Since I am having little luck finding availabilty in the hotels I am interested in near St. Ives, I am considering an alternative trip to North Wales instead. I would like to travel without a car and yet still be able to get around to Snowdonia, Angelsey,Conwy, and the several northern castles. Can someone help me with advice regarding the best hub with a great hotel or B and B close to restaurants, ferries, buses, trains etc. and ON the seafront? Would Beaumaris be a good location?

Thank you in advance for any help.

Mary

Hello Again,
I can refer you to a super b and b but it's not really feasible without a car:

Plas Tan yr Allt.
Caernarfon is probably a good bet but do ask the Tourist Office for help:
here.

There is a newish upmarket marketing group for Wales accomm. When I can remember the name of it I will post you a link!
Here it is!
We stayed just outside Conway recently in a beautiful cottage on the Bodnant Estate. It was quite close to Llandudno which we were impressed with. The town might make a good base for touring N Wales.

Wales is not as fashionable as Cornwall so you might have more luck but I am sorry you have given up on a trip to Cornwall.
Wendy

Mary,

I second the suggestion of going to the official Welsh tourist site. We found it very helpful a few years back when we took a similar route and had a very enjoyable time. This is a good one to use for visiting castles in Wales also.

I, too, though, think it would be difficult to get around to all the places you'd like to visit without a car. Would you reconsider?

Ann

There is an excellent and frequent rail service running along the coast from Chester to Holyhead (this is for teh Irish ferries). So if you are happy to do Conwy, Caenarfon, Bangor,Llandudno and destinations to Holyhead, no problem. However, anything that is not on the rail route will be difficult - but not impossible.

Rail timetable

Bus timetable Gwynedd

Julie

Julie doesn't mention the branch line from Llandudno Junction (on 'her' line) to Blaenau Ffestiniog, where you can connect with the delightful preserved Ffestiniog Railway to Portmadog and form there to the line from Pyllheli to Shrewsbury. That makes Llandudno a pretty fair base - but Caernarvon would make a good centre, although I don't like it much except for the castle.

David,
Both Richard and I agree with you Carnarvon is not an attractive town, castle aside. We were disappointed when we visited last Easter at it's lack of facilities for visitors. The town was "closed" at 7 pm on Easter Monday. Quite extraordinary as, if I remember correctly the castle forms part of a world heritage site?
Wendy