Discover Old Colwyn

Old Colwyn combines protected nature, historic culture and varied paths to create a destination offering different holiday ideas. The focal point is Fairy Glen: the local nature reserve is also an ancient woodland. Woodland paths follow the course of the River Colwyn there, leading into the heart of Old Colwyn. Anyone looking for a combination of walks, scenery and local history during their stay will find concrete starting points here for planning their trip.

Woodland paths and an easy inland walk

Fairy Glen is a suitable starting point for getting to know Old Colwyn on foot from a nature-oriented perspective. The Old Colwyn and Llanddulas walking route leads through the Fairy Glen Local Nature Reserve as an easy inland walk. This combination of woodland and a designated walking route can be planned as a separate part of a day. If you are travelling with different interests, you can earmark the route as an active outing and focus other days more on culture or the promenade.

The classification as an easy inland walk provides clear guidance when weighing up different expectations regarding physical activity and experiencing the landscape during your holiday. This makes it possible to clearly distinguish this natural attraction from the historic and cultural impressions around St Catherine.

Mobility when choosing your accommodation

Daily bus services to Old Colwyn and Llanddulas are available for arrival and excursion planning, operating from Colwyn Bay, Llandudno and Rhyl. This is a specific factor you can take into account when choosing a holiday apartment and organising your holiday days. If you do not want every outing to follow the same pattern, you can include destinations outside Old Colwyn in your plans alongside the paths in Fairy Glen.

Historic impressions around St Catherine

St Catherine adds a historical and cultural dimension to the nature experiences. The foundation stone of the church was laid by Richard Butler Clough on 14 July 1837. St Catherine was consecrated on 7 August 1838. The church is also listed as Grade II. These precise dates and the listing make St Catherine a notable point of reference for travellers who are interested not only in landscapes but also in the history of a place.

Promenade for walking and cycling

The promenade connected with Colwyn Bay/Rhos on Sea Beach offers another perspective. It stretches from Old Colwyn to Penrhyn Bay, serving as both a footpath and cycle path, and forms part of National Cycle Route 5. This allows you to distinguish between woodland paths, historic and cultural impressions, and a longer route on foot or by bicycle when planning your trip. Which of these options takes priority can then help shape your search for suitable accommodation in Old Colwyn.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Old Colwyn, it is therefore worth first deciding which travel idea matters most to you: Fairy Glen and the River Colwyn, the history of St Catherine, or the promenade connected with Colwyn Bay/Rhos on Sea Beach.

You can find more local pages for planning your trip under Corwen, Llanrwst, Llandudno Junction, Penmaenmawr, Capel Garmon, Llandudno, Llanfairfechan and Cerrigydrudion.

For the higher-level travel overview: Conwy.