Exploring the Best of Penmaenmawr: Coastal Adventures and Mountain Escapes

Mountain View does exactly what it promises. It sits at the foot of the northern Eryri hills, looking out over the Irish Sea.

If you’re booking this for fifty people, you’ve essentially chosen a location that says, “Everyone gets a view, but no one gets it for free.” Penmaenmawr is built in layers, and it’s ideal for a group that needs to be periodically sent outside to reset.

The “Mountain” Part of the Deal

If you can persuade part of the group to head up toward the Druid’s Circle, a Bronze Age stone circle perched above the town, the payoff is a clear view across to Anglesey and Puffin Island. It’s better than anything you’ll see on a screen, and it comes with the added benefit of mild exhaustion.

My dad and I usually prefer our scenery while seated, but even I’ll admit the air up there feels different. This walk is an excellent group-splitter. Send the energetic types uphill and leave the professional sitters at the house with binoculars and a kettle. Everyone feels included. No one has to pretend they enjoy inclines.

The Beach: A Winter Mood

At the bottom of the hill is a wide, sandy beach and a long promenade. In winter, it’s beautifully empty. You can walk for miles, shout into the wind about the logistics of group holidays, and receive no feedback whatsoever.

For large groups, the promenade is ideal. It’s flat, paved, and wide enough to accommodate everyone without losing a toddler or a grandparent. On clear evenings, it’s also a prime spot for sunset — assuming the Welsh clouds decide to share.

Feeding the Herd

Penmaenmawr has a quiet, slightly faded seaside feel. It is not, however, designed to feed dozens of people at once.

The tactical option: Conwy or Llandudno are minutes away if you want a proper night out.

The realistic option: Stay in. Use the local butchers, buy far too much food, and cook together. Mountain View is set up for this. Eating while looking out over the sea, warm and dry, arguing over a board game while the town lights flicker below, is objectively better than coordinating a restaurant booking.

Notes for the Organiser

The Train: The station is right there, on the North Wales Coast Line. Useful for sending a smaller group to Holyhead or Chester when cabin fever sets in.

Parking: It’s a coastal jigsaw. Park considerately, avoid narrow lanes, and prevent the appearance of handwritten notes from neighbours.

The Quiet Escape: The Fairy Glen. A wooded valley nearby that feels completely removed from the town. Ideal for silence, perspective, or avoiding people briefly.

Mountain View works because it forces perspective. It’s hard to stay wound up about itineraries when you’re looking out over the Irish Sea. It’s a place for walking, breathing, and accepting that, eventually, everyone will make it to the kitchen for tea.