St Dwynwen’s Day is special day in the Welsh calendar, celebrated on January 25th each year; Wales’s own Valentine’s Day and one that honours the legend of the Welsh patron saint of lovers, St Dwynwen.
Dwynwen was a Princess, and a saint of the Celtic church, who was herself rather unlucky in love, so she became a nun, prayed for true lovers to have better luck than she did and set up a convent on the island of Llanddwyn on Ynys Môn (Anglesey).
This St Dwynwen’s Day visit our Llandudno seafront hotel for a romantic break; for strolls along the Prom, dining experiences for two and local days out to explore the beautiful Welsh landscape and our unique history.
Romantic walks
St Dwynwen’s walk
What could be more romantic than a walk to St Dwynwen’s church on St Dwynwen’s Day.
Accessible at low tide along a mile long stretch of beautiful sandy beach which is part of the National Nature Reserve of Newborough Warren, it is a magical place and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Walk through Newborough Forest, a 2,000-acre nature reserve that backs on to the beach for the chance to spot red squirrels, or through the sand dunes, the largest in Wales and the second largest in the UK, to reach the 3½ mile stretch of long sandy beach, with spectacular views across the sea to Caernarfon Bay, and the impressive mountains of Eryri, (‘Snowdonia’) the backdrop of the Llyn Peninsula.
At the end of the beach you’ll reach Llanddwyn Island, the once home of St Dwynwen and the remains of her 16th Century Dwynwen’s church, as well as Twr Mawr (‘Large Tower’) lighthouse which was built in 1845 and Twr Bach (‘Little Tower’) Beacon which was built in 1800.
Llandudno Promenade walk
If, for you, a romantic break is all about relaxing and not venturing too far, then simply step out of the hotel for a wonderful walk along our Promenade. Almost two miles long, it’s a special place for a walk, hand in hand, to take in the coastal views, breathe in the fresh sea air and enjoy the Promenade lined with all its authentic Victorian seafront architecture.
Hotel experiences
Dining breaks
Dine, wine and relax, together. A romantic break in Llandudno is all about reconnecting to traditional hospitality and romance and enjoying your escape of the everyday.
Our Seaside Dining Break welcomes you to getaway and sit down to dine Chantrey’s, our award-winning hotel restaurant, where you can expect nothing less than excellent service and modern cuisine inspired by the classic Welsh flavours and a menu that honours seasonal Welsh produce and fine market-fresh ingredients.
Afternoon tea
Book a little indulgence with an Imperial Afternoon Tea and while away a chilly winter afternoon over a classic. Sample delicious freshly baked scones with jam and cream, savoury finger sandwiches and homemade sweet treats, perfectly paired with a pot of tea, coffee, or to make it a real celebration, a chilled glass of something bubbly.
Gift vouchers
Know they’ll love a dining break or a seaside escape but you’re not sure when to book, give them something to look forward to with a hotel gift voucher.
Local historical site & attractions near Llandudno
National Trust Penrhyn Castle
Visit a 19th-century neo-Norman castle and grounds with a long history; the opulent interiors and art collection are just the start of a history built on industrial and colonial foundations – ‘sugar and slate fortunes, social unrest and the longest-running industrial dispute in British history.’
Sat at the edge of the Menai Strait, the castle, previously owned by the Pennant Family was built from the profits of Penrhyn Quarry, once the largest, now still one of the largest slate quarries in the world. The castle overlooks the quarry and the very port from which its slate was exported around the world.
Today the castle is owned by the National Trust and you can visit the castle, beautiful walled gardens, enjoying wandering around the 60 acres of woodland and parkland before stopping by café and castle shop.
Quarry tours
Home of the best slate in the world, North Wales dominated the world’s production of roofing slate from 1780 to 1940. Today, commercial slate is still mined here, on a smaller scale, whilst the slate landscape of North Wales is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Why not do something different and take a guided tour of historic slate quarries such as Llechwedd or Penrhyn and learn about the industry’s techniques and the lives of the quarrymen who worked there.
- Go on the ‘Deep Mine Tour’ at Llechwedd; delving 500ft deep by cable train to explore tunnels and 10 incredible mining chambers, an underground lake and learning about the interesting history and heritage of the mine’s past, the workers’ lives and the process of slate mining.
- For those wishing to stay on the surface, consider the Penrhyn Quarry Tour; taking you on a 3km journey aboard their iconic red ex-army truck across the quarry landscape, showcasing some of the finest Eryri views.
Whisky distillery tours
Another great shared experience and way to celebrate St Dwynwen’s Day or Valentine’s Day is to book a distillery tour. And you can’t beat a tour that’s within walking distance of our North Wales hotel.
Just half a mile from our Llandudno hotel, the Penderyn Distillery offers an hour-long Distillery Tour and look around their exhibition area which includes their unique and ‘innovative single copper pot still.’ Learn all about the history of Penderyn and their award-winning whisky, then step into the Tasting Bar after for a couple of samples.
A Valentine’s break ought to be filled with love and memories; of shared experiences, new and traditional, plenty of great food, be it long romantic dinners or breakfast in bed, and time to simply be together. We hope this Dwynwen’s Day you will find the perfect way to celebrate here in North Wales.
“Dydd Santes Dwynwen Hapus”