North Wales Road Trip Itinerary: 7 Days on the Anglesey and Llyn Coast

There’s something magical about a coastal road trip: beach hopping, the sound of the waves, sunsets over the sea, and, of course, enjoying some fish and chips along the way  🌊

This is our North Wales road trip itinerary, the coastal route we keep coming back to, from the Great Orme down through Anglesey and out to the tip of the Llyn Peninsula.

How many days do you need for North Wales? A long weekend covers the highlights, but 5–7 days lets you slow down and actually explore. This itinerary is built around 7 days, you could do it in less, but the whole point of Anglesey and the Llyn Peninsula is that they reward time. If you've got longer, we've included tips for stretching this into a 14-day trip too.

Below: the day-by-day route, driving distances between each stop, and the practical detail for doing this trip by campervan, including where to stay, what to expect on the roads, and a few things we wish we'd known before we set off.

How Many Days Do You Need for North Wales?

5 days is the minimum to cover this route without rushing. 7 days is the sweet spot, it gives you two nights on Anglesey, time to properly explore the Llyn Peninsula, and at least one slow morning instead of always being on the road.

If you've only got a long weekend (3 days), we'd pick one half of this route rather than trying to cram in both. Anglesey and the Llyn Peninsula are different enough that each works as a trip on its own.

If you've got two weeks, you can take this itinerary at half the pace, add an extra night on Anglesey, build in rest days, or use the extra time to extend into Snowdonia (more on that at the end).

 

Your 7-Day North Wales Road Trip Itinerary

 

Day 1: Llandudno and the Great Orme

If you're coming from England, Llandudno is a natural place to start, it's a short run off the A55 and makes for an easy first stop.

Start with the Great Orme, Llandudno's most famous landmark. The Marine Drive is a 5-mile toll road around the headland, it's £5.50 for a car, and the ticket includes parking at the summit. It's worth it: there are plenty of spots to pull over for the views, and the summit car park gives you panoramic views without much walking. If you'd rather skip the toll, you can walk the headland for free, or take the cable car up if you fancy a different approach.

Llandudno itself is worth an hour or two, the Victorian pier and the beach are both easy stops if you want to stretch your legs before getting back on the road.

Don't miss Pigeon Cove on the way round, a quiet spot where you might spot seals.

 

Day 2: Aber Falls and the Conwy Valley

It's a short morning drive, about 20km from Llandudno to Aber Falls, North Wales' most dramatic waterfall. The 37-metre falls are reached by a 2km walk that's accessible enough for families. It's a popular spot, so if you'd rather have it to yourselves, visit on a weekday.

From Aber Falls, a short walk further takes you to Afon Rhaeadr-bach, a smaller, lesser-known waterfall. It's not as dramatic, but it's a peaceful spot for a picnic if Aber Falls is busy.

This is a transition day, a shorter driving stretch before you head onto Anglesey. If you've got time to spare add an optional stop at Conwy Castle or Bodnant Garden.

 

Day 3–4: Anglesey, the island

You'll cross onto Anglesey over the Menai Strait, via either the Britannia Bridge or the older Menai Suspension Bridge, both are worth knowing about if you're navigating with a larger vehicle, as the older bridge has narrower lanes.

Anglesey is an essential stop on any North Wales coastal road trip, and honestly, you could spend two full weeks here and not run out of things to see. The island is filled with beaches and stretches of the Welsh Coastal Path.

Highlights to build your days around:

• Penmon Point - a tranquil spot with views of Puffin Island and the Menai Strait
• Beaumaris Castle - one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the UK, and hard to miss if you're driving this side of the island
• Porth Wen Brickworks - the remains of 20th-century brickworks set in a secluded bay. Visit at low tide to fully appreciate the beach. Note: this is private property, so visit at your own risk
• Parys Copper Mines - one of the oldest copper mines in Europe, now a striking, almost otherworldly landscape
• South Stack Lighthouse and Llanddwyn Island - iconic landmarks with views towards Snowdonia
• Holyhead Breakwater Country Park - a good spot for a scenic walk or hike

Some of our favourite beaches on the island: Lligwy Beach, Aberffraw, and Red Wharf Bay.

