10 Beautiful Places in North Wales UK for Photography (2023)
North Wales UK is such an epic location for photographers and nature lovers!
We have spent many weeks exploring the beautiful places in North Wales with our cameras in hand, and we have gathered the very best things to do in North Wales including location information, and photography tips.
This guide will give you information on our ten favourite beauty spots and best places to visit in North Wales and whilst they are all unique to one another, they are easily accessible by car.
We explored all of these places in two weeks plus more than ten other epic locations within Snowdonia National Park.
1. Snowdonia National Park – Eryri National Park
Snowdonia National Park is one of the most scenic places in Wales and is Wales’s largest national park containing over fifteen mountains!
Full of mountains, castles and coasts, Snowdonia National Park is a nature lover and photographer’s dream.
The National Park is full of picture-perfect places to stay including our favourite, Coed cabins which made the perfect base for our two-week North Wales road trip.
You can find a dedicated guide to our favourite Snowdonia Photography spots here.
2. Pistyll Rhaeadr
Pistyll Rhaeadr is an enchanting waterfall in the Berwyn Mountains just outside of Snowdonia National Park.
It is one of the tallest in Wales and is often referred to as one of the seven wonders of Wales and an epic spot for North Wales photography.
Despite being a very popular spot, we arrived at 6.30 am and had the waterfall almost entirely to ourselves aside from a few others who came and left in quick succession.
One of our favourite waterfall photography locations and up there in our top five beautiful places in North Wales we have visited.
Location Information
- There is an official car park at the foot of the waterfall, which is pay and display and can cost between £5-10 depending on if you visit during the week or the weekend.
- If you plan on arriving early you may find the dedicated car park closed but there are a few parking spots just a five-minute walk down the road which are free of charge.
- The walk to the waterfall’s base is fairly easy and just 5 minutes from the car park and 10 minutes from the free parking spots down the road.
- The hike up to the top of the waterfall takes around an hour and is quite steep but manageable.
- When the car park opens at around 8-9 am, so do the tea rooms and toilet facilities so you can grab yourself a tea or coffee after shooting at sunrise.
- As well as tea rooms, there’s a campsite, bed and breakfast and even a holiday cottage on-site if you feel like staying there a few nights and seeing what the area has to offer!
Photography Tip
For a unique photography composition, bring a pair of wellies so you can stand in the middle of the rocks and water without getting wet feet!
3. Trefor Sea Stacks
Trefor Sea Stacks in North Wales is somewhat of a hidden gem and only a little information about them can be found online.
It was pretty quiet and seemed more frequented by locals on their afternoon walks than tourists having picnics.
A stunning short walk from Trefor Beach along the Wales Coast Path and only 2km out and back to the stacks so an easy one to fit in if you are short on time.
Depending on the time of year and weather patterns you may find the stacks to be extremely windy.
This also made securing the tripod and taking steady shots a real challenge. However, this is one of our favourite beautiful places in North Wales!
Location Information
- The hike up to the stacks is pretty straightforward and not too strenuous, but check wind speeds and stay away from the edges if you suffer from vertigo. It’s mighty high!
- If you keep walking around the coast, you will reach huge mountains with a beautiful beach which is perfect for views (and shelter from the wind) and another gorgeous photography spot
- Park at Trefor Beach car park and walk down along the coast.
Photography Tip
It is best to come here on a calm day. It was too windy to take a long exposure shot comfortably when we visited, and we just about managed a half-second exposure when the wind died down.
Bring an ND filter for long exposure shots. A breaking wave can be used as a leading line toward the rock.
4. Penmon Lighthouse
Trwyn Du Lighthouse, also known as Penmon Lighthouse, is a lighthouse between Black Point near Penmon and Puffin Island.
We arrived just before sunrise, and it was utterly magical. Purple hues in the sky, no sounds but bird calls from the nearby Puffin Island and the gently lapping waves.
We felt as though we were the only people awake in the world.
It is worth noting that the lighthouse is only fully accessible at low tide, and whilst the rocks are very slippy and covered in seaweed, being up so close and personal to this beautiful lighthouse is worth the slipping and sliding.
