Visit Wales with Ease - Part 1

A journey through North Wales for writers and wanderers

North Wales you beauty!

Dear Friend

How are you feeling today? Let’s ignore the weather and cheer ourselves up with a virtual trip around the breathtaking scenery of North Wales.

Welcome to my four part series “Visiting Wales with Ease”

I’m kicking off the journey in rugged North Wales - my homeland, surrounded by majestic mountains, pristine coastlines and rich literary heritage.  As a proud native of this region, I’m more than thrilled to be highlighting some of my favourite must see places to visit. And I admit, they are pretty well known venues, but too extraordinary not to showcase. 

In this first instalment, I’ll uncover my top three places to stay, eat & drink and most importantly, for us wordsmiths - to write.  As a big beach lover, the majority are located on the coastline, but be assured there are lots of dreamy places to spend a day or two inland.

North Wales has long been a source of inspiration for writers, which have sparked creativity for both famous authors and aspiring writers like you and I.

From the imposing walls of Conwy Castle (boy do I love a castle) to the breathtaking views atop Snowdon, from the peaceful shores of Llyn Tegid, to the charming streets of Portmeirion, North Wales offers such a diverse landscape that’s sure to stir your imagination. 

Photo credit: Papa Lynch, Snowdonia, Conwy Castle, Deganwy

Throughout my years of traveling through the north, I’ve had the pleasure of staying in charming inns with gorgeous sea views, co-worked in many bustling cafes and felt inspired beyond belief when I stayed at a tranquil lake retreat.

I could spend the whole week writing about North Wales, but for now, I’ll just give you a flavour of my top three recommendations...

A Place to Stay:

Portmeirion Village - an enchanting, Italianate-style village nestled on the coast, near Porthmadog.  It was designed and built by the visionary architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis.  His goal was to show how a naturally beautiful site could be developed without spoiling it. From the moment you arrive, you’ll find a colourful collection of mediterranean style buildings with whimsical details.  Honestly it’s like something out of a fairytale and no surprise it’s described as “Little Italy”. It was the primary filming location for the cult 1960’s TV series “The Prisoner” which has inspired many writers and fuelled countless tales.  It’s such a magical place to stay, whether you choose one of the two luxury hotels, a village room or a self catering cottage, they are all delightful and charming. What I love most about this eccentric village, is you could find a corner by the estuary on a fine day or choose a cosy corner in one of their many on-site eateries, ideal for you write away the hours. If all you do is people watch, you’ll be immersed in a world of pure imagination.

A Place to Eat & Drink

Ty Coch Inn, whose name means “Red House” in Welsh, is a legendary pub situated in the tiny fishing village of Porthinllaen.  What makes this venue extraordinary is its location - it’s one of my all time favourite North Wales pubs on the beach. Honestly, if you’re looking for a hearty meal with a panoramic sea view, and a place to unblock your creativity away from the city lights, this could be THE perfect venue for you. The crystal blue waters, ‘icing sugar white’ sand, and cute fishing boats bobbing in the bay, wins me over every time. Oh and the sunsets are off the scale amazing! In my humble opinion, Ty Coch offers a rare combo of fresh local cuisine, isolation, natural beauty and local charm. For me it ticks all the boxes.  A word of warning, it does get extremely popular during school holidays, so you may prefer to book out of season. I do love a winter weekend by the sea, it can be quite a thrilling experience.

A Place to Write

Oriel Plas Gwyn-y-Weddw - a unique cultural gem nestled in the coastal village of Llanbedrog on the Llyn Peninsula.   A Gothic Victorian mansion that’s been transformed into one of Wales’ most dynamic and influential art venues. It’s pretty cool and a real source of inspiration with its intricate details, grand spaces and historic charm. There are regular poetry readings, book launches and literary discussions held throughout the year, it really is a haven of activity. Yet despite it being a public gallery, there are numerous quiet corners and peaceful spots where you could write.  It’s a truly atmospheric and stimulating environment, and I’m proud to say it’s a venue that really champions Welsh culture!

A few more delightful places to visit, and don’t forget to take your journal…

Indulge at the Escape Boutique B&B - Llandudno

Spot Saturday Kitchen TV chef Bryn Williams at his award winning restaurant - Colwyn Bay

Take a tram up the Great Orme - Llandudno

Pause for thought on the pier - Bangor

A castle view restaurant - Conwy

Stay in an old bakehouse - Chirk Castle Estate

Luxury glamping on an old dairy farm - Tremadog

A couple of months ago, I hosted a “Mountains & Mindset” Weekend Retreat by Bala, Lake, with 30 inspirational health practitioners keen to learn more about lifestyle medicine. I was in my element guiding a large group of women through my “Rage on a Page” therapeutic journaling techniques. It was a profound experience, while they sat around an open fire pit as the sun set, some of them brave enough to share very personal, untold stories about what they witnessed during the pandemic.

I wish I had more time to write about Wales each day, because there are so many more extraordinary places that I’d like to share with you.  

If you’re planning on visiting a specific North Wales town or village later this year, let me know, as I’ll check if I have any special places to recommend.  Would that be of interest? In the meantime you could check out the Visit Wales website, it’s packed with interesting places to visit.

I hope I’ve inspired you to pack your notebook and pen, and embark on your own North Wales writing adventure.  Just remember you’re not just visiting a destination - you’re stepping into a living, breathing muse.  Whether you’re crafting a memoir, journaling through your experiences or creating content for Substack, North Wales is ready to guide your pen and ignite your imagination.

Do let me know if you’d like a few more recommendations.  Tomorrow I shall be sharing some of my favourite places to visit throughout Mid Wales.

Until the next time

Take care and stay safe xx

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