Portmeirion is one of the most surprising finds in North Wales ~ a pastel painted village that looks more like a film set than somewhere you can actually wander around. It was designed to feel like Italy ~ bright domes, archways, and balconies with sub-tropical gardens and forested trails. The Prisoner was filmed here in the 60s which adds to the charm.

Portmeirion was the lifelong project of architect Clough Williams-Ellis, who wanted to prove that beauty and nature could exist side by side. You can feel that, as nothing feels rushed yet everything feels considered.

We’ve visited a few times over the years, but summer has to be our favourite. The colours are bolder in the sunlight, and the whole place makes you feel like you’re in an old Italian village. There’s something about this place that tricks you into thinking you’ve stepped into southern Europe. It’s got the same slow, sunkissed feeling ~ but without Euros, or a flight.

We always take our time here ~ taking the cobbled paths at our own pace, ducking into shady corners when the sun gets too much. Everything here feels beautifully considered. It’s the kind of place where you spot new details every time. There’s a small gallery called Rob Pierse Gallery where we always pick up a print or two. 

Eventually, when you reach the water, the estuary opens out. If the tide’s on its way out, we head down to the sand for swim. In Portmeirion, there are plenty of places to grab ice cream in a sun trap, and sit on the terrace to look at the architecture.

It’s the kind of place where you tune into the small stuff ~ the way light falls on the buildings, the quiet calm of a summer afternoon.

Portmeirion is both playful & peaceful. It’s clearly designed, but not overdone. Artistic without being pretentious. It’s easy to forget you’re still in Wales. And that’s part of its magic ~ sometimes you don’t need to travel to Italy to see Italy.

If you’ve got time, Black Rock Sands is nearby too ~ one of the only beaches in the UK where you can drive right onto the sand. It’s vast, wild, and open, and makes a warranted stop if you’re looking to stretch the day out a little longer.

~ Type of Walk: Meandering village paths with occasional inclines.

~ Parking: Portmeirion Visitor Car Park. LL48 6ER.

~ Equipment: Comfortable shoes, tote bag, swimwear, and a camera.

~ Best Time to Visit: Spring to summer.

~ Company: Eimer & the Tide

Coordinates: 52.9145° N, 4.0973° W

Photography: Scott Woolley. Images captured on Sony A7iii ~ May 2021.