Road Trip The Coast of Wales
North to South - Pt1
Centuries before George R. R. Martin was a twinkle in his daddy’s eye, this country was associated with dragons and royal families endlessly fighting off invasions. And to this day, to some people, it still has an illegitimate figurehead. Its coastline, including its islands, is about 1680 miles and it has, or rather had, around 600 castles, more than any other country in Europe. It’s a country with its own language, even though it’s part of the UK, and its alphabet has no need for the letters K, Q, V, X & Z.
Croeso i Cymru - Welcome To Wales.
Colwyn Bay to Rhos-on-sea
The great thing about the North Welsh coast, is that much of it can be visited on separate day trips. I can highly recommend choosing a central base for a week and making daily excursions, with a good early start.
There are plenty of hotels, guest houses and B&Bs in Wales along with a plethora of caravan and campsites. Tourism is a major income for many in the Welsh economy, especially North Wales, so please, enjoy their hospitality.
The interior of Wales has just as many attractions as the coast, but I can’t fit everything into one blog post, so I’ll take you to the interior another time. (Although I may take one or two detours as I see fit... It’s my blog, so I’ll do what I like)
At about three miles long, the golden sands of Colwyn Bay / Rhos on Sea, are a must-visit for those who enjoy safe beach activities. Swimming, paddle boarding, fishing, jogging and cycling along the flat promenade, or just building sandcastles enjoying an ice cream… all can be done on the continually improving, award-winning bay. There’s plenty of parking along the whole bay area and payment machines are at regular intervals.
A shortcut through under the railway line and you’ll find yourself in the town centre of Colwyn. There are plenty of facilities to get supplies for a day on the beach, along with a good selection of cafes and bars.
Our next stop around the Welsh coast is Llandudno. A captivating seaside town popular since Victorian times. To this day, Victorian arcades still protect many of the shops and cafes in the town centre. The promenade is a beautifully flat and wide stretch of pathway that curves around almost the whole two miles of Llandudno Bay. It’s a walkers, joggers, cyclists and sit-down people-watching haven.
The town end of the promenade ends with Llandudno pier. Wales’s longest pier, its boardwalk contains stalls, amusements, cafes and plenty of benches to while away some time.
Next to the pier, and overlooking the town is Great Orm. A limestone headland protruding further into the Irish Sea, some of its most famous residents are a herd of Kashmiri goats. Great Orm is also host to loads of rare flora and fauna, including Peregrine Falcons, and the limestone cliffs are perfect nesting conditions for a variety of sea birds, such as Cormorants, Guillemots, Razorbills and Shags.
The outlook from the summit of Great Orm is quite breathtaking and to get up here you can drive, ride the tram or catch a cable car.
Ok, while we’re on the road to our next destination, for those of you not from the UK and thinking you might like to visit Wales, here are a few general knowledge items that may be useful to you.
Driving
Wales is part of the United Kingdom and so you drive on the left. There are many routes into Wales from England and although Wales is its own country, you don’t need your passport to get in. Road signs are often written in Welsh and then English. Google Maps is very useful around the quieter parts of Wales, but sometimes mobile signals aren’t that great, so it’s always wise to download offline maps just in case (read this article to find out how). Driving standards around Wales are usually very good. Certain parts of Wales are truly rural and the only things that exist there are farms and sheep. Because the farmlands are usually spread over hundreds, even thousands of acres, farm vehicles of all sizes can be encountered on small roads, so slow progress along windy narrow sections will occasionally be encountered. Just accept it and go with the flow. They’ll either turn off after a short distance, or a clear straight section will give you safe passing opportunities.
Language
Wales does have its own language, Welsh, and expect it to be heard in many places, especially in the North and especially in local businesses. Don’t worry if you can’t speak Welsh, 99% of people speak English and won’t hold it against you. However, it’s always nice to know a few words of the local language wherever you are in the world, so here are a couple that will help you along…
Shwmae - Hello / Hi. Pronounced Shum-eye
Diolch - Thank you. Pronounced Dee-och (the ch sounds like you're trying to whistle but from the back of your throat, there’s no harshness to it. It’s smooth but short).
Bore da - Good Morning. Pronounced Boar-uh-daa
Prynhawn Da - Good afternoon. Pronounced Pren-hown-daa
Nos da - Good night. Pronounced No-se-daa
Hwyl - Bye. Pronounced H-oil
If you remember nothing else, Diolch will be enough and appreciated.
Money
Wales uses British pounds and pence and, especially since the pandemic, contactless payments are accepted at most shops and cafes.
In Part 2, we’ll visit Conwy & the small University City of Bangor.
