North Wales
North Wales has some of the best beaches in the country and for those living in Birmingham, Liverpool or Manchester, they are really easy to access. Forget tacky seaside towns, these seaside places are traditional and some even have Punch and Judy shows.
Think culture, history, archaeology, forest, coast and water. North Wales ticks all the boxes.
The most popular cities in North Wales are Llandudno, Wrexham, Caernarfon and Bangor along with Conwy, Betws-Coed and Porthmadog and Holyhead.
With more than 600 castles in Wales (more per square meter than anywhere in the world) and an 870-mile winding path around the entire coast of Wales, you’re never too far from a spectacular historical monument or a beautiful sandy beach. None more so than in North Wales which also proudly boasts to being home to Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales. Be it these magnificent sites or the chance to go puffin spotting, there’s plenty to see and do for everyone in North Wales.
What to see and do in North Wales:
- Snowdonia National Park – is an area of 823 square miles of beautiful landscapes. Choose to hike to the 1085 metre summit of Snowdon or take the more leisurely Snowdon Mountain Railway to experience spectacular views over Snowdonia National Park. Within the National Park you’ll find many picture postcard villages, such as Beddgelert, Betws y Coed and Blaenau Ffestiniog where you can take a historic steam train along Ffestiniog Railway, the world’s oldest narrow gauge railway, to Porthmadog.
- Llyn Peninsula – a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is sometimes referred to as ‘Snowdon’s Arm’. This beautifully rugged peninsular stretches down to the coast to reveal the picturesque village of Llanbedrog and bustling town of Pwllheli among many others. Here you’ll also find the unexpected Italianate village of Portmeirion, a cluster of cottages, stunning gardens and shops extending down to the spectacular Victorian Portmeirion Hotel.Some of the best beaches on the Llyn Peninsula include Porth Ceiriad, Aberdaron and Whistling Sands.
- Caernarfon Castle – along with the other castles of Edward I, Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech, Caernarfon is grouped as a World Heritage Site. Caernarfon Castle stands fortress over Caernarfon town and is one of the most marvelled castles in the UK. In 1969, was host to the investiture of Prince Charles, the current Prince of Wales.
- Mining history of North Wales: North Wales was a rich and valuable resource for gold, silver, copper, lead, coal and slate. Explore this underground history at Llechwedd Slate Caverns, Sygun Copper Mine, or Great Orme Mines, Llandudno.
- Pontcysyllte Aqueduct – Pontcysyllte ‘the bridge that connects’, carries the Llangollen Canal across the River Dee. It is the longest aqueduct in Britain and the highest aqueduct in the world. Choose to navigate along the canal or walk alongside the water over this truly remarkable achievement of the industrial revolution.
- Isle of Anglesey – cross the imposing Menai Suspension Bridge to the Isle of Anglesey for a chance to go puffin spotting along with many other birds near the cliffs at the lighthouse of South Stack. Anglesey also delivers Plas Newydd House & Gardens, a beautiful National Trust site as well as the imposing Beaumaris Castle. Get your tongue around the longest place name in Europe (second longest in the world), namely ‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch’, often shortened more conveniently to Llanfair PG or Llanfairpwll. A highly popular stop on the trainline to Holyhead. On Anglesey, you’ll also find some of the most beautiful beaches, such as Aberffraw Traeth Mawr, Sixpenny and Rhosneigr Beach.
- Bala Lake ‘Llyn Tegid’ – this hugely popular lake is the largest natural lake in Wales at over 4 miles long and a mile at its widest point. Perfect for fishing and for many water sports or take a guided walk around the lake to learn more about this breathtaking area.
A great day out for all the family is Zip World Fforest. Take a look at some of the fun you can have 23 meters up in the air or on the skyride. There are also adventures for those tiny thrill-seekers from age 3+ – Zip World Fforest, Betws-Y-Coed LL24 0HX
The Conwy Valley Railway Museum is a full vintage railway experience and includes a miniature railway. The Old Goods Yard, Betws-Y-Coed, Conwy, Conwy, LL24 0AL, Wales
There are many adventures to be had in Wales and if you want to go underground, then Go Below! looks amazing. Clamber up rockfaces and waterfalls, abseil off ledges and boat across water in a 5 hour challenge for anyone aged 10+ Conwy Falls, Betws-Y-Coed, Conwy, LL24 0PN, Wales
Llandudno is a pretty coastal town which is popular with tourist. It has an interesting maritime past and is known, not only for its seaside charm, but for its North Shore Beach and 19th century pier.
If life is far from pretty right now and you need help with divorce, separation or bereavement, then we have found some family law firms who may be able to assist you.
- Gamlins Law have several offices including 31-37 Russell Road, Rhyl, Denbighshire, North Wales, LL18 3DB. (Abergele, Denbigh, Holywell, Rhyl, Ruthin, Mold). “As the leading law firm in North Wales Gamlins is committed to providing personal affordable advice to our corporate and private clients. Our offices cover the whole of North Wales which enables us to offer a complete range of legal services to our clients. The language and culture of Wales is very important to us and as such we offer a fully bi-lingual service.”
- Howell Jones & Co – 57 Market Street, Abergele
It’s vital to think about your financial future at the beginning of the divorce process as well as when you have your settlement
Speak to a planner about your future and discuss what you need the outcome to be. How can you agree a settlement if you don’t know what you might need? Don’t dismiss pension sharing because you think it’s too complicated or you are of the mindset that you are not entitled to your spouses’s accumulated pension pot.
We have financial planners across the country and Ceri Griffiths of Willow Brook Lifestyle Planning features in The Hug Directory for Cardiff
I am a financial adviser who works exclusively divorcing women.
The main thing I do is take away fear by making finances clear.
Using specialised software I can show you how your finances look every year to age 100.
So you can see exactly how a divorce proposal might or might not work for you.
How will divorce affect my children?
Divorce can have profound impacts on children or young adults. Whether you are divorcing with a toddler, 1, 2 or 3 kids it’s unlikely to be easy for you or them. Key questions such as who keeps the house (or whether you sell it and move) and how amicable the split is become more complicated once children are involved.
Should we stay together for the kids?
This is the question some parents find crosses their mind as their marriage comes to an end. Others realise that divorce or permanent separation is the only solution.
As proceedings kick-in, whether you are dealing with a vexatious litigant or are able to calmly hit the mediators’ office, all parents have worries including living arrangements, child custody plans and how the children will deal with the divorce.
How will I deal with the children and the divorce?
Mums and Dads who experienced a childhood where their own parents were together can feel that they are letting their own offspring down. They can feel that they have failed as parents. Research says that all children deal with divorce in different ways, but for sure, as it is for adults, the first year is extremely difficult as everyone is forced to adjust to a new way of living. Some children bounce back quicker than others. Read the rest of this article here.
