Conwy & Llandudno

After breakfast, we headed to the beach with the dogs, letting them play in the morning tide. Then we drove to the magnificent Conwy Castle, an immense medieval fortress constructed by King Edward I during his conquest of Wales in the late 13th century.

As we approached, the sheer scale of the castle on a hillside overlooking the sea was imposing. We walked along the dramatic defensive walls encircling the perimeter, marvelling at the eight massive towers and turrets. I tried to envision what it would have been like during a medieval siege, with archers perched on the parapets and soldiers storming the gates.

Inside we explored the Great Hall, where King Edward once hosted grand feasts for hundreds of guests. We also toured the royal apartments where the King and his nobles lived. I was amazed by the splendour of the rooms and intricate stonework, especially considering the castle's age.

One highlight was climbing the narrow spiral staircases up through several floors to reach the rooftop of the towers. The panoramic views of the countryside and coastline were breathtaking. I pictured King Edward surveying his realm from these very towers centuries ago.

After wandering the atmospheric chambers and passages of Conwy Castle, we descended and walked the ancient walls of Conwy town. We stopped to take pictures of the smallest house in Great Britain, built in the 16th century. At just 72 inches wide, 122 inches high and up to 15 feet deep, it was hard to believe people once lived in the tiny home. Our guide explained the house was occupied until 1900 when the resident was a 6-foot 3-inch fisherman named Robert Jones. He had to crawl to get in and out of the one room home! The house provided fascinating glimpses into the lives of townsfolk centuries ago.

Next, we grabbed a tasty crab lunch, eating it while sitting on the harbour wall by the lobster pots and gazing out at the boats. It was easy to imagine we had been transported back in time.

n the afternoon, we continued on to Llandudno, eager to hike up to the unique Alice in Wonderland trail we had heard so much about. As we wandered uphill from the seaside town, we soon came across giant stone sculptures of characters from Lewis Carroll's famous tale. The White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, and other figures lined the trail, transporting us into Wonderland.

The trail is named for its whimsical connection to the fantasy world in Alice in Wonderland. It winds through tranquil woods high above the bay, with occasional peeks at the sea through the trees. At the summit, we emerged from the forest to find the grand Queen of Hearts sculpture gazing out over the sweeping views. The panorama of the sparkling bay dotted with ferries was breathtaking. As we hiked back down, I couldn't help but feel like we had truly discovered a magical portal to Wonderland on the Welsh coast. It was such a unique and fun experience.