About Old Colwyn
© Geograph contributors / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Old Colwyn (Hen Golwyn in Welsh) is the original settlement from which Colwyn Bay grew in the Victorian era. While the main town along the seafront is a planned Victorian resort development, Old Colwyn predates it — the village core has an older, quieter character, with a parish church, community pubs and residential streets that give a sense of what the area was before the holiday industry arrived.
Old Colwyn lies at the eastern end of the bay, slightly inland and uphill from the seafront. It is easily reached on foot from Colwyn Bay town centre — around 20 minutes walking east — or by local bus. Visitors rarely venture this way, which is part of its appeal. The village has no major tourist attractions but rewards those who want to see a less packaged side of North Wales coastal life.
Fairy Glen
The main natural attraction associated with Old Colwyn is Fairy Glen — a wooded ravine cut by a stream descending from the hills above the town. The glen has been a local walking destination for well over a century; Victorian visitors came specifically to walk its tree-lined paths and cross its small bridges. The name reflects the Romantic-era taste for picturesque natural scenery that shaped tourism across North Wales.
Fairy Glen is accessible from the residential streets of Old Colwyn. The paths are generally clear but can be slippery in wet weather. It is a quiet, shaded escape from the seafront on a hot day, and particularly beautiful in autumn when the leaf colour is at its best.
Walking from Old Colwyn
Old Colwyn is a starting point for walks into the hills above the North Wales coast. Paths lead upward from the village toward the open moorland of the Mynydd Marian and connecting routes toward Bryn Euryn. These walks give excellent views back over Colwyn Bay, Rhos-on-Sea and the wider bay toward the Great Orme and the Conwy headland.
The coast path westward from the eastern end of the promenade connects Old Colwyn to the main seafront and on to Rhos-on-Sea, giving a good linear walk with return by bus or the coastal path itself.
Getting There
Old Colwyn is on the eastern edge of the main Colwyn Bay urban area. On foot from the town centre, follow Abergele Road east for around 20–25 minutes. Local buses from Colwyn Bay town centre serve Old Colwyn regularly. By car, parking is on the residential streets around the village centre. There are no dedicated car parks in Old Colwyn itself.
Nearby: Llysfaen
Uphill from Old Colwyn, on the hill of Mynydd Marian, sits the small hilltop village of Llysfaen — a quiet spot with a medieval church, a limestone-quarrying past and some of the best coastal views in the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Old Colwyn?
Old Colwyn is the original village at the eastern end of Colwyn Bay, slightly inland and uphill from the main seafront. It’s around a 20-minute walk east from Colwyn Bay town centre along Abergele Road, or a short local bus ride.
Is Old Colwyn good for visitors?
Old Colwyn has no major tourist attractions, but it’s worth a visit for a quieter, more residential side of the area — Fairy Glen’s wooded ravine walk, community pubs and shops, and walking routes up into the hills. It rewards visitors looking for a less packaged experience than the seafront.
Can you walk from Old Colwyn to Colwyn Bay?
Yes. Old Colwyn is directly connected to the main Colwyn Bay seafront via the promenade and Abergele Road, an easy and level walk of around 20–25 minutes each way.
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