Caernarfon Castle

Edward I began building Caernarfon immediately after his conquest of Gwynedd in 1283, on the site of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle held by the Welsh princes. The castle and its accompanying fortified town were conceived together as an instrument of English colonial control — the town was reserved for English settlers, Welsh people being excluded from residence and many economic activities within the walls.

Construction continued under Edward I and Edward II until about 1330, though it was never entirely finished — the King's Gate, the great northern gatehouse, was never completed to its intended design. The castle was attacked and briefly captured by Owain Glyndŵr's forces in 1404, and again unsuccessfully besieged in 1405, but it was never permanently taken by Welsh forces. After the Tudor dynasty — of Welsh origin — came to the throne in 1485, the strategic need for the castle diminished, and it fell gradually into decay, used primarily as a government store and occasional prison. It was partly restored in the 19th century and is now managed by Cadw, the Welsh historic environment agency.

Getting there: Caernarfon is served by buses from Bangor (30 min, connecting to trains on the North Wales Coast line). By car from Bangor it's 8 miles via the A487. There is parking in the town near the castle walls.

Tickets: Available on site or online through Cadw. No advance booking required but online booking saves queuing in summer.

Wall walks: The complete circuit of the walls takes about 45 minutes and provides excellent views over the town, the Menai Strait and Snowdonia. Wear comfortable shoes — the steps are narrow and worn smooth.

Combine with: The Menai Bridge (the world's first modern suspension bridge, 1826), Beaumaris Castle (the most geometrically perfect of Edward's Welsh castles, 45 minutes by car), and the Snowdonia National Park make Caernarfon a natural base for a North Wales circuit.