It is one of the most beautiful places in North Wales we have been for sunrise.
Location Information
- Penmon Point is a great place to spot puffins, dolphins and harbour porpoises in summer, and seals are often resident to Puffin Island and often seen close to the shore around Penmon.
- There is plenty of parking and we even saw a few campers there in the early morning.
- There is a Toll charge to access Penmon, so make sure you carry some cash. However, arriving for sunrise meant that we were not required to pay the toll fee.
Photography Tip
At low tide, the path to Penmon lighthouse is exposed, creating a nice leading line to the lighthouse.
There is also an island not far from the shore that can be used to give a greater sense of scale to the lighthouse.
5. South Stack Lighthouse
Built in 1809 to warn ships of the dangerous rocks below, South Stack stands on a small island off the north Wales coast of Holy Island in Anglesey.
Reached via a descent of 400 steps down the cliffs, this is a location where we would advise you to check the wind speeds before visiting as our trip was a little challenging.
This spot can experience extremely high winds which can feel quite dangerous at times and make it near impossible to walk around normally let alone hold a camera steady to take a photograph!
Location Information
- The first tip – check the wind speeds. Anglesey is a windy place anyway, and honestly, high winds are not fun; no one else stayed longer than 5 minutes and if getting photographs is your main reason for visiting you will not want high wind speeds.
- There is parking, and the walk down is easy if there is no wind, although there are 400 steps in total, so not totally without effort. That said there are a few decent vantage points from the top.
- Before visiting, we had also read that we would likely see lots of seabirds, including guillemots, razorbills, and puffins. Since the wind was so tremendously vicious, we sadly didn’t see anything.
- If viewing it from the outside is not enough for you, then you can also pay £6 per adult for a tour where you can visit the former lighthouse engine room before climbing to the top of the lighthouse.
Photography Tip
When we were at South Stack Lighthouse it was too windy to explore anywhere beyond the path safely, and strong winds meant no chance of a long exposure and a slight chance of being blown off the cliffs.
With this in mind, check the weather forecast before going. There is a specific wind forecast for South Stack that you can find here.
6. Pontcysyllte Aquaduct
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct or Traphont Ddŵr Pontcysyllte in Welsh, is an aquaduct that carries the Llangollen Canal across the River Dee in North East Wales for 18km.
Completed in 1805, the 18-arched stone and iron bridge is used by narrowboats and is impressively the longest aqueduct in Britain as well as the highest in the world.
It was listed as a World Heritage site in 2009.
Impressive to look at and easy to photograph the aqueduct is well worth a visit as you pass by and even has a walkway if you fancy getting a closer look.
Location Information
- There is plenty of free parking by the roadside adjacent to the aqueduct but it is recommended to not spend too long here given it’s shared with residents.
- If you are planning on spending a few hours here then you can access a large car park in the Trevor Basin Visitor Centre.
Photography Tip
If you walk down the aqueduct, you’ll find a trail on the right-hand side that will lead you to a bank.
Here you will find a view of the aqueduct framed by trees on each side, which is the angle we chose to shoot from.
7. Porthdinllaen
Porthdinllaen is a small coastal village on the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd and is another truly beautiful place in North Wales.
An area of outstanding natural beauty and is home to some epic north Wales landscapes and scenic views.
Owned by the national trust since 1994 it offers fantastic coastal views across to Yr Eifl and Snowdonia in the distance.
This old fishing village has some of the most gorgeous views of the Irish Sea with ocean and mountains combined.
Location Information
- As it is National Trust-owned, the location has excellent facilities including a well-serviced car park, toilets and a few small eateries.
- The view we decided to capture was just within a couple of minutes’ walk from the car park and so very accessible but you can make your way down onto the beach for some alternate viewpoints or to spend the day.
Photography Tip
For some alternative photographs, you can also try and capture some of the boats in the harbour.
8. Port Meirion
There are fewer places more unique than this Italian-styled village on the North Coast of Wales.
