The Best Walks in and Around Llandudno: A Local's Guide for Every Pace

In short — from a level seafront stroll to the Great Orme headland and longer coastal routes into Conwy and Eryri, Llandudno has a walk for every pace, most starting right from the door.

One of the questions we hear most often, usually over a map at the front door, is simply: where should we walk today? After years of welcoming guests to The Rosedene — and a lifetime of loving this town ourselves — we've gathered a good answer. The wonderful thing about Llandudno walks is the sheer range on offer in such a small space: you can amble the length of a grand Victorian promenade in your slippers, or you can climb a wild limestone headland with views stretching to the Isle of Man, all within the same morning.

So we've put this guide together the way we'd talk it through with you in person — grouped by pace, from the gentlest of strolls to a proper day on the hills. Pick what suits your legs, your weather and your mood. And do read the local tips near the end; they're the little things that turn a good walk into a great one.

Easy walks near Llandudno: flat, gentle and lovely

If you want fresh air and big views without any real effort, this is where to start. These are the walks for a first afternoon, for a lazy morning, or for anyone who simply wants the sea and the sky without a climb.

The Victorian promenade and the pier

The promenade is Llandudno's grand front room. It sweeps in a long, gentle curve along the North Shore between the two headlands, and walking it from end to end is the classic, do-nothing-strenuous stroll. There are benches the whole way, the famous painted Victorian hotels on one side and the beach on the other. At the eastern end the pier reaches out into the bay — at around 700 metres it's the longest in Wales, and it was named Pier of the Year in 2025, so it's well worth the wander to the end and back. It's all flat, all easy, and only a short, level walk from our front door.

The West Shore

Cross the narrow neck of the town and you reach Llandudno's other beach, the West Shore — quieter, wilder and facing the Conwy estuary with the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) rising beyond. This is the side for sunsets, and for a calm, contemplative walk away from the bustle. It's also where Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland, holidayed as a child, and you'll spot the white rabbit memorial along the way. A flat, open, breezy stroll with the best evening light in town.

Happy Valley and Haulfre Gardens

For something green and sheltered, the free Victorian gardens at the foot of the Great Orme are a gentle delight. Happy Valley climbs softly up from the pier with lawns, rockeries and sea views, while Haulfre Gardens, a little further round, offers terraces and quiet corners. You can keep these as flat as you like or use them as a soft warm-up before tackling the headland proper. Easy underfoot, with plenty of places to pause.

Moderate Llandudno walks: the Great Orme and the headland trails

This is where Llandudno really earns its reputation with walkers. The Great Orme is a huge limestone headland — a country park and nature reserve — rising straight out of the town, and it's laced with paths to suit a moderate effort. You'll find a fuller breakdown over on the Great Orme walks page, but here are our favourites.

To the summit

Walking up to the summit of the Great Orme is the headline walk, and it's a steady, rewarding climb rather than a scramble. Paths thread up through the grassland from Happy Valley and from the town side, and the summit has a seasonal café and visitor centre for a well-earned cup of tea — open Easter to October, so do check ahead if you are heading up in the depths of winter. If the legs say no on the way up — or the way down — you've two charming options to mix in: the Great Orme Tramway, which has been hauling its way up since 1902 and is the only cable-hauled street tramway in Britain, or the cable car, the longest aerial cabin lift in the country at over a mile each way. We're a short, level walk from the foot of the tramway, so it's easy to walk one way and ride the other.

The Marine Drive cliff-top loop

Marine Drive is the one-way toll road that wraps right around the base of the headland, and following it on foot is a glorious cliff-top circuit. You hug the edge the whole way with the sea below, passing the lighthouse and St Tudno's church, with the rock rising on one side and open water on the other. It's longer than it looks and exposed to the wind, so it sits firmly in the moderate camp — but the sense of being out on a wild headland, minutes from town, is hard to beat.

The nature trails and what you'll meet up there

The headland is alive in a way the town below isn't. Wandering the smaller trails across the top, you can expect:

• The Kashmiri goats — the famous wild herd, descended from a pair gifted to Queen Victoria back in 1837. They roam freely and you'll often happen upon them grazing the slopes.
• Wildflowers and butterflies — the limestone grassland is a botanical treasure, especially through late spring and summer.
• Seabirds — the cliffs are busy with nesting birds, best watched from the Marine Drive side.
• Enormous views — on a clear day you can see across to Anglesey, back to the peaks of Eryri, and even out to the Isle of Man.

If history is your thing, the Bronze Age Copper Mines sit up here too — a Guinness World Record holder as the largest prehistoric mines open anywhere, dug some 4,000 years ago. A fascinating pause mid-walk.

Longer and more adventurous walks from Llandudno

When you want a proper day out, Llandudno is a brilliant launch pad. These are the bigger coastal walks and hill days — the ones worth packing a flask for. There's more detail on the coastal walks if you want to plan a few in advance.

