The epic drive with stunning sea and mountain views that’s just an hour from Manchester

There’s an epic driving route an hour from Manchester that journeys through North Wales, offering stunning views. 

The circular route has been likened to the famous Route 66 in America, and will give you picturesque views of North Wales.

Created by Attractions of Snowdonia, the 360-mile route on Snowdonia 360 (Eryi 360) was inspired by the iconic American highway and has just launched officially.

There’s an interactive map plus a printed map of the route.

Those travelling from Manchester can get on the route at Colwyn Bay which is around an hour and a half drive from the city centre.

You can pick the exact journey you want to take on the interactive map before setting off.

It journeys through breathtaking viewpoints and plenty of popular attractions plus hidden gems along the way. 

The route takes drivers through Snowdonia National Park plus the gorgeous coastline of Llŷn Peninsula.

You’ll also take in mountainous views across the Gwynedd landscape and enjoy some of the best sea views the region has to offer.

Jonathan Williams-Ellis, Chair of Attractions of Snowdonia and Snowdonia 360 said: “Snowdonia 360 brings something entirely different to those looking to visit and experience North Wales in their own unique way. We attracted huge interest upon launch, however, paused all activity in line with national guidelines.

“With mixed messaging and changing directives re: foreign travel on an almost daily basis, many tourists are choosing to stay within the UK for their annual holiday. We see this as a great opportunity for Snowdonia 360 which will help visitors plan and manage almost every aspect of their journey.

“As a group of leading North Wales attractions, we have each faced considerable challenges and are keen to pull together to promote the region as well as our individual attractions.

“Pre-lockdown, we invested considerable time and effort researching and understanding other successful global touring models and created a unique circular route with bespoke functionality.”

However, with current local restrictions in place in parts of North Wales, and the ever-changing situation, it might be best to embark on your journey when things are a bit more back to normal.

You can create a route for later now though, and people are encouraged to share their path on the website snowdonia360.com.