Initially seeming more akin to Disney land this village comes with a rich history and lots of colourful corners to explore.
Dotted with tropical gardens, elegant architecture stunning ocean views and some of the best ice cream we had on our two-week trip, Port Meirion makes for a wonderful day out and some unique snaps!
It is a little more touristy than some of the other spots we have visited but it is an equally as beautiful location worthy of making our North Wales list!
Location Information
- Port Merioron is a very popular tourist attraction and so if you want to beat the crowds try and avoid afternoons, weekends and any popular holidays.
- A day ticket costs £10 and can be pre-booked online here .
- There is a dedicated car park and the village has all of the facilities you could need including restaurants, a spa, cafes, hotels and self-catering accommodations.
Photography Tip
Use some of the many archways or tree-lined walkways as framing for your photographs and to get some interesting perspectives.
9. Ynys Llanddwyn
Llanddwyn Island (Ynys Llanddwyn) is one of our favourite lighthouses in North Wales since the location is both unique and perfectly picturesque.
Anglesey itself is one of the most beautiful places in North Wales and is home to so many hidden gems including this gorgeous little island.
The island has paths made of sea shells, and pink wildflowers among rolling dunes and small historic buildings as well as the gorgeous lighthouse at the far end.
A short drive from Snowdonia National Park it is the ideal place to spend an afternoon or morning but be sure to check the tide times.
A truly perfect North Wales landscape photography spot where you could spend hours exploring the whole place.
Location Information
- The island can be cut off for up to two hours at high tide so be sure to check the tide times for the island – many a visitor has been stranded on the island due to not being aware of the tides.
- The island is only accessible by a 30-minute walk from the car park either along the beach or through the forest. Whilst it’s not a short walk there are gorgeous views the whole way.
- There are toilet facilities and a large car park.
Photography Tip
Keeping the pink wildflowers in frame, use a shallow depth of field whilst focusing on the lighthouse to create an atmospheric foreground.
10. Dinas Dinlle
Dinas Dinlle is a stunning large sand and pebble beach that has easy access and epic views on a clear day across the Llyn Peninsula and across to the beautiful Llanddwyn island on Anglesey.
Combining two of the most beautiful places in North Wales in one epic location!
With huge areas of flat sand for miles when the tide is out this location is popular with tourists and photographers alike and the perfect spot to watch the sun go down.
Location Information
- Three rather large car parks in a row are free of charge with easy access to the beach.
- The beach and car parks have good facilities including a cafe and toilets.
Photography Tip
Use a half a half-a-half-second exposure to turn the crashing tide into a smoother leading line.
FAQs about North Wales
What is the prettiest area in Wales?
Having spent many weeks exploring Wales we would argue that North Wales and Snowdonia National Park is the prettiest area in Wales.
It is packed with so many gorgeous views, mountainscapes and dreamy coastlines and if you are a nature lover like we are, this place cannot be beaten.
That said we have also spent some time in Pembrokeshire and whilst not as mountainous it is still a very pretty place.
What is North Wales known for?
North Wales is famous for its areas of outstanding natural beauty, epic national parks and gorgeous mountains.
It is also home to over ten of Wales’s most stunning castles including Conwy Castle and Caernarfon Castle.
Where to stay in North Wales?
North Wales is full of incredible places to stay from shepherd huts and caravans to luxurious hotels and air b and bs.
Our favourite place has to be these gorgeous wooden cabins – Coed Cabins. We had the pleasure of staying in two of their cabins whilst exploring North Wales and we just loved them so much. Our full review is here.
Browse available North Wales accommodations!
Is North Wales worth visiting?
A resounding YES from us! As lovers of the outdoors, photographers and nature lovers, North Wales is one of our favourite destinations in the UK.
That said, there is something for everyone in North Wales! from ziplining to beach resorts, caving to incredible restaurants.
North Wales is a real gem within the UK that everyone should get to visit and explore!
Looking for more epic North Wales beauty spots?
Then check out this guide covering our 11 favourite photography locations within the breathtaking Snowdonia National Park!
Snowdonia Photography – 11 Breathtaking Locations
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