The best photography locations to visit on the North Wales coast
The North Wales coast is amazing place to visit with beautiful beaches, victorian seaside resorts and majestic UNESCO listed castles. This guide will give you information on my favourite beauty spots and best places to visit along the North Wales coast including the stunning medieval towns of Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech, the beautiful sandy beach at Talacre where you’ll find the Point of Ayr lighthouse and two wonderful and unique seaside destinations; the beautiful Victorian seaside resort of Llandudno, home to Wales’s longest pier and the fascinating mock Italiante village of Portmeirion with stunning views across the Dwyryd estuary.
Medieval Conwy and its 13th Century castle
The historic town of Conwy boasts two significant heritage features, the imposing 13th century Conwy castle; one of several built by the English king Edward I during the battles between English and Welsh and a fantastic photo opportunity; and one of Europe’s most intact medieval town walls, surrounding the old town with its 21 towers where you can wander with the camera to capture some interesting perspectives over the town and the Conwy estuary. A visit during night time is definitely recommended as the castle is illuminated and looks amazing set against the Snowdonia mountains backdrop.
Llandudno, the Queen of Welsh resorts
The North Wales coastline has a surprisingly wealth of interest for photographers and visitors alike. The Victorian resort of Llandudno has all the elements of a well preserved historic sea side resort; one of the finest piers in Britain and the longest in Wales and the perfect location for sunrise photo shoot. The promenade features classic Victorian architecture almost the entire 2 miles between the Great Orme and its smaller sister, the Little Orme. A visit to Llandudno isn’t complete without a ride on the heritage tramway that takes you to the summit of the Great Orme, an imposing limestone headland with incredible views of the Snowdonia mountains and if you’d lucky, an encounter with the resident wild mountain goats. If you make a visit in November there’s also a spectacular firework display on the beach close to the pier which is another great opportunity to get some nice photos with the camera.
Talacre Beach and Point of Ayr Lighthouse
Talacre’s main attraction for visiting photographers is the Point of Ayr lighthouse, dating back to 1776. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1884 and whilst now privately owned it's kept in good condition, despite the beating it takes from winter stormy seas. The area around the beach is surrounded by impressive sand dunes covered in photogenic marram grass whilst also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) being home to the rare Natterjack toad. The Dee estuary itself is a haven for wintering birds, so take a long lens in your camera bag as there's a chance to photograph little terns, skylarks, meadow pipits and warblers amongst others.
Caernarfon
Caernarfon Castle is one of Wales's most formidable ancient castles and an amazing place to visit. It makes a great subject for a sunset photography shoot but visit too when the tide is high for the chance to capture reflections in the harbour. It’s also worth a wander around the old streets and the nearby, modern marina.
Portmeirion, a little piece of Italy in North Wales
The mock Italiante village of Portmeirion, the lifelong project of the slightly eccentric Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, is certainly one of the most unique places to visit on the North Wales coast. The Central Piazza is the centrepiece of Portmeirion and a riot of colour with its Riviera inspired houses and ornamental garden; photo opportunites are everywhere especially is the sun is shining when the colourful buildings just look amazing. Wander around the village and it’s a photography feast with little pieces of quirk and madness everywhere. Don’t miss the Gothic Pavilion, Bristol Colonnade and Hercules Hall or the numerous statues scattered around that create lots of visual interest for photographers.
Harlech
There are two main reasons for a photography trip to Harlech, the first is the stunning castle that towers over the skyline with its wonderful backdrop of the Eryri Snowdonia mountains. Views from the south of the castle take in the beautiful mountain scenery and a wander inside gives you the chance to climb the turrets and admire the amazing location. Once you’ve visited the castle then a wander down to Harlech beach is a must, it’s miles of sand are bounded by fantastic dunes covered in marram grass, a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the view back to the town reveals another potential composition for more photos of the castle.
Looking for more beautiful places to visit? My popular North Wales guidebook includes full details of over 100 amazing locations to discover across North Wales.
PHOTOGRAPHING NORTH WALES is a comprehensive photo-location guidebook that encompasses a wide variety of stunning places to visit, including the breathtaking Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, the picturesque Isle of Anglesey, the golden beaches and historic villages along the North Wales Coast, the scenic Llyn Peninsula, the undulating countryside of Llangollen and the Dee Valley, and the culturally rich area of North East Wales around the towns of Wrexham and Mold and the stunning heather clad peaks of the Clwydian Hills.
