What's so special about Conwy?
I've lived in North Wales for 8 years now and whilst many
non-natives tend to gravitate towards Anglesey, coming from South
Wales means I'll always be a mainland girl at heart. Give me
rolling green fields with a stunning mountain backdrop any day of
the week!
Conwy is one of my absolute favourite towns in North Wales; it's
bustling year-round, it's not short of an event or two throughout
the year and there's always something new to draw me back. Sound
interesting? Read on for more!
Food and drink
If you've read my blog posts before (hello there!), you'll know
that one of my favourite ways to relax is to eat great food and
round it off with a tipple of the hoppy variety. If a tasty meal
and a good drink appeals, then there are plenty of places for me to
recommend to you.
The Bank of Conwy is a fairly new addition to
Conwy's many drinking-holes. It has a relaxed atmosphere and a fair
selection of craft beers available which are complimented perfectly
by their delightful tapas. If beer isn't your thing, fear not
because there is a good wine list too (soft drinks are of course
available!). The Albion is incredibly popular, not surprising given
it's featured in the CAMRA Good Pub Guide! It's a must-visit for
beer and real ale fans, but expect to queue at the bar in the
summer months and during events, such as the Conwy Feast. There's a
fire to cosy up to on a rainy winter's day, but don't expect food
here - it's bar snacks only!
If you want to treat yourselves, there is more than just pub
grub on offer! There's a restaurant called Shakespeare inside The
Castle Hotel which serves full meals (not just Tapas and bar
snacks!) and there's a little hidden gem calledWatson's Bistro which has the perfect
marriage of a friendly and relaxed atmosphere with mouth-watering
dishes. Whilst I'm referred to in the office as 'a bit of a
foodie', I'm not a stuffy bistro sort of girl, so Watson's is right
up my street! I can also recommend The Mulberry - whilst it's part
of a chain, they do have a fantastic selection of beers (yes,
sorry, more beer talk!) and on a sunny summer's day sitting outside
on the decking, looking out over the harbour is an absolute delight
- the only catch is, it's not in the centre of the town and
slightly outside of it.
Things to do
I couldn't talk about Conwy without mentioning the Castle! As
someone who has a Masters in History (very relevant for a Marketing
Manager, I think you'll find…) I've been to countless castles over
the years and Conwy is definitely in my top 5! The views across the
harbour, town and water are utterly stunning, whether it's in the
sunshine of summer, or on a crisp November day.
If castles and history don't inspire you, then there are
some fabulous walks to be had! There's a lovely walk that you can
enjoy on the flat which takes you past the castle and alongside the
harbour - if you want to go further, you can actually do the
circular coastal route which is 18 miles in total. To find out more
about the walk, visit the Sustrans website here.
Events
There are so many great events going on in Conwy, it's hard to
list them all! There most famous event has to be the Conwy
Feast which takes place every year in October; I honestly
can't recommend this foodie, art and music event enough! Myself and
my friends take a pilgrimage to it every year to stock up on all
sorts of fresh produce including chutneys, cheeses, specialty
meats...and of course, spirits and beer (I promise I don't have a
problem!). It's the perfect time to pick up some unusual Christmas
gifts - not only do they have food and drink, but lovely craft
items to spend those hard-earned pennies on too. The event this
year is this coming weekend - Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd of
October. Don't miss out!
If you like crafts, there's often a craft fair in St. John's
Church Hall (located opposite the main Pay and Display car park in
Conwy) - keep an eye on their Facebook page for upcoming dates.
We've got some cracking holiday cottages in
and around the Conwy Valley area, so if a trip to this part of the
world appeals, take a look at our cottages in the region right
here.