Pont Fawr and Tu Hwnt I’r Bont in Llanrwst

© Pajor Pawel/Shutterstoc

Spanning the centuries. The timeless charm of Pont Fawr

Welcome to Pont Fawr (Big Bridge) across the Conwy River in Llanrwst, a famously picturesque stop at the gateway to Snowdonia National Park. The triple-arch bridge itself is sometimes called the Inigo Jones bridge, after the pioneering architect who was traditionally believed to have designed it. Built in the 1630s, it was made to carry a horse and cart but still carries traffic today – a one-way link on a two-way road. The bridge's humped shape tends to obscure oncoming cars, earning it yet another Welsh nickname: Pont y Rhegi (Bridge of Swearing).

That Virginia creeper-clad cottage in the background is Tu Hwnt I’r Bont (Beyond the Bridge), built in 15th century as a farmhouse, which has been much restored and rebuilt over the centuries. These days it is owned by the National Trust and leased out as a traditional Welsh tearoom serving scones to locals and visitors. Those dark green leaves turn a vibrant red in the autumn, something which has helped make this charming spot one of the most photographed in north Wales.