Portmeirion is compact and best on foot. Porthmadog is about 10 minutes by car, Harlech about 20 minutes across the estuary.
1 Portmeirion village
Wander lanes of colour-washed cottages, the campanile, the Bristol Colonnade, the Pantheon and the Town Hall with its rescued Jacobean ceiling. Every corner was designed as a view.
Practical: Ticketed for day visitors; open most of the year. Allow 2–3 hours.
2 The Piazza and gardens
The central piazza has a fountain, flowerbeds and palms. Beyond it, paths lead through the Gwyllt, a woodland garden of rhododendrons and exotic trees, to a lighthouse and quiet beaches on the estuary.
Practical: Included in entry. Paths are hilly.
3 The Dwyryd estuary
At low tide the sands stretch towards Harlech and the mountains. A walk along the shore below the hotel gives the classic views back to the village.
Practical: Free with entry. Do not walk out on the sands: the tide comes in fast.
4 Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland railways
From Porthmadog harbour, the Ffestiniog Railway climbs about 21 km to the slate town of Blaenau Ffestiniog; the Welsh Highland Railway runs past Beddgelert to Caernarfon. Both use restored steam locomotives.
Practical: Ticketed; seasonal timetables. Minffordd, near Portmeirion, is a stop.
5 Harlech Castle
Built by Edward I from 1283 on a rock that once stood above the sea, Harlech held out in a famous seven-year siege in the Wars of the Roses. A modern footbridge recreates the original entrance.
Practical: Cadw site; ticketed. Allow 1–1.5 hours. Harlech has a station on the coast line.
