When North Wales comes to mind, your first thought will probably be mountains or castles. There are over 100 castles that remain standing in North Wales, either in ruins or restored. The landscapes are full of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and some of the UK’s best adventures. The largest castle in Wales, and the second-largest in Britain, Caerphilly Castle was locked within water defences when the English built it in the 13th century. Castles are a huge part of Welsh heritage, and in medieval times there were around 600 castles across Wales.
The best castles to visit in North Wales
We have written about just a handful of the best castles to visit in North Wales:
Caernarfon Castle
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/caernarfon-castle
Castle Ditch, Caernarfon LL55 2AY
Caernarfon Castle is well-known for being one of the greatest buildings of the Middle Ages. The fortress-palace is grouped with Edward I’s other castles at Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech as a World Heritage Site. The Royal Welsh Fusiliers Museum is located within the castle, with free entry included in the castle admission ticket. Caernarfon Castle’s new cafe, Coffi Castell – is open and serves local Welsh food and drink.
Please visit the website for further details
Caerphilly Castle
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/caerphilly-castle
Castle St, Caerphilly CF83 1JD
Caerphilly Castle was constructed by Gilbert de Clare in the 13th century as part of his campaign to maintain control of Glamorgan and saw extensive fighting between Gilbert and the native Welsh rulers. The rise of the powerful Prince of Wales persuaded Marcher lord Gilbert de Clare that he needed a fortress in double-quick time. And it had better be truly formidable. This is the biggest castle in Wales — second only to Windsor in Britain. It has massive walls, towers and gatehouses. Dogs on leads are welcome to access the ground floor levels of the site.
Please visit the website for further details.
Conwy Castle
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/conwy-castle
Rose Hill St, Conwy LL32 8AY
Conwy Castle was built by Edward I, during his conquest of Wales, between 1283 and 1287. Thanks to restored spiral staircases in its great towers, you can walk a complete circuit around the battlements of Conwy Castle. In the distance, you can see Snowdonia; below you are the harbour and narrow streets of Conwy. This site’s gift shop offers a range of products and guidebooks.
Please visit the website for further details.
Harlech Castle
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/harlech-castle
Harlech LL46 2YH
Harlech Castle in Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales, is a Grade I listed medieval fortification built onto a rocky knoll close to the Irish Sea. You can see the peaks of Snowdonia in the background. This is one of the most spectacular settings for any Edward I castles in North Wales. Harlech was completed from ground to battlements in just seven years under architect Master James of St George. Its classic ‘walls within walls’ design make the most daunting of natural defences. Dogs on leads are welcome to access the ground floor levels of the site, and light refreshments are available.
Please visit the website for further details.
Beaumaris Castle
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/beaumaris-castle
Castle St, Beaumaris LL58 8AP
Beaumaris Castle is on the island of Anglesey and is famous as an unfinished masterpiece. It was the last of the royal strongholds created by Edward I in Wales. Edward and his architect, James of St George, took full advantage of a blank canvas: the ‘beau mareys’ or ‘beautiful marsh’ beside the Menai Strait. This was to be their crowning glory. There are four concentric rings of formidable defences, including a water-filled moat with its own dock. There are picnic tables on-site and a gift shop at this site offering a range of products and guidebooks.
Please visit the website for further details.
Gwrych Castle
https://www.gwrychcastle.co.uk/
Tan-Y-Gopa Rd, Abergele LL22 8ET
Gwrych Castle is a Grade I listed country house in North Wales, one of the first attempts at replicating medieval architecture. It stands on 250 acres of gardens and grounds and has views over a deer park and the Irish Sea. This is a famous tourist attraction in North Wales due to hosting ITV’s “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” Film sets are usually removed once filming has finished. However, a few elements from the show have been retained, such as the privy, telephone box and The Clink.
Please visit their website for further details.
Chirk Castle
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/chirk-castle
Chirk Castle LL14 5AF
Chirk Castle is a 13th-century Marcher castle that, from 1595, became the home of the Myddelton family for over 400 years. There are 480 acres of working parkland and important natural habitats featuring ancient veteran trees, wildflower meadows and part of Offa’s Dyke. If you visit with children, there are two play areas at Home Farm with natural wooden equipment.
Please visit the website for further details.
Castell Dinas Brân
http://www.castlewales.com/dinas.html
Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales LL20 8D
Towering high above the Dee Valley and the town of Llangollen, Castell Dinas Bran occupies one of Wales most spectacular sites. A rugged pinnacle, the hillock was the ideal spot to erect a castle. Today, the site is open to the public to explore. Forced to climb to the summit, modern visitors experience the struggle and the exhilaration that the castle’s medieval inhabitants must have felt. Without a doubt, the walk is a challenge, but that climb demonstrates the reality of medieval castle life.
Please visit the website for further details.
Rhuddlan Castle
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/rhuddlan-castle
Castle St, Rhuddlan LL18 5AD
King Edward I liked his castles on the coast because if his campaign to subdue the Welsh ran into trouble, supplies could still get through by sea. At Rhuddlan, the plan was to use a river instead. Edward conscripted hundreds of ditch diggers to deepen and divert its course. Over seven centuries later, Rhuddlan still looks like a castle worth moving a river for. Begun in 1277, it was the first of the revolutionary concentric, or ‘walls within walls’, castles designed by a master architect.
James of St George. Light refreshments are available.
Please visit the website for further details.
Dolbadarn Castle
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/dolbadarn-castle
A4086, Caernarfon LL55 4UB
Occupying a lonely spot overlooking the waters of Llyn Padarn, Dolbadarn Castle was once a vital link in the defences of the ancient kingdom of Gwynedd. Most likely constructed by Llywelyn the Great in the late 12th or early 13th century, it stood to watch over the strategic route inland from Caernarfon to the upper Conwy Valley. Dogs on leads are welcome to access the ground floor levels of the site.
Please visit the website for further details
Criccieth Castle
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/criccieth-castle
Castle St, Criccieth LL52 0DP
Criccieth Castle is on its rocky headland between two beaches, and it commands views over the town and across Cardigan Bay. It was also painted by Turner. The castle was destroyed by one of Wales’s most powerful medieval princes, Owain Glyndŵr. It was built by two of his predecessors. First, Llywelyn the Great created the gatehouse flanked by D-shaped stone towers. Then his grandson Llywelyn the Last added the outer ward, curtain walls and two new towers. Light refreshments are available.
Please visit the website for further details.
Dolwyddelan Castle
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/dolwyddelan-castle
A470, Dolwyddelan LL25 0JD
Dolwyddelan is as Welsh as the rugged mountains of Snowdonia that provide its backdrop. One of a group of fortresses built to command the mountain passes stands as a lasting memorial to Llywelyn the Great. He was the undisputed ruler of Gwynedd from 1201 to his death in 1240. Dolwyddelan was conquered during the reign of his grandson Llywelyn ap Gruffudd by King Edward I. It marked a crucial stage in his relentless campaign to crush the Welsh once and for all. There is an on-site exhibition within the castle.
Please visit the website for further details.