For those who’re planning a weekend break that ‘has all of it’ then I can’t advocate a visit to Chester and North Wales sufficient.
Spend your first day exploring the Roman metropolis of Chester with its cobbled streets, Tudor-style buildings and fairly views. Then spend your second day exploring Snowdonia Nationwide Park, dwelling to the very best mountain in Wales with gorgeous surroundings and quaint Welsh villages. There are such a lot of issues to do in North Wales nevertheless it’s finest to stay to Snowdonia for those who solely have a day.
For me, an ideal weekend away has this mix of cities and countryside. You’ll be able to spend one-day purchasing and sipping cocktails in trendy bars and the subsequent day mountain climbing mountains. Significantly, what extra may you need?
The drive from Chester to Snowdon takes simply over an hour however these two lovely locations really feel 1,000,000 miles aside. You actually really feel such as you’re getting two holidays in a single however you received’t be completely exhausted after it!
This weekend, I teamed up with Premier Inn for this good weekend break. Premier Inn are encouraging travellers to remain nearer to dwelling as there are such a lot of unbelievable locations within the UK to go to. Many people have set ourselves a New 12 months’s decision to journey extra so why not tweak that decision and journey extra within the UK? I’m usually responsible of jetting off to Europe earlier than exploring what we’ve got on our personal doorsteps and it’s time to alter that!
For those who just like the sound of a brief journey that mixes a metropolis break with an outdoorsy vacation, then hold studying…
Right here’s my mini information to a weekend in Chester and North Wales
The place to remain
I stayed on the Premier Inn Chester Central North. It’s an ideal location for moving into Chester metropolis centre – however it’s also good for rapidly getting out of Chester and onto the street to North Wales. For the worth, you actually can’t beat Premier Inn’s. My room was actually spacious, snug, trendy and clear and the workers have been simply so pretty. I requested the woman on the desk if she had any suggestions for locations to go to in Snowdonia. She gave me a few concepts which I used to be actually grateful for however once I received up within the morning she’d created a mini information for me with a great deal of strategies. She’d even written down postcodes for me to search out locations, the climate forecast and handwritten notes along with her personal experiences!
Check out Premier Inn to search out their saver charges which can be found when reserving immediately via Premier Inn.
The way to get there
I like to recommend driving – even when it means hiring a automobile for the weekend.
You’ll be able to simply get the practice to Chester from all around the UK however for the Snowdonia a part of the journey it’s a lot simpler for those who drive your self. For those who’ve received loads time, then you could possibly additionally take public transport from Chester. A combination of trains and buses will take you all over the place you have to be, it’s simply going to take you twice as lengthy and Sunday companies may be unreliable.
What to do – Day 1
Spend your first day in Chester.
It’s a small metropolis so it’s good for those who’ve solely received in the future. You received’t really feel rushed or such as you’ve missed seeing one thing actually necessary. Get some cozy sneakers on and take a sluggish stroll via this lovely metropolis.
Listed here are a few of my favorite issues to do in Chester and you may learn my full information to 100 issues to do in Chester right here.
- Stroll alongside the river and get an ice cream from one of many many distributors
- Stroll via the park and feed the squirrels – they’re amazingly tame so take some nuts with you. Take a look at the Roman ruins and the Roman amphitheatre.
- Eat at Hickory’s Smokehouse for probably the most unbelievable ribs you’ve ever tasted in your life (reserving advisable)
- Stroll alongside the Roman partitions
- Go to the cathedral
- Store within the cute little outlets alongside the Chester Rows. There are outlets on the bottom ground and extra outlets above them. These rows are distinctive to Chester and nowhere else on this planet has them like this. You’ll find them alongside Watergate Road, Northgate Road, Eastgate Road and Bridge Road and a few date again to the 13th Century.
- Take a photograph of the Eastgate Clock, a gorgeous turret clock on the traditional partitions. It is usually mentioned to be probably the most photographed clock in England after Large Ben.
- Have afternoon tea at The Grosvenor. It’s pricy however so price it!
- For a extra reasonably priced possibility, head to Beaton’s Tearooms and Bookshop subsequent to the cathedral.
- Head to Purple Door for late evening cocktails
What to do – Day 2
In your second day, rise up early and feast on the resort breakfast earlier than hitting the street in the direction of Snowdonia. You’re going to need your satnav for this half as you head in the direction of the little village of Betws-y-Coed.
