Nine tourist attractions in North Wales have been cited for their positive contribution to helping older and less able guests enjoy stress free days out, according to a new report from Silver Travel Advisor, the travel review and advice site for mature travellers.

Silver Travel Advisor’s managing director Debbie Marshall said: “The over 50s hold the key to 80 per cent of the UK’s wealth and make up 43 per cent of the population.

"We were exceptionally impressed with the diversity of tourist attractions in North Wales which are addressing this growing market with facilities ranging from disabled parking, to offering wheelchairs and mobility scooters, concessions for carers and older visitors, ramps, lifts and wheel-chair access.”

North Wales is the latest UK region to come under the scrutiny of the site, which published the results of first hand research into the accessibility and the appeal of UK tourist attractions for mature and less-mobile travellers.

The friendly staff, blue badge parking, ramps and lifts, large print guide books and induction loops for the 3D show at the National Slate Museum, Llanberis, were among the facilities noted by the author of the report.

Bodnant Garden was praised for its disabled parking, way-marked route for wheelchair users, availability of manual wheelchairs for loan and access for mobility scooters, also for its free access for carers.

Other highlights include:

Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways - These narrow gauge steam railways are two of the ‘Great Little Trains of Wales’. Both run through the glorious scenery of North Wales and are, deservedly, popular tourist attractions. The Ffestiniog Railway was built more than 150 years ago to carry slate from the hills above Blaenau Ffestiniog to the harbour at Porthmadog. Some of the locos are well over one hundred years old and can still be seen pulling trains. The iconic double headed Fairlie locos are unique to the Ffestiniog. The experience of being hauled by one of these working flat out with a long train up the valley is exhilarating.

Portmeirion - Many of us will remember this is where the cult 1960s TV series of the Prisoner was filmed. Its unusual architecture has led to it being described as the Italianate village. Portmeirion is a joy and delight to visit. Designed by the quirky architect Clough Williams Ellis, it is full of brightly coloured buildings which stand out in bold contrast to the vegetation. Williams Ellis used buildings and trees to frame vistas which change as you walk round the site. It is a photographer’s delight. There is a hotel, shops and cafes.

Plas Brondanw Gardens, Llanfrothen, Gwynedd - Anyone who has enjoyed Portmeirion will like these gardens. The house and gardens were the home of Clough Williams Ellis and he created a typically CWE landscape using the same tricks as in Portmeirion. He relied on stone walls, topiary and avenues of trees to frame vistas leading the eye to the distant mountain tops. They are a delight to walk around.

Gelert’s Grave, Beddgelert - Beddgelert is a tourist honeypot with visitors attracted by the story of Gelert. The name translates as Gelert’s grave. According to legend, a stone marks the resting place of Gelert, the faithful hound of Llewelyn, Prince of Gwynedd. He had spent the day hunting and returned to find his baby son’s cot empty and Gelert smeared with blood. Thinking that Gelert had killed his son, Llewelyn plunged his sword into the dog’s side. He then discovered his baby son unharmed by the body of a wolf which the faithful Gelert had killed. The prince was filled with remorse and buried the dog with great ceremony. The stone is still there, and it is a lovely walk from the village along a wheelchair friendly path following the banks of the River Glaslyn. The story is now known to be just that, made up by an 18thC landlord of the Goat Hotel to encourage tourism. The village probably took its name from an early Celtic saint named Celert.

St Winefride’s Well, Holywell - Around 660AD, Saint Winifred spurned the advances of Caradoc, son of a local prince as she wanted to become a nun. He cut off her head in his anger. A spring rose from the ground at the spot where her head fell. Winefride was restored to life by her uncle, St. Bueno, who called down the wrath of God on Caradoc who was struck dead and swallowed up. A spring marks the place she was killed. Miraculous cures were soon attached to the spring and the holy well has been the site of continuous pilgrimage over 1300 years. The well is enclosed in a splendid perpendicular building which is unique in Britain. A popular tourist stop, it is still visited by pilgrims who come to bathe in the pool. There is a small visitor centre with a shop and exhibition about St Winefride and the well.

Beaumaris Castle, Anglesey - This was the last and largest of the Edwardian castles to be built in Wales but was never finished as Edward I ran out of money. It was the most sophisticated example of medieval military architecture. State of the art with moat and two concentric walls lined with towers, it was virtually impregnable. Six hundred years on it is as impressive as ever.