What could be better than spending a sunny day touring the coast of North Wales? Look out at the glorious beaches, rugged welsh mountains and breathe in that fresh sea air. The route from Chester to Holyhead is particularly scenic, so to make the most of this we’ve broken down some gorgeous spots to stop at.
Chester to Talacre Driving from Chester to Talacre will take about 51 minutes (or 23.5 miles) along the main coastal route. You will be driving north just across the water from the Wirral. When you reach Talacre you will be at the same height as Hoylake, just on the Welsh side of the Dee estuary. Talacre itself has some impressive sand dunes, and is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Talacre to Llandudno The second leg of the journey will take you 26 miles from Talacre to Llandudno. This stretch is packed full of attractions to keep you entertained, including the beaches at Rhyl and Prestatyn, ice cream parlours and more arcade machines than you will ever have time to play on. For culture vultures there is a castle at Colwyn Bay (2), whilst at Llandudno itself you can walk along the pier or take in the sights in one of the famous cable cars.
Llandudno to Bangor About 24 miles later you will arrive in the city of Bangor. Your journey will take you next to Snowdonia National Park, an area of outstanding beauty that can be explored if you wish to have a break from the coastal route. Bangor is one of the smallest cities in Britain, and boasts its own mountain and pier.
Bangor to Holyhead Once you cross the bridge you can either travel along the A55 to Holyhead, or continue making your way to Holyhead near the coast. If you travel along the south you will be able to explore some quieter beaches than Rhyl or Prestatyn. You will need to go over another bridge to get to Bangor as it isn’t on the same island as Anglesey. From here, you could get on a ferry to Dublin or Dun Laoghaire and explore Ireland if you wanted!
References (1) BBC. (2010). Talacre Dunes. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/sites/beaches/pages/talacre_dunes.shtml (2) Welsh Mountain Zoo. (2010). Home. http://www.welshmountainzoo.org/zoo/eng/home.html
Hannah Warder writes for MediaVest (Manchester) on a number of topics including car insurance in the UK.
