Porthmadog: Voted Third Best Seaside Town 2017

It is no secret that the town of Porthmadog is a popular destination to visit. Known as the gateway to Snowdonia, the town is the perfect place to stay for anyone looking to explore North Wales.

Who Gave Out the Award?
Rough Guides placed Porthmadog third in their list of Britain’s Best Seaside Towns. The list – compiled of 30 seaside towns – covered everything from tiny fishing villages to established resorts.

Rough Guides also named Wales as one of the top 10 countries to visit this year, describing the environment as one of the best natural playgrounds in Europe!

The top 2 places were Tynemouth in Tyne and Wear and Southwold in Suffolk. We bear no grudges to them and extend our sincere congratulations. We are delighted Porthmadog is third in the list and the No. 1 in Wales.

Why Was It Awarded?
A spokesperson for Rough Guides highlighted the sheer beauty of the town and its surrounding area, stating ‘If Porthmadog is handsome, it owes at least a portion of its good looks to the magnificent views all around – from town, you can gaze up the Vale of Ffestiniog and across the estuary of the Glaslyn River to Snowdonia’s mountains.’

The spokesperson then went onto highlight the ease of access to Snowdonia National Park, and mentioned the uniqueness of the narrow-gauge steam train – the 22km-long Ffestiniog Railway, which runs from Porthmadog harbour to the slate-mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Porthmadog’s chairman of the chamber of trade Peter Bennett welcomed the ranking, stating ‘This is great news for the town, we have a wonderful High Street full of interesting shops, fantastic beaches nearby and of course beautiful scenery.’

Booking Your Next Visit to Porthmadog
So, you don’t need to take our word for visiting Porthmadog this autumn, Rough Guides has done that for us!

Porthmadog offers more than just its sheer beauty, the town and surrounding area are packed with a range of family friendly activities and excursions – from quad-biking to picturesque walking trails.

For more information about visiting and staying in Porthmadog, visit our accommodation page.

You can also check out our other blog postings for ideas on local cycling routes, coastal walks, interesting beaches to visit, and family day trips!