Dinner and drinks are great, but sometimes the best dates are the ones that give you a story to tell afterwards. Whether you’re planning a first date, celebrating an anniversary or simply trying to escape another evening on the sofa, North Wales is full of opportunities to do something a little different together.
Here are seven date ideas worth adding to your list.
1. Champagne on the Beach at Sunset
Pack a blanket, something chilled and a couple of glasses and head to Llandudno’s West Shore as the sun begins to drop. On a clear evening, the views across the water towards Anglesey and the mountains are hard to beat.
Keep it simple: champagne, a few snacks and phones away for an hour. Just remember to take everything home with you afterwards—and perhaps leave the fish and chips for another night unless you’re prepared to defend them from Llandudno’s notoriously determined seagulls.
2. Walk to Llanddwyn Island
If you’re going to choose a romantic walk, you might as well head somewhere connected to the Welsh patron saint of lovers.
Walk through Newborough Forest and out towards Llanddwyn Island, explore the lighthouse and the ruins of St Dwynwen’s Church, and take in some of the best coastal views in North Wales. Check the tide times before you set off and give yourselves plenty of time to explore rather than turning the date into a race back to the beach before the sea cuts you off on the island.
3. Sleep Under the Stars
Swap a hotel room for canvas and find a secluded campsite where you can spend the night under the stars.
Pack blankets, something good to eat and perhaps a bottle of wine, then settle in as the light disappears. North Wales has some wonderfully remote campsites where you can get the feeling of wild camping without pitching illegally on someone else’s land. Have a look at Nearly Wild Camping to seek out a more secluded spot for the two of you.
The real test of the relationship comes at 3am when one of you needs the toilet.
4. Take the Steam Train to Llangollen
Sometimes the journey should be part of the date. Hop aboard a heritage Llangollen steam train and enjoy the ride through the Dee Valley before spending a few hours exploring Llangollen together.
Browse the antique shops and independent stores, seek out locally made treats and find somewhere for lunch before heading back to the station for the return journey. No designated driver, no hunting for a parking space and no pressure to rush. Just pick your train home and spend the day wandering.
5. Take the Plunge with a Wild Swim
If you’re both feeling brave, pack your towels and head out for a wild swim.
North Wales has no shortage of lakes and coastal swimming spots and there are a lot of sites that list good location, we would suggest Wild Swimming. Choose somewhere suitable for your ability, check local conditions and never assume calm-looking water is risk-free. Once you’re safely back on dry land, warm up with a flask of coffee and find out which one of you is going to admit they were cold first.
6. See Who Chickens Out First on the UK’s Longest Zip Line
For couples who prefer adrenaline to candlelight, head to Zip World and take on Velocity at Penrhyn Quarry.
Flying side by side above the quarry is certainly one way to make a date memorable. The only question is whether you’ll spend the journey home talking about the incredible view—or arguing over who screamed the loudest.
7. Search for Alice Together in Llandudno
How well do you actually work together?
Finding Alice sends you on a self-guided interactive adventure through Llandudno as you solve riddles, uncover clues and meet Wonderland characters in your search for the missing Alice.
Stop for a drink or something to eat along the way and turn the adventure into a full afternoon date. Just be warned: we make no promises that disagreeing over the answers won’t test the relationship.
The best dates aren’t always the most expensive or carefully planned—they’re the ones you end up talking about long afterwards. So, swap the usual dinner and drinks for something a little different, try somewhere new and start making a few more stories together. Who knows, your next great date might be closer than you think.
