North Wales Explorer - Coast & Gardens

REVISED FOR 2026 - Stay in lovely Llandudno, one of the most popular seaside resorts in North Wales. 'The Queen of Welsh Resorts' is the perfect base for touring this lovely region with its many top quality visitor attractions and stunning scenery. Discover the hidden gardens of Plas Cadnant and the world-famous Bodnant Gardens, home to national collections and champion tress. Take time out in charming Conwy and beautiful Beaumaris as of course, enjoy the beautiful seafront at Llandudno, perfectly framed between the Great and Little Orme headlands. To complement the view there is a wonderful promenade along the Blue Flag beach and the longest pier in Wales (2295 feet, 700 metres).Holiday Highlights
- Hotel for 4 nights in Llandudno with dinner & breakfast- Porterage- Entertainment some evenings- Tea / coffee after dinner - Entrance to Bodnant Gardens- Entrance to Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens- Light lunch with tea / coffee at Plas Cadnant Gardens- Visits to the Isle of Anglesey & Conwy- Day at leisure in Llandudno

North Wales Explorer
Day 1 - Join your tour coach and head to North Wales with comfort stops en route. Arrive in Llandudno and check into the welcoming 3* Marlborough Hotel with dinner, bed & breakfast for 4 nights.\n\nDay 2 - 4 At leisure in Llandudno with two included excursions and a full day at leisure in resort\n\nWhilst in Llandudno you may like to take a ride on the Great Orme Tramway, Britain's only funicular, or cable-hauled, tramway that travels on public roads, opened in 1902. The Tramway climbs a mile (1500m) through the Great Orme Country Park and Nature Reserve to the Great Orme's spectacular summit. The lovingly restored original tramcars are each named after a Saint. (Fare not included - runs throughout the summer). You may like to take a stroll to the 19th-century public gardens at Happy Valley, situated on the east side of the Great Orme, and which afford wide views over Llandudno Bay. Features include a limestone rockery, a colonnaded walk and a newly-restored camera obscura. Llandudno is also home to a new distillery on Lloyd Street, producing award-winning Penderyn whisky (one hour tour from £13.50 - £15 pp in 2025 - advanced booking recommended)\n\nINCLUDED EXCURSIONS\nThe Isle of Anglesey & Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens\nCross the glistening Menai Straits to 'Ynys Mon' (the Isle of Anglesey). You can't miss the Menai Suspension Bridge, built by Thomas Telford and opened in 1826. It was the first modern suspension bridge in the world and it connects the mainland to Menai Town. Make a stop at Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll and then onto the elegant seaside town of Beaumaris, fronted by its superb 13th century moated castle. The town has a captivating mix of medieval, Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Take a walk through the town, starting with a stroll along the seafront, taking in the pier and the views over the Menai Strait and Snowdonia then continuing through the charming streets with their picturesque cottages, many painted in soft pastel colours.\n\nContinue to what has been described as one of North Wales best kept secrets, the hidden world of Plas Cadnant Gardens. Enjoy an included soup & sandwich lunch on arrival before discovering three different gardens including an unusual walled garden with curving walls and pool, a secret valley garden with three waterfalls and river and an upper woodland garden with stone outcrops and the remains of a 19C folly. The Walled Garden is mainly flat with gravel paths whilst the Valley Garden has some steep slopes.\n\nBodnant Gardens & Conwy\nBodnant is one of the UK's most beautiful and famous gardens, spanning 80 acres above the River Conwy. Created over 150 years, with plants collected and brought to Britain from far afield, and the incredible vision of generations of the McLaren family and Puddle head gardeners, this haven of rarity and beauty with a stunning backdrop of the Carneddau mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) is a delight for the senses. You can enjoy a wide range of interesting and beautiful plants from all over the world that are suited to the Welsh climate and soil. There are formal gardens, shrub-filled glades, meadows and woods, dells and water gardens as well as historic plant collections. Admission included. There are steep paths and many steps within the garden but the accessible route takes you on a 1.5km walk to see the formal gardens with views across the valley and down to the river while avoiding all steps.\n\nHead back to Llandudno by way of the historic town of Conwy with its epic World Heritage-listed castle which dominates the town. The medieval town walls are amongst the most complete in Britain and Thomas Telford's elegant 1826 suspension bridge was one of the first of its kind in the world. Look out for the smallest house in Britain - known as the Quay House, this red painted one up one down measures only 3.05m x 1.83m (10 x 6ft). Conwy Morfa beach is a large sandy bay, with a marina that is well worth a look,\n\nDay 5 - After breakfast head back to interchange and onward to your home towns.Marlborough Hotel, Llandudno New for 2026
The family run 3* Marlborough Hotel is located on the town's South Parade, just opposite the Floral Clock and Llandudno Cenotaph and just a few minutes' walk from the central shopping area. \n\nIt is a small, modernised hotel with a friendly atmosphere. \n\nThe 40 en-suite guestrooms feature flat screen TV, hairdryer and well as tea / coffee making facilities. \n\nThere is entertainment most evenings in the lounge wth the bar and restaurant all located on one step-free level. \n\nThere is a lift to all floors and some rooms with walk-in showers