Explore Conwy through its battlements, town walls and distinctive houses. At Castell Conwy, you can take a complete walk along the battlements; Conwy Town Walls offer views of the castle, the estuary and Eryri (Snowdonia). Other highlights include an Elizabethan townhouse, a medieval merchant’s house and a long tradition of mussel fishing. Nature trails in the nearby RSPB Conwy Nature Reserve offer a different experience.
Along the battlements and town walls
Castell Conwy was built by King Edward I and completed in just four years. Visitors can take a complete walk along the battlements. Conwy Town Walls form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are among Europe’s most remarkable and complete town walls. From the walls, you can see Castell Conwy, the estuary and Eryri (Snowdonia). A short section between Watch Tower and Wing Gate is closed; check conditions before your visit.
The Conwy Town Trail is an 80-minute guided tour through the walled town and the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stated duration is a guide for planning. Check local notices in advance for possible route changes.
Houses tell Conwy’s story
Plas Mawr is the finest surviving Elizabethan townhouse in Britain. Robert Wynn bought a mansion in Conwy for £200 and transformed it into Plas Mawr between 1576 and 1585. Visitors can explore the 17 rooms, experiencing the house’s architecture and history at the same time.
Aberconwy House is the only medieval merchant’s house in Conwy to have survived the changing fortunes of the walled town for nearly six centuries. Britain’s Smallest House also tells of unusually tight living quarters: the house is 72 inches wide, 122 inches high and 120 inches deep. Its last resident was Robert Jones, who was 1.905 metres tall.
Another cultural experience is the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art’s life-drawing classes, held regularly throughout the year. If you would like to include a class in your stay, check the dates.
Mussel heritage and nearby trails
Conwy has had a mussel industry since Roman times. The Conwy Mussel Museum explores its history as well as the town’s tradition of pearl fishing. Scenic boat trips are offered on the Conwy Estuary; as they may be seasonal, check whether they are running before you travel.
Nearby, the nearly one-mile-long Redshank Trail passes through RSPB Conwy Nature Reserve to two viewing hides and offers the chance to watch wetland birds. The two-mile-long Grey Heron Trail runs through saltmarshes on the estuary to Vardre Viewpoint, where wading birds roost at high tide. The trails differ in both length and focus: viewing hides on the Redshank Trail, and saltmarshes and a viewpoint with roosting wading birds on the Grey Heron Trail.
Getting here and finding your way around
Conwy can be reached via the A55. National Cycle Network Route 5 is 150 metres from Conwy Town Walls; local signage may change.
There is a bus stop directly outside the main entrance to Conwy Culture Centre. Conwy railway station is 250 metres from the main entrance. This gives you different ways to travel by train, road and cycle route; for train services and signage, it is advisable to check the latest information.
Discover more destinations: Penmaenmawr, Kinmel Bay, Llansannan, Llanrwst, Llandudno Junction, Deganwy, Llandudno, Cerrigydrudion.
For the wider travel overview: Conwy.