Along the Conwy estuary to medieval Conwy

From the West Shore you can follow the coast and the estuary round towards Conwy, one of our favourite longer walks. Conwy is only about ten minutes away by car, but reaching it on foot makes a real adventure of it, and the town at the end is a reward in itself: the great medieval walls, Conwy Castle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by Edward I), the quay with the Smallest House in Great Britain, and the Elizabethan townhouse of Plas Mawr. Walk out, explore, and let the bus or train bring you home — a lovely, low-stress way to cover real ground.

Into the mountains of Eryri

For the adventurous, the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) begin barely half an hour from our door, and a serious day on the hills is well within reach. Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is the obvious draw, but there's a lifetime of walking out there — the lakes around Llanberis, the waterfalls near Betws-y-Coed, and gentler valley routes for when you want the scenery without the summit. We've gathered our suggestions for walks in Eryri to help you choose. These are days that need decent boots, proper layers and an eye on the forecast — but they're the reason a lot of walkers come to this corner of Wales in the first place.

Local tips for walking around Llandudno

A few things we always pass on, learned from years of living here:

• Check the tide before you head to the beach. Our two beaches behave quite differently. The North Shore stays a walkable shingle-and-sand crescent below the prom, while the West Shore opens up into wide, flat sand at low water and shrinks considerably when the tide's in. A quick look at the tide times saves disappointment.
• Dress for the headland, not the town. It's always cooler and breezier up on the Great Orme than down on the seafront — sometimes startlingly so. Take a layer more than you think you need, even on a warm day.
• Wear proper footwear for the Orme and beyond. The promenade is fine in anything, but the headland trails, the Conwy route and certainly Eryri want grippy soles. The limestone gets slippery in the wet.
• Know where the paths start. Most of the Great Orme routes begin from Happy Valley or the foot of the tramway, both an easy stroll from us. The West Shore and Conwy walks pick up from the quieter side of town.
• Carry water and a snack on the longer days. There's a café at the summit, but once you're out on Marine Drive or heading for Conwy you're committed for a while.

Why The Rosedene makes a great walking base

We're walkers' people, and the house is set up for it. The Rosedene sits a short, level walk from the promenade, the town centre and the foot of the Great Orme Tramway, so most of these routes start almost from the doorstep — no need to move the car. Speaking of which, there's free street parking on Arvon Avenue and the surrounding roads with no restrictions, which means your car can sit happily all weekend while you're out on the hills.

Because our rooms are room-only, your mornings are your own: there's no fixed breakfast sitting to dash back for, so you can set off at first light or breakfast late at one of the town's many cafés — whichever the day calls for. It's the thing our walking guests love most. We also run dedicated our walking holidays for those who want a few days of it properly planned, and we're always happy to talk routes, tides and weather over the map at the front door.

More Llandudno guides

• Snowdonia (Eryri) Day Trips from Llandudno: Six Adventures Within an Hour
• Llandudno's Victorian Heritage: Staying in the Queen of the Welsh Resorts
• A Family Guide to Llandudno: Where to Stay & What to Do with Kids

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to walk up the Great Orme?

It's a steady climb rather than a quick one — allow a relaxed couple of hours up and down with time to enjoy the views, more if you wander the nature trails. If you'd rather save your legs, you can ride the Great Orme Tramway or the cable car one way and walk the other.

Are there easy, flat walks in Llandudno?

Plenty. The Victorian promenade along the North Shore is completely flat and benched the whole way, the West Shore is an easy open stroll, and Happy Valley and Haulfre Gardens can be kept as gentle as you like. They're ideal for a first afternoon or a slow morning.

Can you walk from Llandudno to Conwy?

Yes — you can follow the coast and the Conwy estuary round to the medieval walled town, which makes a rewarding longer walk. Many people walk out to explore Conwy Castle and the quay, then take the train or bus back to Llandudno rather than retracing their steps.

What should I wear for walking on the Great Orme?

Dress warmer than you would for the seafront — it's always cooler and windier up on the headland — and wear shoes with a decent grip, as the limestone gets slippery when wet. A waterproof layer is wise even when the town below looks fine.

Do I need to check the tide times?

For the beaches, yes. The West Shore in particular changes a lot between high and low water, opening into broad flat sand at low tide and shrinking when it's in. The North Shore is more constant, but a quick tide check before any beach walk is always worth it.

Is The Rosedene a good base for a walking holiday?

We think so. We're a short, level walk from the promenade and the foot of the Great Orme, there's free unrestricted street parking outside, and our room-only stays leave your mornings free to set off whenever suits. We also run walking holidays for guests who'd like it all planned out.

If you're planning a walking trip to this beautiful stretch of the North Wales coast, we'd love to host you. Have a look at our rooms and book direct for the best rate — then bring your boots, and we'll point you at the perfect path for the day.

— Mark & Andrea, The Rosedene