Llanfairfechan

Llanfairfechan is a small seaside town (population around 3,500) on the north coast off the A55 road, between Penmaenmawr and Bangor; it has a railway station on the North Wales Coast Line. Translated into English, Llanfairfechan means "The Little (or Lesser) Church of St. Mary".

Llanfairfechan was developed in the late 19th Century as a Victorian holiday resort, popular for its sea air and safe bathing. Much of the town’s Victorian character remains, with a long spacious promenade and original stone built shops in the busy town centre, now a conservation area. Llanfairfechan’s long stretch of sandy beach is a delight for families with young children.

Llanfairfechan provides some of the best birdwatching in north Wales, and is a superb place to spend a few hours. At various times of the year, many people are attracted by the prospect of seeing lots of different species of sea-birds and waterfowl, and a good place to start is the promenade itself. Other locations include an area of saltmarsh half a mile west called Glan y Mor Elias and just to the west is the excellent Madryn reserve with 3 hides and 2 pools, one freshwater, one tidal.