Llandudno, known as the ‘Queen of Welsh resorts’, lies on a peninsula between the impressive carboniferous limestone headlands of the Great and Little Orme. Llandudno (meaning’ enclosure’ of Tudno) was named after Tudno, a 6thC Christian who built the first church in the area. This elegant town, largely built between 1849 and 1912 was purposely designed as a seaside resort, under the guidance of the wealthy Mostyn family. The arrival of the branch railway in 1858 ensured its development into the premier visitor destination it remains today. The Great Orme, which is now managed as a country park and nature reserve, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation, and has Heritage Coast status. It contains cliffs which are home to a variety of sea birds, impressive crags, limestone pavements, grassland and heathland, roamed by its famous feral Kashmir goats. Running around its cliffs is a delightful Victorian toll road, and rising to its summit (679 feet/207 metres) is Britain’s only cable-hauled road tramway – both engineering marvels. There are many sites of historical and archaeological interest, including extensive Bronze Age copper mines. From Llandudno the beautiful North Wales coast extends via other seaside resorts to Prestatyn. Together they offer stunning coastal scenery and views, best appreciated on foot. The 30 walks in this book comprehensively explore the landscape and history of this part of the North Wales coast. They visit sites of historic interest including medieval castles, an Iron Age hillfort, a Neolithic burial chamber, ancient churches, manor houses and nature reserves. They feature low limestone hills, woodland, beaches, dunes, town trails, and river estuaries. They include five linear walks linked to local bus services following the new Wales Coast Path from Prestatyn to Conwy. The routes, which range from a simple 1½ mile waymarked nature reserve trail to an 8½ mile section of the Wales Coast Path.
