There’s a feast of autumn events in store in Conwy County

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Local markets, sporting events, spooky Halloween happenings… as the half term holiday approaches, there’s masses going on in North Wales. Here’s how to make the most of this action-packed season.

Tuck into real Welsh food and drink in RSPB Conwy

On the last Wednesday morning of each month, the beautiful RSPB Conwy nature reserve, set on the banks of the Conwy estuary, hosts Conwy Farmers’ Market (conwyfarmersmarket.co.uk). It’s a friendly gathering, offering delicious local produce and artisan-made treats such as chutney, cheese and goat’s milk soap. Yes, soap! You’ll find it outside the RSPB Conwy Visitor Centre between 9am and 1pm on Wednesday 27 October 2021.

The market is just one of a flock of family events taking place at RSPB Conwy during the October half term holiday. To explore the natural history of this dynamic, watery wilderness, book a Saturday morning wildlife walk with a knowledgeable RSPB guide. In the space of two hours, they aim to point out 50 species.

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Have a high-energy half term at Adventure Parc Snowdonia

Active families adore Adventure Parc Snowdonia. There are masses of activities to try. It has a superb inland surfing lagoon, one of the longest artificial caving courses in the world, a high ropes course, a parkour floor trail and possibly the most extreme indoor slides you’ll ever encounter. Frankly, we’re breathless just thinking about it all. You’ll never run out of things to do.

Excitingly, the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally (cambrianrally.co.uk), returns to North Wales on Saturday 30 October 2021, and takes place nearby. Founded in 1955, it’s one of Britain’s best motorsport events. The 2021 edition will be greener than any British rally has ever been before. The organisers, who are making the event carbon neutral by 2025, are investing in Welsh tree-planting and hosting electric car demos. In time, they will run a Green Cambrian Rally for EVs alongside the main event.

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Step back in time at the Home Front Experience

Let’s face it. It’s autumn. At some point, rain may scupper your plans. But don’t panic! You can seek shelter in the Home Front Experience in Llandudno, before it closes for the year. This unique, independent social history museum is crammed with nostalgic objects and sounds that evoke civilian life in 1940s Britain. It’s open daily except Sundays from mid-March to early November, and all week during school holidays.

Curator Adrian Hughes is a mine of information. “Few people know that the Inland Revenue was sent to Llandudno during the Second World War”, he says. “Seafront hotels were requisitioned for office accommodation, forcing hoteliers to put all their furniture into storage. To many landladies, the civil servants were known as ‘guinea pigs’ on account of the guinea a week they paid for board and lodgings.” To learn more, check out Adrian’s new book, Llandudno’s Military Heritage.

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Enjoy some proper shopping, then unwind at the Dunoon

Enjoy some proper shopping, then unwind at the Dunoon

It’s time to shut down your laptop. With modern malls, delightful independent shops and friendly markets, Llandudno and Colwyn Bay are great places to rediscover the fun of proper, real-life shopping. Don’t miss Colwyn Bay’s Artisan Market (theartisanmarketcompany.co.uk) on Station Road, for vintage clothing, cute crafts and tasty edibles. It’ll be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 16 October, Saturday 20 November and Saturday 11 December 2021.

To rest your weary feet, grab a spot at the Club Bar next door to the Dunoon Hotel in Llandudno, and treat yourself to an artisan coffee, local beer or Welsh cocktail. Bookable for Christmas parties of up to 40 people, it’s owned by the Dunoon, which has a Winter Warmer offer coming up: between 1 November and 20 December 2021, dinner, bed and breakfast will cost £80 per person per night.

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Snap up a room at Escape during the Northern Eye Photography Festival

Launched in 2017, the biennial Northern Eye International Photography Festival (northerneyefestival.co.uk) returns to North Wales this month. Featuring images from Wales and elsewhere, it’s run by Oriel Colwyn (orielcolwyn.org), Colwyn Bay’s innovative photography gallery. Throughout October, free fringe exhibitions are popping up in an eclectic range of buildings.

Escape Boutique B&B in nearby Llandudno would be a fitting place to stay. It’s a celebrity favourite, and images of its glamorous contemporary interiors regularly appear in the press. A striking Victorian villa stuffed with cool, quirky touches, it’s sure to appeal to your inner Instagrammer – and it’s handy for Venue Cymru and Llandudno’s finest restaurants, bars and shops.

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Have a happy Halloween in a coastal caravan

Halloween is sneaking up on us, but there’s still time to grab a last-minute booking at Golden Gate Holiday Centre or Whitehouse Leisure Park near Towyn Beach. With handy restaurants, bars, children’s entertainment and a pool, these leisure parks have everything you need for a comfortable but affordable break in North Wales.

For an ultra-spooky after-dark adventure, wing it down to Zip World Fforest (zipworld.co.uk), which will open late (7.30 to 10.30pm) from 22 to 31 October 2021. As you bounce along Europe’s longest net walkway and ride the toboggan-style rollercoaster, beware the blood-curdling twist: at any moment, Ffear Fforest’s creepy clowns and zombies may appear. Passes, available to brave souls aged nine and above, must be booked in advance.

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Running and relaxation at Tŷ Gwyn Holiday Park

If the mere thought of ghouls, ghosts and things that go bump in the night makes you want to run a mile (or even ten kilometres), why not face your fears and do exactly that? Just sign up for the Porth Eirias Halloween 10K (bespokefitnessandevents.co.uk), dig out your wackiest Halloween costume and follow the North Wales Coast Path in Colwyn Bay. As well as the 10K for adults, there’s a 1K for kids. The fun starts at 9am on Saturday 30 October 2021.

For a peaceful retreat after all that exertion, Tŷ Gwyn Holiday Park could be just the thing. Quiet, friendly and family-run, it’s on the North Wales coast near Abergele, with direct access to the sea. With solar panels, wildflower beds and other nature-friendly touches, it won the 2019 David Bellamy Silver Conservation Award, and its bar-restaurant, the Peacock Lounge, has a wide-ranging menu, including cocktails. Go on, you deserve it.

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