A sheltered green pocket climbing towards the Orme — woodland textures, winding paths and moments of calm above the town. A lovely soft adventure between promenade and summit.
Happy Valley Gardens sits in a sheltered natural hollow on the lower slopes of the Great Orme, tucked between the pier and the start of the Marine Drive. It is the oldest public park in the Conwy region, and one of those places that feels genuinely removed from the town below -- quieter, greener, and with views over the bay that improve as you climb.
The land was originally a quarry. In 1887, Lord Mostyn donated the site to the town of Llandudno to mark the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, and the council set about landscaping it -- planting specimen trees, laying out rock gardens and winding paths, and installing a handsome drinking fountain with a bronze bust of the Queen, which still stands today. It was listed as a historic garden of excellence in the 1930s for its notable alpine plant collection, and received a Heritage Lottery Grant in 1997 for further restoration and replanting.
Wander up through the zigzag paths and you will find a Gorsedd stone circle, erected for the National Eisteddfod held in Llandudno in 1962-63, sitting quietly on a lawn above the fountain. Higher still, the cable car station marks the point where the gardens give way to the open Orme above. There is also a camera obscura dating from 1890, recently restored, which gives panoramic views over the headland and bay.
At the lower end of the valley there is a cafe, a miniature golf course, and a play area -- so it works well for families as well as those simply after a peaceful walk with a decent view. The path from the promenade up through Happy Valley is also the most pleasant way to begin a walk up the Great Orme itself, and the Alice in Wonderland trail passes through here too, with Tweedledum and Tweedledee lurking among the trees.
Why Go
- Highly rated by our guests
- Easy to reach from The Rosedene
- Suitable for all guests
