Bangor's stunning surroundings

The wonders of North Wales

What made my exchange in Bangor truly outstanding was the stunning location of North Wales, which turned out to be best explored in the autumn/winter semester because of the lack of tourists. Buses go to various villages and hiking points in the national park Eryri, along the coast, to the peninsula Anglesey, and castles and cosy villages everywhere.

Day tickets for the entirety of North Wales cost six pounds, so travelling on sunny days is affordable and one of the best things to do while in Bangor. I have not only explored castles, beach towns, and mountains with friends but also went on organised trips from the Mountain Walking and Archaeological Society and the international office. 

If you are interested in hiking in Eryri, I can recommend signing up for the Mountain Walking Society. While hiking up Yr Wyddfa (the highest mountain in Wales, England, and North Ireland) and taking popular routes from a few villages is easy to do as a non-local, most routes in Eryri are not marked and include scrambling. Going to the national park with a society is not only a great way to meet people but can also lead you to stunning places that are very hard to find otherwise.

Other popular sights around Bangor include: Penrhyn Castle, Caernarfon Castle, Conwy and Conwy Castle, beach town Llandudno and the Great Omre, Aber Falls Abergwyngregyn, Llanddwyn Island and Holyhead Coastpath on Anglesey and many many more. You can also quickly reach the English cities Chester, Liverpool and Manchester by train and explore these for a day or longer.

I had a wonderful stay in Bangor and quickly fell in love with the city and North Wales. Whether you are a student or a tourist, Bangor and the surroundings are definitely worth the trip.