Porthmadog North Wales – Llyn Peninsula Towns & Villages
Porthmadog Welcomes You – Croeso!
Nestled on the picturesque Glaslyn Estuary in North Wales, Porthmadog is a charming harbour town steeped in maritime history and natural beauty. As a perfect base for exploring the surrounding region, Porthmadog offers a wealth of cultural experiences, vibrant craft shops, and delightful restaurants. Founded by visionary W.A. Maddocks, whose ambitious “Cob” embankment project transformed the area, the town’s name – “Madog’s Port” – pays homage to its founder. Once a bustling shipping port for the international slate trade, Porthmadog’s rich maritime past is a testament to its resilience and ingenuity.
Gwynedd
Located on the north western side of Wales, Gwynedd is a perfect place to visit. It is mostly located within Snowdonia National Park, and the Snowdonia mountain ranges and Cambrian Coastline. It offers visitors a wide range of attractions from activity programmes to inspirational cultural and historical places to visit.
Porthmadog Station
© Crown copyright (2013) Visit Wales
Blackrock
Located on the outskirts of Porthmadog, the beach at Blackrock Sands stretches for miles and is a haven for beach games and resting. T. E Lawrence, of Lawrence of Arabia fame lived nearby and the 14th century poet Shelley is reputed to have regularly visited.
Criccieth
This coastal resort offers superb views of Tremadog Bay, sandy beaches, fine restaurants and good accommodation. Criccieth Castle, built by Llewelyn the Great in the l3th Century dominates the skyline and hosts an exhibition reliving Gerald of Wales’ journey through Wales. Today the town attracts watersports enthusiasts. It is home to the famous Cadwaladers ice cream first produced in the 1920’s.
Right:- Harlech Castle
© Crown copyright (2013) Visit Wales
Castles
Wales abounds with magnificent castles. Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech are all World Heritage Sites and definitely worth a visit. The sheer power and presence of Wales’ most famous castle, Caernarfon Castle, is still awesome in today’s world. When first built in the 13th century, it must have presented an invincible image to the people it dominated.
In 1969, HRH Prince Charles, became Prince of Wales at his investiture in Caernarfon Castle.
At Conwy, the mighty 13th Century castle dominates the estuary and you can walk the ancient town walls which gives a flavour of the might of this ancient monument.
Snowdon Summit
© Crown copyright (2013) Visit Wales
Activity holidays in Wales
Wales provides stiff competition for other venues in terms of the number and range of activities taking place within such a localised area. For an adventure and activity holiday with wide open spaces and breathtaking scenery then Snowdonia, Llyn Peninsula and the Cambrian Coast are worth considering. The activities include walking, cycling, climbing, pony trekking, surfing, water skiing, canoeing, quad biking, clay pigeon shooting, or abseiling.
There are six designated routes to the summit of Snowdon and a variety of walking routes to Cader Idris, Snowdonia is the ideal place for both serious climbers and keen walkers. Llanberis is an excellent base from which to explore Snowdonia and there is a network of attractive walks suitable for all the family. For stunning walks through scenic gorges and by rushing rivers, start off at Betws-y-Coed.
The Welsh Language and Culture
Welsh is the first language of over a million people, and in the area of Snowdonia, the Llyn Peninsula and the Cambrian Coast around 70% of the population are Welsh speakers. Welsh is one of the oldest living languages in Europe and shares its roots with Breton, Gaelic and Cornish. The sense of community is very strong and Snowdonia’s appeal springs from its unique heritage, culture and language, which touches on everyday life, giving this area a truly distinctive character.