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With the advent of the A55 dual carriageway across the width of North Wales , the region has become considerably more accessible in recent times. This, however, has not tamed the wilder aspects of this stunningly beautiful area, especially in the western parts of Snowdonia and the Llyn peninsula. Wales's north coast and its natural offshoot, the isle of Anglesey, not only encompass the geographical extremities of the country, but comprise an area exhibiting the extremes of Welsh life. As you walk around most of the brash seaside towns along the eastern section of the coast, only the street signs give any indication that you are in Wales at all; further west, there are places where English is seldom spoken other than to visitors. Scattered along the coast, dramatically sited castles act as a superb antidote to low-brow fun-seeking. Without doubt, Snowdonia is the crowning glory of North Wales. This tightly packed bundle of soaring cliff faces, jagged peaks and plunging waterfalls measures little more than ten miles by ten, but packs enough mountain paths to keep even the most jaded walking enthusiast happy for weeks. Even if lakeside ambles and rides on antiquated steam trains are more your style, you can't fail to appreciate the natural grandeur of the scenery, occasionally revealing an atmospheric Welsh castle ruin or decaying piece of quarrying equipment. The area's small settlements - well geared up for walking and other outdoor activities - make for lively bases, whether long-standing tourist towns like Betws-y-Coed and Llanberis , or old mining and quarry towns such as Beddgelert and Blaenau Ffestiniog . Snowdonia is the heart - and undisputed highlight - of the massive Snowdonia National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri), an 840-square-mile area which extends north and south, beyond the bounds of Snowdonia and this section, to encompass the Rhinogs, Cadair Idris and 23 miles of superb coastal scenery. To the west, this coast is the highlight, in the gentle rockiness of the Llyn peninsula , where Wales ends in a flourish of small coves and seafaring villages, offering almost unlimited rambling potential around the high-hedged lanes. Roads loop back along the Llyn to the tip of the north coast, where Caernarfon sits overshadowed by its stupendous castle, the mightiest link in Edward I's Iron Ring of thirteenth-century fortresses across north Wales. Across the Menai Strait lies the island of Anglesey , a gentle patchwork of beautiful beaches and sites of ancient heritage, well worth exploration. Edward's final castle, a masterpiece of design, is sited in Beaumaris , and catamarans and ferries from Anglesey's main town, Holyhead , provide the fastest route to Dublin. Back on the mainland, the university and cathedral city of Bangor is the area's most cosmopolitan haunt, while remaining solidly Welsh in outlook and language. The same could certainly not be said for the string of seaside resorts along the north Wales coast, among which Conwy - another walled bastide town built by Edward I  © 2003 by Rough Guides Ltd. as trustee for its Authors. Published by Rough Guides. All rights reserved. Rough Guides name is a trademark of Rough Guides Ltd. Buy the book here!
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- and genteel Llandudno , always a cut above the rest, are the highlights. Further east towards England, faded Victorian resorts are the mainstay. However, a few surprises come embedded into this matrix of bingo halls and caravan sites: the allegedly miraculous waters at Holywell have attracted the hopeful since the seventh century, while others come for the National Portrait Gallery's collection at Bodelwyddan , and Britain's smallest cathedral at St Asaph .
Your Tips For North Wales
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