For the scenic way round, the A5025 coastal circuit is the route to take, it's slower than the main road, but it's the one that shows you the island properly.

Van life on Anglesey: we stayed at Aberafon Camping and Caravan Site, it's right by the beach with mountain views, and costs £12.50 per adult, £2.50 for a dog, and 20p for a 3-minute shower. No need to book in advance we just turned up and got a lovely spot.

While you can easily drive around the island in a day, we'd reccommend taking your time to fully appreciate the beauty of Anglesey. Even with 10 days on the island, we felt there was still so much more to see!

 

Day 5–6: The Llyn Peninsula, the forgotten corner

From Anglesey, it's around 50km to Pwllheli — under an hour's drive — and your entry point to the Llyn Peninsula is Criccieth, with its own castle worth a quick stop on the way in.

The Llyn Peninsula is one of our favourite parts of Wales. It's often overlooked, which means it feels more tucked away, and it has the backdrop of Snowdonia to finish the picture.

The drive out to the tip of the peninsula is part of the appeal, narrow lanes, sea views opening up on either side, and a real sense of getting further from everything as you go. Take it slowly; the roads are quieter than Anglesey's but also tighter in places.

 

 

Highlights along the way:

• Trefor Harbour - walk the coastal path and you might find a beach to yourselves
• Traeth Porthdinllaen - one of the best spots for a sunset, or a drink at the Ty Coch Inn
• Gwylwyr - just 70m of elevation from the car park, but with spectacular views down the coast. Good for sunrise or sunset
• Porth Lago and Traeth Porthor - known for their clear water, and at Porthor, the "whistling sands" underfoot
• Llanbedrog beach - a sandy beach lined with colourful beach houses
• Porth Ysgo - visit after heavy rain and you might catch a waterfall
• Porth Neigwl (Hell's Mouth)  popular with surfers, and another good sunset spot

At the very tip, Bardsey Island sits just offshore, known historically as the "Island of 20,000 Saints". Even if you don't make the crossing, it's worth knowing it's there as you reach the end of the peninsula.

Abersoch is the place to head if you want water sports, shopping, or somewhere to eat out.

 

Day 7: Heading back

For the return journey, you've got two options: back via Porthmadog and the A55 for the most direct route, or the longer, more scenic A498 through Snowdonia if you've got time for one more detour.

 

Van Life and Camping in North Wales

Anglesey has decent campervan infrastructure, several certified sites dotted around the island, plus some coastal car parks that allow overnight stays. Rules vary by local council, so it's worth checking before you settle in for the night.

The Llyn Peninsula is more remote, with fewer formal sites and more of a wild camping culture. The whole peninsula is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which comes with its own considerations, part of what keeps it feeling untouched.

For finding spots as you go, apps like Park4Night and iOverlander are useful for both regions — other van travellers tend to keep these updated with what's actually allowed.

 

North Wales Road Trip with a Dog

If you're travelling with a dog, North Wales is a good choice, most of the beaches on this route are dog-friendly.

• On Anglesey, Red Wharf Bay, Aberffraw, and Llanddwyn Island all have good year-round dog access
• On the Llyn Peninsula, most beaches welcome dogs.

One thing to watch for: parts of the coastal path run through farmland, so keep dogs on leads where there's livestock about, it's signed clearly, but worth being prepared for.

There's no extra paperwork or border check travelling into Wales from England, it's the same country, so it's as simple as the rest of your trip.

 

Extending Your Trip Into Snowdonia

If you've got more time, or you're doing the 14-day version of this route, Snowdonia (Eryri) sits right alongside this itinerary and makes a natural extension. The mountains are visible from much of the Llyn Peninsula and Anglesey, and the A498 route home takes you straight through them if you want a last day of driving with a different kind of view.

 

Plan the Whole Route

This itinerary covers the coastal route. The Wales Road Trip Guide and Map covers North and South Wales in full, every location pinned on an interactive map, and the corners of Anglesey and the Llyn Peninsula that most guides miss.