich with sand, pebbles, and panoramic views of adjoining areas. Some of the best beaches in Conwy include the Conwy Morfa, Porth Eirias, Deganwy, Llandudno North Shore and the Llandudno West Shore. Sit back and relax, enjoying the waves rolling in towards you or be actively involved in different water activities, there’s something for everyone at Conwy’s coastline.

Pony Trekking:

Enjoy riding the horses or go pony trekking at Gwynedd’s Bwlchgwyn Farm, an untouched campground overlooking the tranquil Mawddach Estuary and the glorious Snowdonia National Park Coastline atop a raised location. A live cattle and sheep ranch, the Bwlchgwyn Farm is packed with a separate campsite, a caravan park and holiday cottages that are self-sufficient and self-catered. It also has a pony trek center on-site with guided treks along the estuary as well as the feet of the Cader Idris Mountain Range.

Sightseeing Cruises:

Conwy’s best explored with its sea cruise tours aboard Queen Victory with some of the most captivating sights of the medieval town and its neighboring areas. With over an hour to 1 ½ hour’s guided sea tour, you can expect to enjoy gorgeous views of the castles, Snowdonia, Glan Conwy, the mainland coast, Puffin Island, the Irish Sea and Anglesey. You’d also witness rare sightings of the egrets, shell ducks, herons and enjoy the local wildlife flocking the coastlines.

The ancient town of Conwy may have an imposing castle overlooking the town and a captivating quay, however, when it comes to choices over places to go for food and drinks, the town has a huge variety of pubs, bars, restaurants with options galore, tea rooms, small bistros and more with a healthy blend of local produce and seasonal fares. The town also hosts the Honey Fair and the Gwledd Feast as part of its annual calendar of events. Among the popular choices, there’s the Watson Bistro, concealed behind a green garden setting in the town hall’s shelter where everything’s homemade, right from the sea bass with white wine and prawns to the ham-hock terrine with rarebit serving. Then, there’s Alfredo’s with its fake ivy, shabby carpets, chequered table linen, fairy lights and a delectable menu of traditional grills, pizza and pasta.

Parisella's of Conwy Ice Cream is a kiosk that perhaps sells some of the best ice-creams in Wales with over 60 flavors. Shakespeare’s is the town’s classiest dining place with gilt-frame orient setting & flocked wallpapers and a delicious brasserie styled menu, while Amelie’s named after the Audrey Tauto movie, looks like a French Bistro with a global menu that features, shanks, steaks, fish, curries and more!

Explore souvenir shopping at the Knight Shop, across the street from the Conwy Castle with a variety of souvenirs that are unique and rare to find, like a ramshead siege crossbow, a chain mail, a replica helmet from Henry VIII’s time or a Viking Drinking Horn. Visit the Potters Gallery that’s run by a cooperative of North Wales potters and artisans, showcasing their latest works and a huge display of local artworks. The town is a lovely place to enjoy shopping escapades, with some of the biggest brands scattered around the county with a variety of malls, arcades and complexes, independent retail stores, boutiques and emporiums.

One of the best places to go shopping in the county is Llandudno where you will find high street brands, lined in, partly by canopies and boutique stores. The Antique Emporium’s a quirky place for age-old items, while Susan French is rich with vintage accessories and gothic fashion items. There’s Clares, an established departmental store going back to the 1920s with a vintage vibe of course with quality good, inclusive of brand names that include the White Stuff, Gant and Seasalt. You will find more to shop within the Mostyn Street Arcade with Dorothy Perkins, Boots, Waterstones & Thorntons, in addition to the Gift Company and Peers the Jeweler.