If you want to see Autumn in its full glory and just
want to be one with nature then the stunning, quintessential, alpine-like
village then Betws-y-Coed is the place to be! It literally felt like stepping
into a fairytale village right from stepping into the train station, which is
the most beautiful UK station I have been to. We spent 3 days in Betws with the
last day spent in Llanduno! We stayed at a B&B not far from the centre
which was great for us. As usual, we didn’t have our own transport and so used
Fliccsbus which is basically a bus in demand (there’ an app where you can
request date and time and where to pick up) which was so cool and very efficient. The only
thing is that it stops running after 6pm. There were plenty of places to eat
but I advice to book in advance as there were either no tables available or we
had to queue which wasn’t ideal.
This is a paradise for hiking! There are so many hiking
trails in and around the village with many waterfalls, which as you know is what
I yearn for! Here are the hiking routes I did:
-
Pont-y-Pair Bridge to Swallow Falls via Miner’s
Bridge in Gwydir Forest. Pont-y-Pair Bridge is the main defining attraction in
Betws. With waterfalls cascading below the bridge was a beauty and loved
sitting on one of the rocks and admiring the scenery. Afterwards, I took the trail
through Gwydir Forest which was a nice stroll through picturesque forest. For me,
I was in heaven while being surrounded by greenery and hearing the water and
waterfalls I came across. The walk to swallow falls took about 45mins. You have
to pay a £2 entry per person, no mater
the age. Swallow Falls is a beauty and worth the money for anyone who enjoys
waterfalls. You have a few viewing platforms and highly recommend the one right
at the bottom as it takes you the closest to the waterfalls and if you are lucky,
you will be sprayed! I thoroughly loved it!
-
Conwy Falls to Roman Bridge. The walk around
Conwy Falls is enough of a hike but a highly rewarding one as the views were
indescribable. You had to pay £2 to enter Conwy Falls but I think it was worth
it. I also extended the walk to the Roman Burdge which is behind Conwy Falls
and came across more waterfalls. Absolutely loved it!
Below is what else we have been upto:
-
Zipworld – Since it was Halloween, we enjoyed
the extra spookiness of the forest (Ffear Forest). You will need to book your
tickets in advance. We enjoyed it but there weren’t as many rides as we would
have liked. The alpine coaster was definitely a hit!
-
Go Below Underground Adventure – this was the
highlight of the trip. I went on my own. This involved a caving adventure which
requires a lot of your energy as you will be abseiling, climbing up waterfalls,
a short boat section, ziplining and a lot of walking! It was 5hours of great
fun. Here were moments where I thought I was going to give up, especially
walking up the waterfalls but it was so rewarding to finish the course! There’s
3 levels and I did the beginner ones suitable for anyone aged over 10years old.
You will need to pack lunch and snacks as you will have time here and there to
grab a bite. The entry to the cave is quite
steep walk through the forest but the guides will take you through a nice
pace so you don’t really feel the steepness. I thoroughly enjoyed it. You will
need to wear waterproofs as you will get wet! Boots and other equipments will
be provided. The guides are total experts and do not rush you. They give you clear
guidance and where applicable, give you history lesson as you are going an old
miner’s cave.
-
Llanduno – on our last day, we spent a day in this
town before our train back to London. We went to Great Orme mine, the world's
largest prehistoric copper mine. It takes about 45mins ogo around. It Is very
narrow but very informative with information plaque around the attraction! When
you are in the area, the Great Orme Railway is a must and takes you to the town
centre. Yes , it is a bi pricey but a unique experience! There’s also a few
walking trails so will highly recommend as the scenery with the sea in the
background was a beauty!
Overall, we had a great time! I needed time to be amongst nature
and recharge which Betws-y-Coed complete aced the job!
