North Wales is one of my favourite places to explore — I could easily spend weeks there. But if you only have one full day, these are the places I’d go, all strung along one road.
My tip: drive over the evening before, straight after work. That way you get a whole day to explore, rather than losing the morning to the motorway.
The plan
A day on the A5
Base
Betws-y-Coed
Road
The A5, Shrewsbury to Anglesey
Stops
Six
Best on
A weekday
- Betws-y-Coed An evening stroll, and breakfast at Caban-y-Pair.
- Llanrwst Fish and chips by the river.
- Zip World Three runs on the Fforest Coaster.
- Llyn Ogwen A lakeside walk between two mountain ranges.
- Llanberis Skimming stones at the foot of Snowdon.
- Llangollen Dinner by the Dee, then the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
The evening before
01
Betws-y-Coed
The Coed Tan Dinas Trail
From Pont-y-Pair Bridge, a half-mile boardwalk along the river through Douglas firs decades old — easy for everyone, and lovely as the sun sets.
02
Llanrwst
Supper at Tir a Môr
Many places in Betws close early, so drive over to Llanrwst for the best fish and chips in the area. My lamb burger was the best I’ve had — eaten by the river outside the famous cottage by the bridge.
The day
01
Morning
Breakfast at Caban-y-Pair
Just up the road from the B&B — a hearty sausage sandwich on thick bread to share. Cash only.
02
Zip World
The Fforest Coaster
Belted into a toboggan, pulled up the hill and released through 1km of twists in the trees — three runs, each faster than the last. Go on a weekday: cheaper and no queues. About 40 minutes.
03
Late morning
Llyn Ogwen
One of the most popular lakes in Wales, with toilets and a cafe for a picnic. With just a day, I walked the shore rather than a peak. Then take the A5 north to Llanberis — longer, but the mountain road is worth it.
04
Afternoon
Llanberis
At the foot of Snowdon: paddleboarding, the train to the summit or Electric Mountain. It was raining, so we had a stone-skimming contest by the lake instead.
05
Evening
Llangollen & the aqueduct
A small town on the Dee at the edge of the Berwyn Mountains, with a restaurant whose balcony hangs over the river. Then a short drive to Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
Pontcysyllte carries narrowboats 126 feet above the River Dee — the longest aqueduct in Great Britain.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Built in 1805 after ten years of design and building, it’s one of the highest canal aqueducts in the world. I love walking across it — but not if you don’t like heights. Boat trips across give a whole new view of the valley.
Where to stay and park
Stay
Fairhaven B&B, Betws-y-Coed
Right on the A5 and close to Snowdonia, with an unspoilt view of the trees from our room.
Park
Overnight in Betws
Opposite the train station, £1 from 6pm to 8am — or 50p at Pont-y-Pair Bridge for the same hours.
