Colwyn Bay Beach hotels in Colwyn Bay, United Kingdom

Colwyn Bay is one of Wales’ most visited areas and it’s easy to see why - award-winning beaches, a wide promenade with cafes and watersports, boat trips and a focus on the arts and culture that made it a top-class, elegant Victorian resort. Nestled between Snowdonia National Park and various historic sites, there’s plenty to do for a short stay or longer holiday.

You’ll find a wide choice of accommodation including budget B&Bs, elegant townhouses, beach spa hotels, camping and self-catering apartments. If you’re travelling with kids it makes sense to book something relaxed with a garden and big enough rooms so that everyone has personal space. Beachside or town centre, the main attractions, cafes and entertainment are within walking distance.

An Award-Winning New Beach

Colwyn Bay has benefited from seaside redevelopment with significant investment via coastal funds to make it bigger and brighter. For the past 30 years it has been getting smaller with erosion from the Irish Sea, so more sand has been shipped in and the promenade widened to make it easier to walk. It is a delightful beach that has won numerous awards and draws in visitors from all over the world.

There’s also some strategy via the Colwyn Bay Waterfront Project, which aims to preserve the seafront and protect it from coastal erosion and climate change. The project covers over two miles of the promenade from Rhos-on-Sea to Beach Road in Old Colwyn and you can learn more about it from information points in town. The techniques used are similar to those used to create Dubai’s Palm Islands. Other developments include a new watersports centre, Porth Eirias where you can try sailing, surfing and kayaking.

Entertaining the Kids

Sometimes the simplest activities are the most fun so head for the beach and soak up the ambience. You can play ball games, there’s dry sand and wet sand - ideal for building sandcastles. Find shells, seaweed, crabs and catfish - it’s fantastic fun for the kids to explore. There are also donkey rides on the beach and plenty of cafes to stop for ice cream and coffee.

Cycling Along the Beach

The promenade is perfect for cycling and runs from Old Colwyn to Penrhyn Bay and Rhos-on-Sea. Colwyn is also on the National Cycling Network and you can cycle on a traffic-free route from Rhos-on-Sea to Kinmel Bay. There are plenty of refreshment stops en route so why not hire a tandem bike for a romantic trip or one with an attachment on the back so that little people can enjoy the view and save their legs!

Boat Trips and Fishing

Ever wanted to catch your supper? Go out with an experienced skipper and you’re likely to catch mackerel, cod, whiting or sea bass. Take a boat trip from Colwyn Bay and you’ll also see seals, dolphins and porpoises. You can take your own boat out from several spots including Victoria Pier, Colwyn Bay, Eirias Slipway, Aberhod Slipway and Rhos-on-Sea.

Colwyn Bay is the perfect stopover destination for a walking holiday in Snowdonia National Park and the ideal location for a family break - an elegant seaside Victorian resort with plenty of arts and culture.