Back Roads Great Britain (Eyewitness Travel Back Roads)

156

Above The highest waterfall in Wales, Swallow

Falls, Betws-y-Coed

VISITING BETWS-Y-COED

Snowdonia National Park

Information Centre

Royal Oak Stables, LL24 0AH;

01690 710 426

Adventure Activities

For rock climbing and canyoning

activities, including lessons, try Seren

Ventures (Treetop Lodge, LL24 0HA;

01690 710 754; http://www.serenventures.

com); for tree-top activities, suitable

for all ages, contact Tree Top

Adventure (Ffridd Rhedyn, Llanrwst

Road, LL24 0HA UK; 01690 710 914;

http://www.ttadventure.co.uk).

w Betws-y-Coed

Conwy; LL24

The principal village in the Snowdonia

National Park, Betws-y-Coed, the

“prayer house in the wood”, is a

popular tourist spot along with the

nearby Swallow Falls, the highest

continuous waterfall in

Wales. Nestled in a wooded

valley at the confluence of

the rivers Conwy, Llugwy and

Lledr, it is well-appointed

with galleries, cafés, shops,

pubs and hotels. Its oldest

building is the 14th-century

St Michael’s Church with a

stone effigy of Gruffydd ap

Dafydd Goch, related to

Llywelyn, the last free Welsh

Prince of Wales. It is ideally

situated for walks into the gorgeous

countryside with rivers, pools and

e Trefriw Woollen Mills

Conwy; LL27 0NQ

Established in 1859 and run ever since

by the Williams family, Trefriw Woollen

Mills (open daily; 01492 640 462; http://www.t-

w-m.co.uk) use 50-year-old machines

and do their own blending, spinning

dying and weaving. The mill is best

known for its traditional Welsh, double-

weave blankets. There is a weavers’

garden with a display of the plants

which provide fibres, soap and natural

dyes and, in the summer, there are

hand-spinning and weaving

demonstrations. Walk or

drive on the road, alongside

the river that supplies the

mill, to the lakes of Llyn

Geirionydd and Llyn

Crafnant. There’s a café

beside Llyn Crafnant with

great cakes and ice cream.

ª Turn right out of car park

to leave Trefriw on B5106

north to Conwy, and pass

through break in city wall. At

the roundabout, turn left into Rose Hill

Street and park next to the castle.

Below left Betwys-y-Coed, nestled in a deep wooded valley at the confluence of three rivers

BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN

Where to Stay: inexpensive, under £80; moderate, £80–£150; expensive, over £150

WHERE TO STAY

AROUND BETWS-Y-COED

St Curig’s Church inexpensive

Snuggle up in this cosy converted

church about 8 km (5 miles) west on

the A5. There are original stained-glass

windows, and a hot tub in the garden.

Capel Curig, LL24 0EL; 01690 720 469;

http://www.stcurigschurch.com

Pengwern Guesthouse moderate

Enjoy friendly Welsh-speaking hosts and

immaculate, individually furnished

rooms at this country house, a short

distance south on the A5. Local produce

for breakfast, free Wi-fi and fine views.

Allt Dinas, LL24 0HF; 01690 710 480;

http://www.snowdoniaaccommodation.co.uk

CONWY

Sychnant Pass House

moderate–expensive

Situated about 3 km (2 miles) west of

Conwy this is a friendly and relaxed

country guesthouse, with comfortable

rooms, highly rated food, and a

swimming pool and hot tub.

Sychnant Pass Rd, LL32 8BJ; 01492 596

868; http://www.sychnant-pass-house.co.uk

Traditional designs at

Trefriw Woollen Mills

waterfalls and dense mountain woods.

Several walks start from the ancient

stone Pont-y-Pair bridge, built in 1468,

in the town centre. Those looking for

more extreme activities can go rock

climbing, abseiling or canyoning, or

try clambering around an adventure

obstacle course among the tree tops.

ª From the car park, take B5106

north to Trefriw. Park across the road

from the mills by the war memorial.