North Wales is full of tourist attractions, castles, museums and things to do, along with spectacular mountains, valleys and coastline.
To make your stay with us at Plas Dinas as memorable as possible, we have compiled below a list of some of the best attractions to be found in North Wales.
Further information on local attractions is available from the North Wales Tourist Information site (www.nwt.co.uk) or Visit Wales (www.visitwales.co.uk).
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Welsh Highland Railway
Journey behind the most powerful 2' gauge steam locomotives in the world through the fabulous scenery of the Snowdonia National Park. The railway runs from Caernarfon Castle, passing under our driveway and on past Plas Dinas, snaking around seemingly impossible bends, up hard gradients and around the foothills of Snowdon to arrive at Rhyd Ddu, about 12 miles from Caernarfon and high up in the Snowdonian mountains. The nearest station to Plas Dinas is Dinas station, just a five minute walk from us.
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Caernarfon Castle
King Edward intended this castle to be a Royal residence and seat of government for North Wales. The castle's symbolic status was emphasized when Edward made sure that his son, the first English Prince of Wales, was born there in 1284. In 1969, the castle gained worldwide fame as the setting for the investiture of HRH Prince Charles as Prince of Wales.
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Portmeirion
A unique village set on its own private peninsula on the southern shores of Snowdonia. It was created by Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 to demonstrate how a naturally beautiful place could be developed without spoiling it. Portmeirion is made up of about 50 buildings and surrounded by 70 acres of sub-tropical woodland gardens. On the main driveway is Castell Deudraeth, a Victorian mansion recently restored as a brasserie style restaurant and hotel.
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Conwy Castle
Built for King Edward I between 1283-87, Conwy remains one of the most outstanding achievements of medieval military architecture. The distinctive elongated shape, with its two barbicans, eight massive towers and great bow-shaped hall, was perhaps determined by the narrow rocky outcrop on which the castle stands.
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Bodnant Garden
This is one of the most beautiful gardens in the UK, spanning some 80 acres and is situated above the River Conwy on ground looking across the valley towards the Snowdonia range. The upper garden around Bodnant Hall consists of the terraced gardens and informal lawns shaded by trees. The lower portion, known as the "Dell" is formed by the valley of the River Hiraethlyn and contains the Wild Garden.
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Llechwedd Slate Cavern
Board a train from the original slate slabbing mill and ride into an 1846 tunnel, entering through the side of the mountain and journey into the early Victorian past, seeing some spectacular caverns on the way. Visitors descend on Britain's steepest passenger railway, with a gradient of 1:1.8, to make the Deep Mine tour. The museum includes a village and pub.
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Great Orme Tramway
Great Britain's only remaining cable operated street tramway and one of only three surviving in the world. The line starts at the Victoria Station in Church Walks, Llandudno. The line is in two sections and passengers change cars at the Halfway Station. The line climbs 400 feet in about half-a-mile. It was opened for passengers in 1902. The upper section, opened in 1903, is less steep and climbs 150 feet in about the same distance.
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Penrhyn Castle
With magnificent views over Snowdonia, the castle has a unique furniture collection and the best private art collection in Wales. It has large gardens and grounds with a formal Victorian walled garden, a dolls museum, extensive Victorian kitchens, railway museum and adventure playground.
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Erddig
A unique insight into servants' life in the 18th and 19th century in a completely furnished 18th-century large country house. One of the last surviving 18th-century gardens with a large walled garden and extensive designed parkland and 13 miles of footpaths. Authentic demonstrations of restored historic machines and horse drawn carriage rides around the estate.
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Harlech Castle
Harlech Castle is one of the great castles Edward I built to enforce his rule over the Welsh. Situated high upon a rocky outcrop, its seaward side was defended by sheer cliffs, while a deep moat protected the other sides. It was built in just seven years (1283-1290). The castle is built to a concentric design with an impressive inner curtain wall with huge round towers on the corners, surrounded by an outer perimeter of much lower walls.
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Snowdon Mountain Railway
Snowdon dominates the landscape of North Wales. At 3,560ft (1085m) it is a true mountain and a place of legend - said to be the burial place of the giant ogre Rhita, vanquished by King Arthur. Since 1896, the Snowdon Mountain Railway has been making it easy to reach this mountain peak. In a tremendously ambitious feat of engineering, a rack and pinion railway was built which rises to within 66ft of the summit of the highest mountain in England and Wales.
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Welsh Mountain Zoo
The Welsh Mountain Zoo opened on 18 May 1963 - the realisation of a dream for the Zoo's founder, lifelong wildlife enthusiast and experienced naturalist, Robert Jackson. It now houses a huge array of mammals, birds and reptiles, including a selection of animals in the children’s farm area.
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