castle
Conwy Castle
A medieval fortification built by Edward I during his conquest of Wales, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
7 km · about 15 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomWales
Colwyn Bay
Wales, United Kingdom · Europe
About Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay works well as a base: 10 minutes from Llysfaen, 18km from Llyn Eigiau.
Colwyn Bay is in Wales, United Kingdom, with about 29,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Llysfaen, about 4 km away.
Colwyn Bay (/ˈkɒlwɪn/; Welsh: Bae Colwyn [ˈbai ˈkɔlʊɨn] ) is a town, community and seaside resort in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales overlooking the Irish Sea. It lies within the historic county boundaries of Denbighshire. At the 2021 census, the community had a population of 10,576, and the built upRead more
area had a population of 29,275. According to the tourist board, it is renowned for its 4.8 kilometre long sandy beach which has been enhanced with millions of tonnes of sand, so therefore 'man-made' and its permanently available irrespective of the tides.
Where to Stay in Colwyn Bay
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Colwyn Bay?
Within an hour or so of Colwyn Bay: Conwy Castle (7 km), Bodnant Garden (8 km), Great Orme Marine Drive (10 km), Llyn Eigiau (18 km).
Are there any good drives near Colwyn Bay?
The nearest famous roads are Great Orme Marine Drive, A5 Betws-y-Coed to Bangor (Telford's Holyhead Road) and Evo Triangle.
Where is Colwyn Bay?
Colwyn Bay is in Wales, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Llysfaen.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 29,275
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Wales
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 53.2948, -3.7267
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Colwyn Bay
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Bodnant Garden
One of the finest gardens in the UK, famous for its spectacular laburnum arch in late spring and terraced gardens above the Conwy Valley.
8 km · about 15 min drive
coastal drive
Great Orme Marine Drive
One-way Victorian toll road looping 4 miles around the cliffs of the Great Orme headland at Llandudno, with sheer limestone drops, seabirds and views to Anglesey and the Irish Sea.
10 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Llyn Eigiau
A Carneddau reservoir whose dam failed catastrophically in 1925, flooding Dolgarrog; the breach is still visible.
18 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Llyn Geirionydd
A lake above the Conwy Valley in the Gwydir Forest, the only Snowdonia lake permitting powered watersports, with a monument to the poet Taliesin.
20 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Llyn Cowlyd
Snowdonia's deepest lake, a remote reservoir in a stark trough between the Carneddau and Creigiau Gleision, reached only on foot.
20 km · about 25 min drive
waterfall
Aber Falls (Rhaeadr Fawr)
A 37m fall at the head of a wooded valley near Abergwyngregyn, an easy walk from the car park on the Carneddau's northern edge.
20 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Llyn Crafnant
A tree-fringed lake in a quiet valley above Trefriw, with a lakeside path and cafe and a fine view to Crimpiau.
21 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Colwyn Bay
10 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 60km.
- Right hereGreat Orme Marine DriveOne-way Victorian toll road looping 4 miles around the cliffs of the Great Orme headland at Llandudno, with sheer limestone drops, seabirds and views to Anglesey and the Irish Sea.
- 22 kmCarnedd LlewelynAt 1,064m the third-highest peak in Wales, at the heart of the wild, rolling Carneddau plateau with its wild ponies.
- 26 kmA5 Betws-y-Coed to Bangor (Telford's Holyhead Road)Thomas Telford's engineered coach road through the Ogwen Valley beneath Tryfan, a masterclass in gradients and one of Britain's great drives.
- 27 kmLlyn OgwenA shallow ribbon lake on the A5 in the Ogwen Valley beneath Tryfan, said in legend to hold Excalibur; the gateway to Cwm Idwal.
- 28 kmGlyder Fach and the Cantilever StoneA 994m summit crowned by a shattered field of rock spikes and the famous balanced Cantilever slab.
- 29 kmEvo TriangleLegendary 20-mile loop of the A5, A543 and B4501 across the empty Denbigh Moors, made famous as evo magazine's road-test circuit. Fast, open sightlines past Llyn Brenig make it a pilgrimage for keen drivers.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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