Criccieth Castle — Attraction in Criccieth

Criccieth Castle is situated in an utterly beautiful location that overlooks both the sea and the town itself, offering near-360 degree views of the water, the house and even the mountains in Snowdonia National Park. On a clear day, you may even spot Harlech Castle across the water.

The exhibition in the building at the base of the hill that the castle rests upon is both informative and fun, especially for a younger audience, due to interactive displays and plenty of big, bold font. It's a short exhibition unfortunately, but one that tells you all of the information you need to know to enjoy the castle itself.

The castle is effectively a ruin, though a beautiful one to be fair. It has a fairly well kept gatehouse and is filled with lush, green grass that really brings out the detailing in the walls and doorways. There are multiple benches surrounding the castle for visitors to sit upon and admire the various views surrounding the castle, as well as the structure itself. Due to the views of the water and the bushes by the castle, there are plenty of opportunities for nature-enthusiasts to spot various types of birds and butterflies.

The castle itself has parking bays at the base, though not all that many. However, along the road by the seafront, there are plenty of spots to leave a car, as well as a small carpark at the end of the road.

If you're into British history, or even more specifically, Welsh history, then Criccieth Castle is a must visit....

A windy and breathtaking viewpoint for the town below, Criccieth Castle is an hour or so of great views and insight into another era.

The walk up to the castle could be slightly slippy on windy/rainy days, but the entire site is very well kept and lovingly preserved. Up top there's a mixture of grass and stone flooring, so make sure to take sturdy shoes just in case.

The panoramic sea views and mountains in the distance on either side show just how beautiful this coastal area is and Criccieth castle let's you soak up the geographical eye candy in all it's rolling glory from up high.

A friendly and informative staff member greeted us and made sure we knew what was available to do on the site, and the overall cost (£5.50 per adult at time of visit) was well worth it for the views alone.

There were interactive displays for kids that teach the history of the Castle, both in English and Welsh text and audio. A small gift shop with high-quality (relatively expensive) warm-wear for cozy nights in, and a small selection of drinks and snacks to give you the energy to power up the 5 minute hill climb to the castle.

10/10 would...

It is absolutely fascinating. A super gem!

Cricieth is truly a castle to capture the imagination. Crowning its own rocky headland between two beaches it commands astonishing views over the town and across the wide sweep of Cardigan Bay.

No wonder Turner felt moved to paint it. By then it was a picturesque ruin – destroyed by one of Wales’s most powerful medieval princes, Owain Glyndŵr.

But it was built by two of his illustrious predecessors. First Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) created the immense gatehouse flanked by D-shaped stone towers. Then his grandson Llywelyn ap Gruffudd – or Llywelyn the Last – added the outer ward, curtain walls and two new towers.

Still this craggy fortress wasn’t enough to withstand the invasion of Edward I. The English king made a few improvements of his own, equipping the north tower with a stone-throwing machine to deter Welsh attacks.

It was still in English hands in 1404 when the towers were burnt red by Owain Glyndŵr. Without a garrison to protect it, the town became entirely...