A PICTURESQUE but “underrated” seaside town is just a three-hour train journey away from London and few people even know about it.
Colwyn Bay, in Denbighshire, North Wales, has a lot going for it including golden sands, a variety of water sports on offer and even a zoo, making it perfect for a weekend getaway.
The sandy beach looking out to the Irish Sea has been awarded Blue Flag status, the highest award possible for a beach in the UK.
While shorter than it first was, the town’s pier was first opened in 1900 and has managed to survive a number of fires.
It has also been given a new lease of life by the local council who pumped £1.5million into renovating it and reopened to the public in 2021.
There’s plenty to do on the beach apart from soaking up the scenery and the sun.
Môr – Water Sports on the nearby promenade offer paddle boarding classes for anyone wanting a splash about in the open sea.
The local conservation zoo is also a popular attraction for families.
The Welsh Mountain Zoo has a wide variety of animals on show which include Sumatran tigers, seals and llamas.
A family of four can get a ticket for £51.90.
One recent visitor wrote on TripAdvisor earlier this month: “Now that we have spent the whole day there I would not hesitate to recommend this Zoo to everyone.
“It is perfectly sized to not be exhausting for smaller legs, and there aren’t huge walking distances between the exhibits.
“The quantity of different species on view is huge, with some more unusual animals such as Eurasian Bears, an alligator and Sea Lions.
“The enclosures are well maintained and the whole zoo seems to fit into the wider landscape without feeling too ‘man-made’.
“Absolutely stunning views of the surrounding area and lots of picnic benches and spaces to eat.”
There is also plenty on offer at the Eirias Park and Waterpark which offers numerous sporting activities and even has tennis courts and a hockey pitch.
If the weather outside is miserable there is lots of fun to be had in the indoor pools which are packed with slides and water fountains.
The famed Cadwgan Bakery is a must-do for anyone with a sweet tooth.
While it offers a number of treats, locals rave about their Lemon Choux buns.
But anyone wanting to get their teeth into one will have to get their early as due to their popularity they are usually sold out by lunchtime.
Trying a Welsh cake is also a must if you’ve never had one before.
They are similar to a scone, only flatter and dusted with icing sugar.
It take around four hours for Londoners to get there in the car but an hour less if you go by train.
Anyone not wanting to drive can catch the service from London Euston and then change at Chester for a direct train to Colwyn Bay.
