Get to know Old Colwyn from two different perspectives: in Fairy Glen, wooded paths follow the River Colwyn to the heart of the town; the promenade stretches from Old Colwyn to Penrhyn Bay. An easy inland walk and a combined walking and cycling route offer different experiences. The history of St Catherine adds a cultural dimension. This makes it easy to organise the themes of a stay: woodland and river, outdoor routes and a historically dated church building.

Fairy Glen and the walking route

Fairy Glen is a protected local nature reserve and an ancient woodland. Its wooded paths follow the River Colwyn to the heart of Old Colwyn. The ancient woodland and the river are therefore both part of what defines this area; the route brings the natural surroundings right into the town. This connection is a distinctive feature of Fairy Glen when planning a trip.

The Old Colwyn and Llanddulas walk is an easy inland route through the Fairy Glen Local Nature Reserve. This makes the area part of a specifically named route suggestion, not just a landscape name. If you are looking for a described walk, both its character as an inland route and its easy rating are specified here. The route name, difficulty rating and course give you different points to consider when planning.

Promenade: on foot and by bike

The promenade associated with Colwyn Bay/Rhos on Sea Beach runs from Old Colwyn to Penrhyn Bay. It serves as both a walking and cycling route and forms part of National Cycle Route 5. Unlike the inland walk through Fairy Glen, it is explicitly described as suitable for two ways of getting around. The place names mark its route, while its inclusion in National Cycle Route 5 also identifies the promenade as part of that cycle route. The inland character of Fairy Glen is central to the walking route, whereas the promenade is for walking or cycling.

St Catherine and its history

St Catherine adds a historical dimension to the nature and walking themes. The church's foundation stone was laid by Richard Butler Clough on 14 July 1837; it was consecrated on 7 August 1838. St Catherine is listed as a Grade II church. The two dates mark different events: the laying of the foundation stone and the later consecration. This gives a precise account of the church's chronology without conflating the two events into a single date.

Bus services to Old Colwyn

Daily bus services to Old Colwyn and Llanddulas run from Colwyn Bay, Llandudno and Rhyl. These places provide specific starting points for planning your bus journey. As timetables can change, check the route and times for your travel date before making plans around them.

Discover more destinations: Dolwyddelan, Llandudno, Penmaenmawr, Kinmel Bay, Llandudno Junction, Gwytherin, Trefriw, Llysfaen

For the wider travel overview: Conwy.