North Wales & Snowdonia Loop
St Helens is perfectly positioned for a dash into the rugged heart of Wales. I've put together a 5-day loop that takes you from the dramatic coast of Anglesey through the jagged peaks of Eryri (Snowdonia) and back via the charming Roman streets of Chester.
St Helens → Beaumaris → Llanberis → Betws-y-Coed → Portmeirion → Conwy → Chester → St Helens
The Island Escape
Head out after the morning rush. We’re aiming straight for the Menai Strait.
St Helens
There's more than one place called St Helens, St Helen's, St. Helens, or St. Helen's:
Menai Suspension Bridge
The Menai Suspension Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Menai Strait between the island of Anglesey and the mainland of Wales. Designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1826, it was one of the world's first major suspension bridges, and second such bridge designed to carry vehicular traffic, after the Union Chain Bridge (1820) across the River Tweed.
Llanddwyn Island
Newborough (Welsh: Niwbwrch) is a village on the island of Anglesey in north-west Wales.
Beaumaris
Beaumaris (Welsh: Biwmares) is a town in east Anglesey in Wales. Beaumaris's shore borders the Menai Strait separating Anglesey from the British mainland. Its population is somewhere around 2000 people. The town is full of history and many historical sites are still able to be visited today.
Castles & Slate
Cross back to the mainland to explore this massive fortress. It’s a UNESCO site and feels incredibly imposing with its polygonal towers.
Caernarfon Castle
Caernarfon Castle is a medieval fortress in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. The first fortification on the site was a motte-and-bailey castle built in the late 11th century, which King Edward I of England began to replace with the current stone structure in 1283.
Llanberis
Llanberis is in North Wales, 7 miles away from Caernarfon. It is the 'base camp' for Mount Snowdon.
National Slate Museum
The National Slate Museum is located at Gilfach Ddu, the 19th-century workshops of the now disused Dinorwic quarry, within the Padarn Country Park, Llanberis, Gwynedd. The museum is dedicated to the preservation and display of relicts of the Slate industry in Wales. The museum closed in November 2024 for renovations and will not re-open until 2026.
Betws-y-Coed
Betws-y-Coed (meaning Chapel in the Woods) is a village of 564 people (2011) in Conwy county borough, and one of the primary tourist resorts in the Snowdonia National Park.
Peaks and Waterfalls
A quick stop just outside the village to see the Llugwy River cascading through the chasm.
Swallow Falls
Swallow Falls is a multiple waterfall system in Wales, located on the River Llugwy near Betws-y-Coed, in Conwy County Borough.
Ogwen Valley
The Ogwen Valley, or Dyffryn Ogwen in Welsh, is a valley mostly located in the Welsh county of Gwynedd. The upper section of the valley, east of Llyn Ogwen, lies in the county borough of Conwy.
Fairy Glen
Fairy Glen is an organized hamlet in the Rural Municipality of Willow Creek No. 458 in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is situated on the banks of the Carrot River and access is from Highway 6.
The Italian Dream & Estuaries
A bit of a curveball—this is a Mediterranean-style village built into the Welsh cliffs. It’s surreal, colorful, and great for a morning wander.
Portmeirion Village
A bit of a curveball—this is a Mediterranean-style village built into the Welsh cliffs. It’s surreal, colorful, and great for a morning wander.
Conwy
Conwy is a small walled town on the coast in North Wales. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and a perfect base for exploring everything North Wales has to offer. The gateway to Snowdonia and easy access to the Island of Anglesey, the Victorian seaside town of Llandudno and the timeless Llyn Peninsula.
Llandudno
Llandudno is a Victorian-era seaside resort situated on the picturesque north coast of Wales. Once a favourite of Queen Victoria, Llandudno still retains an old-world charm that sets it aside from other British seaside resorts. Llandudno is set between the cities of Bangor and Chester and is easily accessible by road and rail.
Roman Walls & Home
On the way back to St Helens, spend the morning in this Roman city. Walk the Chester Rows (double-level medieval shopping galleries) and the full circuit of the city walls.
Chester
Chester (Welsh: Caer) is a very pretty and historic English city on the river Dee, and the county town (capital) of the North-Western county of Cheshire. Although maybe not worth a whole holiday, it's well worth a day or overnight trip to see the Roman ruins and medieval city centre. This fine city is also the gateway to North Wales, as it stands directly on the Anglo-Welsh border.
Chester Cathedral
Chester Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral and the mother church of the Diocese of Chester. It is located in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. The cathedral, formerly the abbey church of a Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint Werburgh, is dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since 1541, it has been the seat of the bishop of Chester.
St Helens
There's more than one place called St Helens, St Helen's, St. Helens, or St. Helen's: