Portmeirion village nestled in Gwynedd, North Wales on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park boasts intriguing Italian architecture that will have you wow’ing at every corner and wanting to explore every inch of this beautiful village. Built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925-1975 for his wife as she was missing her native Italy, it is an inspiring and unique experience.
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Portmeirion, North Wales
Entering the village you are greeted by the pleasant and welcoming staff who are happy to answer any questions you may have. A printed guide is also on hand if you are looking for a bit more information on one of the UK’s hidden gems. Walking in you are instantly grabbed by buildings wrapped in bright colour and as you head down into the village on the left you are greeted by breathtaking views of the surrounding area and the estuary which runs alongside the shore of the village.
Where To Stay..
The Portmeirion Hotel & Castle Deudraeth
There are a few really amazing places to stay one being the Portmeirion Hotel. Located on the estuary shoreline of the village where the panoramic views really open up. It is a beautiful place to spend a few nights, have lunch, dinner, afternoon tea or even just for a drink. The rustically decorated interior of Portmeirion Hotel has a real cosy feel and is an amazing place to stay if you are thinking of visiting this magical village. Also if you are wanting to explore the surrounding areas and the breathtaking Snowdonia National Park it is an excellent base from which to do so.
The Castle Deudraeth is located as you drive into the Portmeirion grounds on the right and is hard to miss! The Fully functioning castle is complete with beautiful rooms and quaint indoor furnishings. The restaurant has a lovely conservatory, gardens and piano playing whilst you are having dinner which makes for something extra special, especially with the backdrop of beautiful north Wales landscape out of the windows.
With the town of Porthmadog only a few minutes drive away which has everything you would need including supermarkets, shops aplenty and even its own fully working steam train, this really is a great location!
Both hotels or on Booking.com so checkout your perfect Wales getaway here!
What Else Is On Offer?
The village itself has so many places to explore and added to that a host of coffee shops, a book store, ice cream place and a couple of smaller shops to wander and checkout the local Welsh delights!
Portmeirion is perfect for both adults, kids and families to roam around and take in the sights. To add magic to its gorgeous scenery it even has its own amphitheater complete with a giant chess board and a static boat on the banks of the estuary, making for the most perfect photo ops.
We would also highly recommend following the coastal path along the estuary shoreline to the right of the Portmeirion Hotel that winds around the headland where the estuary meets the sea. When the tide is out there is a patch of beach that appears, from here you can walk and take in more of the epic coastline along Gwynedd, but be warned, the tide does come in very fast so just keep an eye out!
Looped walks can also be made through the village up into the woods where you can wander for hours on trails. Within the woods lookout for the vast amount of different species of trees from all around the world, complete with identification signs for each you will be amazed at just how many there are! We always use the app maps.me which details every trail on this woodland walk.
Festival Number 6
This mystical festival runs every year in the first weekend of September from Thursday to Sunday and is located in Portmeirion Village. With blend of amazing music, arts, culture, food & drink, activities and experiences to be had topped with its spectacular location, Festival Number 6 has to be one of the best festivals we have ever been to! Our highlights included the Brythoniaid Male Voice Choir singing up to date and old classics in Portmeirion amphitheater, seeing Charlotte Church in an intimate performance in the town hall of Portmeirion and watching Sunshine Underground in the main arena field next to the castle, these are just to mention a few! The village has served as a location for a number of films and sets including most famously 1960’s show the prisoner thus the festival getting its name Festival Number 6.
The festival spans throughout village, surrounding fields, the castle and the woods which all combines to make such a special event that will truly leave lasting memories! We would highly recommend attending festival if you can, it is definitely like no other!
To sum it up…
Portmeirion is a great relaxed day out in North Wales with epic views, intriguing architecture, a chance to indulge in some great food, relax with a coffee and also explore. This magical village has something for everyone and for us is a must see on anyone’s Wales itinerary.
Entry is £7 advance for adults on-line (£8 on the day) and children go free!
Top Tip – Pre-booking lunch or afternoon tea at the Portmeirion Hotel or Castle Deudraeth also includes your entry fee into Portmeirion village so we would definitely recommend this as both the Castle and hotel are really great for both! Just let them know that you have pre-booked when you enter the village by showing them your email confirmation.
We hope we have inspired you to visit this special village in North Wales, if you have any questions about any please tell us in the comments as we’ll be more than happy to answer them 🙂
Looking for something else to do in the area? Checkout an epic day out adventure we had with…
Rib Ride Anglesey, North Wales – The Magical Skerries
Happy Travels!
Adam & Kelly x
about the wilder route...
In 2017 Kelly & Adam Peck embarked on a journey that would change their lives forever...
Equipped with a couple of second-hand bikes, they took a one-way flight to Havana, Cuba &, after a cycling escapade that took them over four hundred kilometres - through remote villages & untouched landscapes, the roots of The Wilder Route were firmly planted.
From there the adventure was destined to continue... this intrepid couple spent the next 10 months soaking up the vibrance of Mexico, hiking up volcanoes in Guatemala, taking in the wild scenery of Canada & experiencing the beauty & diversity of Colombia, before eventually returning to the UK.
With the feeling of exploration in their souls, Kelly & Adam knew that they wanted to build a life that brought them closer to nature, a life that made adventure part of their every day. Selling most of their belongings & packing the rest of what they owned into their tiny home on wheels, van life became the next step of their journey.
Since moving into their motorhome in 2018 (a Bessacar E560 named Barnaby) they have experienced many more magical moments, built their online business on the road & have even planned a wedding & said "I do" along the way.
Featured in publications such as Wanderlust Magazine & Housesitting Magazine & speaking at events such as Destinations Shows, Borderless Live & The Caravan & Motorhome Show about living a location-independent lifestyle - they are passionate about helping & inspiring others to explore, to connect with nature &, to live alternatively.
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