Book review: Snowdonia and North Wales - Insight Guides Great Breaks

However, if your budget is shrinking and your belt is tightening, there could be no better place for this year’s great escape than the beautiful countryside on our doorstep.

Snowdonia and North Wales has so much to offer, whether it’s a relaxing weekend break or an all-action holiday.

From brooding medieval castles and the iconic Mount Snowdon to slate caverns and vintage railways, and from atmospheric Victorian villages to pristine beaches and breathtaking wilderness, North Wales is packed with places of interest.

Picking the right guide book is also essential if you want to make the most of your visit and with Tourist Centres closing up and down the country, the Insight Guide Great Breaks series could be your ideal travelling companion.

Fresh, contemporary, easy-to-use and beautifully illustrated, his year’s new batch of guides also includes Bath, Belfast, Cotswolds, Guernsey and York.

Discover at a glance the top 10 attractions in North Wales, like the quaint village of Blaenau Ffestiniog and the domineering Harlech Castle, and head off for the most scenic walks and historic tours.

Journey through rugged mountains and along sweeping coastlines, explore the old mining country and call in at the lively market towns.

All the routes are timed and accompanied by easy-to-follow maps for stress-free navigation and feature hand-picked places to eat, drink and shop en route.

Special features are scattered throughout the guide to provide more detailed insight into the highlights and distinctive aspects of the area like exploring Anglesey by car and picking up the best traditionally brewed Welsh beers.

Learn about the area’s story-telling tradition, the origins of the Welsh language and the colourful history of male voice choirs.

There is also plenty of advice on active pursuits, themed holidays, transport, entertainment and a small selection of accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets from boutique hotels to family-friendly B&Bs.

Compact, durable and brimming with invaluable information, the Great Breaks guides are pocket-sized perfection.

Don’t leave home without one.

(APA Publications, paperback, £6.99)