A whistle-stop tour of north Wales

Matthew Partridge takes in the country’s charming towns, breathtaking scenery and fascinating ruins.

Conway Castle © Getty Images/iStock Editorial
Conwy is a great base for exploring north Wales
(Image credit: Conway Castle © Getty Images/iStock Editorial)

The ever-changing rules around international travel and loosened restrictions at home make a staycation (or “UKation”) in Britain an even more attractive option than it usually is. Those missing European hills and forests may want to consider northern Wales as an alternative. Perhaps the most attractive town and the best base for exploring the area is the market town of Conwy.

In the medieval period Conwy was considered an important fortress by the English due to its coastal location, which allowed it to be resupplied from the sea in the event of attack by Welsh rebels. Conwy Castle, which was built for Edward I, is still standing. Visitors can also access large sections of the city wall, which provide breathtaking views of both the town and the surrounding area. You can access the walls free of charge via the railway station.

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Dr Matthew Partridge
Shares editor, MoneyWeek

Matthew graduated from the University of Durham in 2004; he then gained an MSc, followed by a PhD at the London School of Economics.

He has previously written for a wide range of publications, including the Guardian and the Economist, and also helped to run a newsletter on terrorism. He has spent time at Lehman Brothers, Citigroup and the consultancy Lombard Street Research.

Matthew is the author of Superinvestors: Lessons from the greatest investors in history, published by Harriman House, which has been translated into several languages. His second book, Investing Explained: The Accessible Guide to Building an Investment Portfolio, is published by Kogan Page.

As senior writer, he writes the shares and politics & economics pages, as well as weekly Blowing It and Great Frauds in History columns He also writes a fortnightly reviews page and trading tips, as well as regular cover stories and multi-page investment focus features.

Follow Matthew on Twitter: @DrMatthewPartri