North Wales

castles

There are a number of castles from the 12th and 13th centuries spread across North Wales. These date back to the time of the battles by the Welsh Princes of Gwynedd to resist the rule of King John, and more significantly, King Edward I of England. Most of the castles are in the care of Cadw (http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/), the historic environment service of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Beaumaris

at the eastern tip of Anglesey. The final part of Edward I's Ring of Steel around North Wales, provocatively located immediately across the narrow Menai Strait from Garth Celyn, the seat of the Princes of Gwynedd.

Caernarfon

planned seat of Edward I's power in Wales. Located in the town of Caernarfon

Castell y Bere

Last stronghold of the Welsh Princes, and their most impressive fortress. Stunning location in Bro Dysynni.

Chirk

Built in 1295 and a National Trust Property and is located in the Wrexham County.

Conwy

built by Edward I to control the stategically significant town and river of the same name.

Criccieth

Welsh built castle near the eastern end of the Lleyn Peninsula

Dinas Bran

atmospheric ruin on a hilltop near Llangollen

Dolbadarn

Welsh built castle situated between Llyn Peris and Llyn Padarn lakes, close to the town of Llanberis

Dolwyddelan

Welsh castle, in the village of the same name on the main A470 road between Betws-y-Coed and Blaenau Ffestiniog. Reputed birthplace of Prince Llywelyn the Great. The Disney film Dragonslayer was filmed here.

Flint

Edward I's first castle in Wales, in the far north-east close to the English border in Flintshire. Part of Shakespeare's play Richard II is set within Flint Castle.

Harlech

Another of Edward I's "ring of steel". Looks menacingly across Tremadog Bay at Criccieth Castle.

Rhuddlan

in the small town of the same name, south of Rhyl. The remains of an older Motte and Bailey castle, Twtil, can still be seen in the grounds of Rhuddlan Castle.

heritage railways

For many visitors to North Wales, the main draw is the number of historic steam railways in the area. Some, such as the Bala Lake Railway and Llangollen Railway, run on stretches of lines that were part of the national railways network until the infamous Beeching cuts closed many lines in the 1960s. Others, including the Talyllyn and Ffestiniog Railways, were built by mine or quarry owners to transport their produce usually slate down to a port or to a mainline train station. Most of the railways are owned and run by societies of volunteer enthusiasts.