Taking a step back into the past, from myth and legend ... to real lives and history
Mighty Caernarfon Castle’s sheer scale and commanding presence sets it apart from the rest. Begun by Edward I in 1283 during his conquest of Wales, the castle was constructed not only as a military stronghold but also as a seat of government.

Its unique polygonal towers, intimidating battlements and colour-banded walls echoed Constantinople, the imperial power of Rome and the dream-castle, ‘the fairest that ever man saw’, of Welsh myth and legend.

Slate splitting looks easy but is not: one of the slate industry tasks that were never successfully mechanised. Deep in Llechwedd Slate Caverns, holes were pounded out of the rock by men using steel rods then packed with gunpowder for blasting, and trucks laden with slate were pushed along rails by men and horses. Take a trip underground to learn more about the miner’s life and then wander through the Victorian village with its ‘Old Bank’, smithy, lockup and historic narrow gauge railway wagons.

Step back in time and visit The Great Orme Tramway which has been delighting visitors since it opened on July 31st, 1902. An engineering marval of its age, it's the only cable-hauled tramway still operating on British public roads. At the Halfway Station exhibition, discover the history of this fascinating funicular tramway - then enjoy the spectacular ride to the top!"

All the Ten Top Attractions have well stocked shops. Pick up a memento of your North Wales visit, buy presents for friends – or simply treat yourself!
Taking time to browse or shop ... and time to eat, drink and relax
Tweedmill Factory Outlets is at the gateway to the Vale of Clwyd by St Asaph, one of UK’s smallest cathedral cities. Its setting is delightful, with adequate free parking. Shopping has never been so easy: all under one roof you will find branded lines, with every type of outfit for him and her plus a large gift and home accessories department, all with savings of up to 50% on normal high street prices.

Tweedmill’s two award-winning fully licensed cafés have south facing patios for sunny days: 'Drapers' serves freshly prepared meals at lunchtime; teas, coffees and snacks at each end of the day. The 'Warehouse Café' is self-service, serving tea, coffee and light meals throughout the day. Their high standards of cuisine and hospitality have been commended by Les Routiers.

The motto ‘Cherish the Past, Adorn the Present, Construct for the Future’ inspired the 50-year transformation of a Welsh ‘wilderness’ into one of the world’s most remarkable villages … Portmeirion. Today, ten years after its designation as a ‘Conservation Area‘, stroll around the inspiring buildings and the beautiful gardens, calling in at some of the seven shops (and the Dome Gallery and a beauty salon too).

The restaurants and places to take refreshment include the Hotel, Castell Deudraeth Bar & Grill, the Town Hall self-service restaurant and Cadwaladers ice cream parlour (closed in winter). The Hotel Portmeirion has rooms and suites in the cottages and the Castell, as well as in the main hotel.
Pili Palas has its Chipmunk Café. The Welsh Mountain Zoos’ Safari Restaurant and Flagstaff Café offer hot and cold food and there are many picnic areas are to be found around the Zoo grounds. The Trading Post is the Zoo’s extensively stocked shop, full of zoo and animal related items for sale. Having taken the Mountain Railway up Snowdon enjoy unsurpassed views from the highest café in Wales and England.
At Bodnant Garden relax in a cedar-shingled refreshment pavilion; a plant centre and gift shop adjoins the garden. Caernarfon Castle’s stylish shop offers a wide range, from educational materials to Welsh gold jewellery and pottery … and in the village pub at Llechwedd Slate Caverns spend some re-minted Victorian pennies to buy a pint of ale!
shopping has never been so easy

Magical glimpses of Welsh wildlife, the flora and fauna of the Welsh countryside has a far wider range than you might expect!
wildlife from wales and beyond
Magical glimpses of Welsh wildlife are found throughout the Welsh Mountain Zoo including red squirrels, pine martens, golden eagles and fallow deer, whilst the natural Zoo is home to badgers, and many species of small mammals and wild birds.

Spring and summer see vivid splashes of colour throughout the Zoo with the blooming of many rare and unusual plants and flowers both native to North Wales and provided from expeditions to far-flung corners of the planet. From its hilltop perch the Zoo is a superb vantage point to observe the old and new course of the Conwy estuary, seeing the impact of Ice Age glaciation.

The flora and fauna of the Welsh countryside has a far wider range than you might expect! Pili Palas/Butterfly Palace & Nature World is Wales’s premier showcase for free-flying tropical butterflies. This ‘zoo in miniature’ offers something different around every corner: industrious leafcutting ants and ‘creepy crawlies’ that are enthralling to observe close-up: millipedes, cockroaches and scorpions, water dragons, iguanas and huge snakes. There are birds and small mammals too.

Important National Collections are held at Bodnant Garden: Magnolias, Eucryphias, Rhododendron forrestii and Embothriums. Magnificent specimens of native and introduced trees abound, including the UK’s largest Giant Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). Terrace Gardens, including the graceful Canal with a Mill at one end and an open air stage at the other, and a lily pond (flanked by two magnificent cedars) are among many interesting features.

The Dell Garden is a tranquil place with sunlight filtering through towering trees and the river winding its way seawards. At Portmeirion the buildings are linked by delightful gardens and trees, and Y Gwyllt is a display woodland with paths among lakes, choice trees and dense vegetation.
woodland tranquility and life beneath the waves

Ten Top Attractions - each with a thousand tales to tell!
GreenWood Forest Park visitor centre was built using 400 year old methods: its green oak frames are held together by 500 hand made pegs. The Crocodile board-walk maze is Britain's longest.

Snowdon Mountain Railway is Britain's only public rack and pinion railway. At 3,493 feet it's by far the highest. A steam locomotive's journey to the summit uses 400 gallons of water.

Bodnant Garden's Pin Mill is a lovely open-fronted building with an unexpected history. It began life in Gloucester and was dismantled brick by brick to be re-built here on the Canal Terrace.

Pili Palas Butterfly Palace & Nature World. Reticulated pythons (the longest of all snakes) like to live near villages hunting for chickens and pigs. Sometimes children are on the menu too!

Portmeirion Village & Gardens: Castell Deudraethwas first built by two 12th century princes of Meirionnydd. Today, all Portmeirion's buildings are listed, even the corrugated iron garages!

Caernarfon had been one of the historic centres of Britain long before its castle was built in 1283. More than a thousand years earlier this was the site of the Roman fort of Segontium Tweedmill Factory Outlet: Textiles were the most important of the Welsh craft industries. Tweedmill was the country's last working weaving mill, only ceasing production in 1999.

The Welsh Mountain Zoo’s Education Department is developing to meet the needs of modern environmental thinking, catering for schools, families and individual visitors. A wide variety of worksheets and learning sessions are available from the Zoo’s full time Education Officer. Our Education Centre provides an opportunity to get to grips with an array of fascinating animal artefacts.

Zoo goers can find valuable information about the animals on enclosure signs, by listening to keeper talks or by joining one of the guided walks conducted by a Zoo volunteer. The Welsh Mountain Zoo aims to raise public interest and awareness of the natural world. This will create a respect and concern for animals and their habitats which in turn will help to motivate visitors and mobilise resources for conservation.

Llechwedd Slate Caverns: The sizes of roofing slate take their names from ladies titles ... so, for example, 24x12 inches is a Duchess and 20x10 is a Countess. The largest is a Princess: 24x14.

"100 years ago, the Great Orme Tramway transported goods as well as passengers - even coffins for burial at St. Tudno's church. Mouners were charged the full fare, plus a fee for the coffin!"