Take a stroll across the village and take a look at the numerous outlets and artwork galleries. For those who’re feeling peckish (already!) then I like to recommend selecting up some tasty do-it-yourself snacks on the bakery hooked up to the Spar. There’s additionally an incredible chippy simply subsequent to the bridge and you may take your meals and eat it subsequent to the river.
Then head to Swallow Falls waterfall which is somewhat additional alongside previous Betws-y-Coed.
After Betws-y-Coed, head to Pen-y-Go which is without doubt one of the places the place you’ll be able to start a stroll up Snowdon. I like to recommend taking the Pyg Observe because it’s the shortest and best route at 5.5km and 800m incline. The stroll up takes about 3 hours however even for those who solely stroll for an hour and switch round you’ll nonetheless be handled to lovely views and a stunning little stroll.
A better option to get to the summit of Snowdon is to take the Snowdon Mountain Railway (closed within the winter) the place you’ll be handled to all of the views with out all the hassle.
Even for those who don’t fancy mountain climbing, I nonetheless advocate driving round this space and absorbing the epic surroundings.
From Pen-y-Go carpark, I drove again all the way down to the primary street and in the direction of Llyn Gwynant Campsite. It is a beautiful campsite I’ve stayed at a number of occasions so for those who fancy a brief break with lovely views then I like to recommend a fast cease right here. This was January so there was nobody round however within the peak summer season months it’s chocker and you might must pay the £4.00 day charge they promote for day guests. There’s a woodfired pizza oven van right here in the summertime that I completely advocate attempting!
The subsequent cease in your tour of Snowdonia takes you to a different fairly little village referred to as Beddgelert. It is a gorgeous village surrounded by mountains with a number of pretty pubs, eating places, tea rooms, present outlets and an incredible ice cream store. The Saracens Head is nice for conventional pub meals or attempt Beddgelert Bistro and Antiques for one of the best afternoon tea with Welsh bara brith.
There’s a stroll that takes you alongside the river that’s lovely on a stunning day. Simply 10 minutes into the stroll you’ll be able to go to the well-known grave of Gelert from the medieval Welsh legend. Now, there are a number of variations of this story so I’m going to let you know the one I used to be advised as a baby.
Gelert was the trustworthy hound of Prince Llewelyn the Nice and he was the bravest and most loving canine you could possibly want for. He was light however sturdy and Value Llewelyn trusted him a lot that when he went out looking he left his new child son underneath the watch of Gelert.
Someday, Gelert was taking care of the newborn when a wolf entered their dwelling and tried to assault the newborn. Gelert fought the canine and risked his life to guard the newborn. After a fierce battle, Gelert received the battle and the intruder was killed. However, as you’ll be able to think about, they made a good previous mess and there was blood all over the place! Prince Llewelyn returned from looking and heard barking and snarling and located his child boy on the ground of his dwelling lined in blood. He presumed the newborn was useless and when he seemed to Gelert and noticed he was lined in blood. The prince instantly withdrew his sword and killed his Gelert. Simply because the canine fell to the bottom his child awoke and giggled and smiled in his father’s path. On the identical second, Prince Llewelyn seen the intruding canine mendacity useless on the bottom and realised what Gelert had executed.
Nevertheless it was too late and Prince Llewelyn had murdered his courageous and constant canine.
OK, that is the purpose the place 10 yr previous me would burst into tears and the considered his poor canine mendacity useless on the ground.
It appears I’m not the one one who was affected by this tragic story and folks journey from throughout to see Gelert’s grave and the stays of their dwelling.
After your stroll to Gelert’s grave, head again into the village for an ice cream to cheer your self up!
For those who’ve received time at this level, I’d advocate making your last cease of the day in Harlech or presumably Nefyn.
Harlech Seashore is totally gorgeous and you can even go to the fort right here. Nefyn is one other agency favorite and the Ty Coch Inn pub on the seashore was named one of many high 10 seashore bars on this planet. Sure, the world! (You park on the golf membership and stroll throughout the golf course to succeed in it.)
Photograph taken final summer season in Harlech
One other one taken final summer season (though you’d by no means comprehend it from these clouds!)
And that’s how you could have an ideal weekend in Chester and North Wales.
I partnered with Premier Inn to write down this submit however, as at all times, all thought and opinions are fully my very own.
