The castle of Criccieth
Are you visiting North Wales and want to discover one of the many charming towns throughout the region? A complete departure from the urban jungle, there’s a cathartic experience waiting for you when you visit the seaside town on Criccieth, just a short drive away from holiday homes in Snowdonia.
Criccieth is as steeped in beauty as it is history and after just a short walk along its peaceful shore and delightfully archaic paths, you’ll soon fall in love with the town that describes itself as The Pearl of Wales on the Shores of Snowdonia.
The population within this idyllic community is small yet welcoming to visitors eager to take a day out there and there’s a warm atmosphere in all of the great pubs and quaint shops you can investigate on your travels. Of the locals, there have been one or two famous faces to emerge from Criccieth over the years including a British prime minister and esteemed poet. Both David Lloyd George and William George hailed from the esteemed seaside town.
As for the attractions, they don’t come much grander than Criccieth Castle which dominates the horizon wherever you are. Although now in ruins, it has its allure for historians and casual observers who traverse the peninsula to walk around what once was the battleground for a civil war battle in Britain – lucky spectators can even notice some of the marks left during conflict upon its architecture!
In fact, there are many fantastic structures built throughout the town with each having its own bit of history. The Tan-y-Grisiau Terrace was the place where David Lloyd George refined his soliciting skills and elsewhere, the Moranedd Café was built by Clough Williams-Ellis – infamous for his design work on the unique nearby town of Portmeirion.
There’s plenty of opportunity for some sport in the area, whether it be a foray through the countryside or a ride of the waves on your surfboard. Criccieth is a hotspot for surfing all year long and offers some of the best waters in the whole of Wales. The beach itself is beautiful and is often where tourists place down their towels and relax on a hot summer’s day.
There’s much more to investigate in the town of Criccieth when you take a day trip. From famous buildings to natural wonders, there’s plenty to see in the town which is just south of Caernarfon.
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“Criccieth castle” by www.flickr.com/photos/richardleonard
License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/