🌲 Why We Returned to North Wales – And Discovered a Hidden Gem at Parkdean Ty Mawr
This wasn’t just another family getaway.
We headed to North Wales earlier this year for a deeply personal reason — to film a video about the Welsh Government’s PLANT! project. When our twin boys Samuel and Thomas were born ten years ago, the initiative planted a tree for every child born in Wales. Our sons’ trees were planted near Llyn Geirionydd, in the forest near the historic Taliesin Monument. And we were finally going to find them.
Driving through those winding Welsh lanes in our campervan, it felt like a journey home. We made plaques with the boys’ names and placed them by their trees. It was emotional, humbling, and a reminder of how special this part of the world is to our family.
📺 Our PLANT! Tree Legacy Journey
Watch the full video of our emotional return to North Wales, where we finally tracked down our sons’ commemorative trees and placed handmade copper plaques beside them.
🏡 Our Base: Parkdean Ty Mawr Holiday Park
🎥 Already Seen by Over 17,000 Viewers!
Before we go any further — you can watch our full Ty Mawr lodge tour and park overview here. This video has already had over 17,000 views on YouTube and is still getting new views every day.
We decided to stay nearby at Parkdean Ty Mawr Holiday Park in Towyn. What a find!
We booked a Knightly Lodge for the Monday–Friday Easter break — and at just £500, it was a total bargain. This wasn’t your typical holiday caravan:
- Separate entrance hall
- Two bathrooms (vital with kids!)
- A wraparound balcony
- Washing machine
- Located in a peaceful spot right on the edge of the park
🎯 Why We Loved the Park
Parkdean Ty Mawr had a real Center Parcs vibe, but with a much more relaxed, North Walian price tag. Here’s what we tried:
- High ropes & archery
- Survival course & buggies
- Big indoor pool with slides
- Football pitches, craft workshops
- On-site restaurant (yes, I had the Katsu curry more than once)
- A chippy, amusements, supermarket, and evening entertainment
We were especially impressed by how friendly the staff were and how easy it was to get around without a car — the bus stop right outside connected us to all the coastal resorts.
🏖 A Base to Explore: Llandudno & Beyond
One afternoon, we headed out to film a separate video about the Great Orme Tramway in Llandudno, another long-time favourite. It’s a proper throwback: clanking up the hill on Britain’s only remaining cable-hauled street tramway.
The views at the top were fantastic, and the boys loved the retro feel of the whole thing.
🚐 Touring Option?
If you’re in a campervan or caravan, Ty Mawr also has a touring area with hook-up points, right next to the lodge zone. It looked like a really convenient base — you could even blend a few days of lodge life with van life!
✅ Final Verdict
North Wales always delivers — whether you’re tracing your family’s history, riding a tram up a mountain, or chasing the kids through a soft play. And Ty Mawr gave us a genuinely memorable, great-value base for all of it.
We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to families, especially during off-peak breaks.
