Big House on the hill

Journal

Wild WAles Journal

After so long using our free time to explore North Wales, we thought it about time we share some of incredible places we’ve discovered. There’s nothing quite like being a local tourist, especially when there’s so much right on your doorstep. Not all of these places are near the house, but they’re all in North Wales. For things super near the house to do please see our ‘In the Area’ page.

 

Conwy Falls and Fairy Glen

 

There’s a lot to be said for not reading Tripadvisor. If I had I wouldn’t have visited Conwy Falls and Fairy Glen, and would have seriously missed out!

I am sure it can get wildly busy, but we visited on a day when there was lots going on elsewhere, and as such it was really quiet. The Conwy Falls cafe is in a lovely 1930s building designed by local designer Clough Williams-Ellis, and there’s reasonable amounts of parking.

The walk is a short relatively easy loop, and provided you’ve remembered your bank card for the £2 turnstile at the entrance (fail), it’s stress free!

The woodland had just burst into leaf when we visited in early May so the bright green was almost surreal. The path winds down to a viewing place where you can sit and look at the falls in the gentle forest light. There are 10 acres of woodland, that have been designated a site of special scientific interest, and even to the untrained eye its easy to see why.

The loop walk brings you back up to the cafe, and after an ice cream you can either drive the short distance to Fairy Glen and park. We chose to walk between the two, which took about 30 minutes. The walk to Fairy Glen starts at the corner of the Conwy Falls carpark and follows the woodland path down to rolling farmland. The return walk took us slightly longer due to the incline!

The entrance to Fairy Glen is marked by an honesty box and covered entrance, and after ensuring we put the right money in the box (£4 I think!) we walked the loop taking in the beautiful falls, river and woodland. The falls are beautiful, and the immense scale of the rocks they run over are worthy of a spot in many a fairytale. There’s something incredible about the untouched and unglazed woodland along the river - we spotted so many different plants and wildlife. The walk is steep with no handrails or steps really, so be prepared and take extra care, especially in wet weather. It’s most definitely worth the scramble though!

Notes:

  • £2 Entry / Free Parking (at Conwy Falls), and small charge for entry at Fairy Glen

  • No WCs or facilities at Fairy Glen

  • Walking both took around 2.5hrs in total.

  • Distance: approx 1.2hrs from the house.

  • Ideal day out tied in with a wander around the picturesque town of Betws-y-Coed.

 
Emily Tyers