The best traffic-free bike rides around Llandudno

Hugging the cliff edge from a lower vantage point, the Marine Drive coastal road is a 4.5-mile engineering marvel that puts you right at the water's edge. The Perspectives: Looking straight up from the tarmac, massive pale limestone walls tower over you like ancient castle ramparts. Look the other way, and the road drops sheer into the deep, churning blue of the Irish Sea. Wildlife Encounters: Because you're right at sea level, it’s one of the best spots to catch a glimpse of grey seals bobbing in the water, pods of dolphins out in the bay, or seabirds nesting furiously on the ledges above. The Atmosphere: It’s a one-way, anti-clockwise loop that feels wild and exposed. Whether you're driving it, cycling it, or walking against the sea breeze, the sheer scale of the rock meeting the ocean makes it an unforgettable stretch of coast.

When it comes to two wheels, the Great Orme isn't a purpose-built trail centre with manicured dirt singletracks or man-made jumps, but it’s still an absolute playground for riders who love raw, natural terrain and unforgettable coastal views.The Marine Drive Toll Road: While technically a road, this 4.5-mile anti-clockwise loop is a bucket-list ride for cyclists. It’s free for bikes, largely traffic-light due to the one-way system, and hugs the cliff edges with sweeping drops to the sea. It gives you a proper leg-straining climb up past the old lighthouse before letting you open it up on the twisty coastal descents. Off-Road and Grassy Tracks: There are some rough tracks, grassy paths, and limestone-flecked bridleways that weave across the upper slopes and around the country park. They demand a sturdy mountain bike and a good sense of balance, bouncing over exposed rock and uneven terrain. The Reality Check: Because the headland is a protected Special Area of Conservation, a limestone nature reserve, and a grazing ground for wild Kashmiri goats and sheep, off-piste exploring is heavily discouraged. Public footpaths are strictly for walkers, so you have to stick to permitted tracks and the toll road. If you're after heavy-duty uplift parks with berms and drop-offs, you'd head deeper into Snowdonia to places like Coed y Brenin or Antur Stiniog. But for a cheeky spin with jaw-dropping sea air in your face and punchy, leg-burning climbs, riding the Orme is hard to beat.

Colwyn Bay Beach is a golden, three-mile playground perfect for seaside strutting! With its sleek, modern promenade and soft sands, it’s a haven for: Watersports: Ideal for jet-skiing or kayaking. Relaxation: Plenty of space for sunbathing and sandcastles.

Climbing the Great Orme via Ty Gwyn Road from Llandudno's West Shore offers a short but fiercely steep alternative ascent. Prepare for an immediate, intense challenge as this narrow road kicks upwards brutally, averaging around 9.7% but hitting savage ramps well over 20%, potentially touching 25% in places. Experience a full-gas effort demanding your lowest gears, rewarded quickly by spectacular views unfolding behind you over West Shore, the Conwy estuary, and towards Snowdonia.

Rhos on Sea is described as neat, pristine and peaceful. There is a long seaside promenade and great views.

The Wales Coast Path is a long-distance footpath that is a giant in stature. At 870 miles (1,400 km), it traverses the whole of the coastline of Wales. It is famous for its scenic views, friendly towns, historic sites, and unique wildlife. Here, when walking around the western flank of the Great Orme, you have super beautiful views of the Conwy Estuary on one side and the craggy flanks of the Great Orme on the other. If you are lucky enough to be walking downhill and continue on the path, then you will also have fantastic views of Conwy Castle ahead of you as well. I will add that this is a road section at this point, but there is a pavement and the views are magnificent.

The cliff top cafe with a heart of gold. A walk around the Marine Drive on the Great Orme is a fascinating experience, with a wealth of Archaeology, Geology and Biology on view. But it's a thirsty walk, and all uphill. Half way round, at the highest point, there's a great surprise in store. Built in 1908, and there’s an apocryphal story that suggests the then owner’s somewhat dominant wife wasn’t seen after the concrete foundations were laid… Originally, the cafe was a simple shack, but in the 1980s it was expanded to hold 16 seats, and acted as a warm and cosy shelter for the winter walkers. In 2001 the cafe was expanded again, through EU grant aid, to house a toilet and a larger room, and in 2019 the final expansion phase saw a much larger main room and the new roof terrace created. there is ample free parking, plenty of space inside, outside and on the roof and the best toasted teacakes to be found anywhere.

A brilliant loop around Marine Drive, great views out to sea and of the coast line.