This route is in two halves really. The first half visits Zip World, just 5 minutes from the campsite. Zip World has the fastest zip line in and it's called Velocity 2 for good reasons. Prepare yourself for a truly unique and exhilarating experience; the fastest zip line in the world. Soar over Penrhyn Quarry where you could travel at speeds of over 100 mph while you take in the breathtaking views and feel the freedom of flight on the 1.5 km ride. I think we paid £80 each, yes it sounds like a lot of money, but for that, you have a practice run on a slightly smaller zip wire and a safari type ride to the top of the mountain. I would certainly do it again.
I have scheduled a 4 hour stop here which should be plenty of time to then, enjoy a shortened day tour. If Zip World is not for you simply skip RP 2 and pick the route up from RP 3. From here you'll join the A55 North Wales Expressway, it's a fast dual carriageway road that has a couple of tunnels and runs close to the coast offering superb views across Conwy Bay to Great Orme.
Leaving the Expressway brings you to Conwy Castle. You can turn off the route at RP 7 and park up to visit the castle.
This magnificent medieval fortress still towers over town after 700 years. Thanks to restored spiral staircases in its great towers you can walk a complete circuit around the battlements of Conwy Castle. This is one of the most magnificent medieval fortresses in Europe. In the distance rise the craggy mountains of Snowdonia and spread out below you are the harbour and narrow streets of Conwy – still protected by an unbroken 1,400 yard (1.3km) ring of town walls. It’s enough to take the breath away. Especially when you consider that King Edward I and his architect Master James of St George built both castle and walls in a barely believable four years between 1283 and 1287. The cost of visiting the castle is £3.85 which I think is very reasonable.
Crossing over the River Conwy takes you onto the Great Orme headland, a massive chunk of limestone that rises 679 ft (207 m) out of the sea. Little wonder that its name, given by the Vikings, means ‘sea monster’. This route uses the toll road 'Marine Drive' to ride around the edge of Great Orme. The toll (2020) of £1.80 for motorcycles £3.00 for cars is money well spent. Many events are held On Marine Drive such as the Cambrian Rally, 3 Castles Vintage Rally, Mini Rally & a stage of the World Rally Great Britain. The majority of these events have become established & return yearly.
After just 1 mile, you can turn off to visit the summit for a coffee and great views. From this striking position, the Summit Complex offers you breathtaking views of Llandudno, areas of Snowdonia National Park, the Isle of Anglesey and the Irish sea. The road leading you there has two tight hairpin bends that you'll have to negotiate when you return back down.
At the northern tip of Great Orme, you can stop for photos and look down on the lighthouse. The Lighthouse was constructed in 1862 by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company who, with great attention to detail, built a fortress like building using dressed limestone and vast bulks of Canadian pitch pine. The beacon remained a continuous warning to mariners until March 22nd 1985 when the optic was removed. It can now be viewed at the Visitor Centre on the summit of the Great Orme.
Heading south as you leave the headland, you'll follow the Conwy Valley through beautiful countryside to the tourist village of Betws y Coed.
Betws-y-Coed is one of the honeypot locations in Snowdonia. It lies in the Snowdonia National Park, in a valley near the point where the River Conwy is joined by the River Llugwy and the River Lledr, and was founded around a monastery in the late sixth century. The village grew very slowly with the development of the local lead mining industry. In 1815, the Waterloo Bridge, built by Thomas Telford to carry the London to Holyhead road (now the A5) across the River Conwy and through the village, brought considerable transport-related development. You are only 25 minutes away from the end of the route, so if you have the time, enjoy a stroll around the village.
Just a couple of miles further on from the village are the Swallow Falls. The River Llugwy flows through a narrow chasm creating a spectacular waterfall amongst a background of beech, conifer and birch trees. The falls are at their best following a rainfall.
The last stop of the day is at Lake Ogwen. Legends say that Bedwyr Bedrynant, a knight of King Arthur cast the famous sword Excalibur into the lake at Llyn Ogwen, where it was caught by the lady of the lake and remains there to this day.
Or does it? ... In 2017, an extraordinary find by a team of rangers working on a footpath near Llyn Ogwen discovered a sword in the ground. After careful cleaning and verification, experts believe the sword dates back to the 6th century, which coincides with the days of King Arthur!
Enjoy the route and it's history.