Overview
Wales has more castles per square mile than anywhere in Europe, and the biggest are here. Before Edward I, the princes of Gwynedd built their own: Dolwyddelan above the Lledr, Dolbadarn beside Llyn Padarn, Criccieth on its rock between two beaches. Edward answered with the Iron Ring, fortresses so big the Welsh towers look like lookouts beside them.
Over two days you see both sides: the Welsh towers watching the mountain passes, and the English walls at Conwy, Caernarfon, Beaumaris and Harlech, built to hold the coast.
It finishes at Harlech, the castle that gave Wales 'Men of Harlech'.
- Duration
- 2 days
- Group size
- Up to 7 guests
- Vehicle
- Mercedes V-Class
Includes
- Expert bilingual local guide
- Travel in a Mercedes V-Class
- Daily pick-ups & drop offs
- Fully customisable
Excludes
- Flights, transfers and accommodation
- Food and drink
- Entry fees to attractions
- Castles
- Heritage & culture
Itinerary
Day 1 Conwy to the mountain towers
Conwy's walls first, then inland into the mountains to the towers built to hold the passes: Dolwyddelan over the Lledr valley and Dolbadarn beside Llyn Padarn. The day ends at Beaumaris, the castle Edward I built on Anglesey and never finished.
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Edward I's exceptionally preserved fortress on the River Conwy
Built for Edward I by Master James of St George from 1283, on a rock at the mouth of the Conwy: eight towers, two barbicans and a great hall in one long ring, with no need for the concentric walls of his other castles because the rock did that work. It cost about £15,000, the most Edward spent so quickly on any Welsh castle, and it is the best preserved of them all. A World Heritage Site together with the town walls, which still run unbroken round the old town. -
Llywelyn the Great's hilltop tower, watching over the Lledr valley
Was built in the late 13th century, likely by Llywelyn the Great. Its circular tower and stone walls exemplify medieval Welsh architecture. The castle, situated on a hilltop, served as a lookout and played a key role in conflicts between Welsh princes and the English crown. -
Llywelyn the Great's round tower guarding the Llanberis Pass
Built in the early 13th century by Llywelyn the Great beside Llyn Padarn, to hold the route from Snowdonia to Caernarfon through the Llanberis Pass. Its round keep, forty feet high and forty across, is the finest surviving piece of Welsh-built castle work. Llywelyn the Last kept his brother Owain prisoner here for more than twenty years. It fell to Edward I in 1282 and saw one more fight in Owain Glyndŵr's rising around 1400. -
Elegant Georgian seaside town with its World Heritage castle and cafes
A small Georgian town on the Menai Strait, laid out beside the last of Edward I's castles, which sits in its moat at the top of the main street. The Victorian pier looks across the water to Snowdonia and up the strait to Puffin Island. Independent cafes, restaurants, gift shops and galleries, and the old courthouse and gaol to visit.
Day 2 Down the coast to Harlech
Caernarfon, Edward's mightiest, with its many-sided towers and banded stone. Then down the coast to Criccieth, built by Llywelyn the Great, taken by Edward's men and burned by Owain Glyndŵr's in 1404. Harlech, on its crag above Cardigan Bay, is the last.
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Edward I's mightiest fortress, guarding the Menai Strait since 1283
Edward I's fortress palace at the mouth of the Seiont, begun in 1283, its banded masonry and polygonal towers modelled on the walls of Constantinople. The first English Prince of Wales was born here in 1284, and the investiture of Prince Charles took place here in 1969. A World Heritage Site with its walled town, and one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe. -
A Welsh-built castle on its own rock between two beaches
Criccieth was built by Llywelyn the Great, taken by Edward I's forces some fifty years later and remodelled by them, including a tower for stone-throwing engines, then captured and burned by Owain Glyndŵr's troops in 1404, in the last great Welsh rising. The twin-towered gatehouse and the view along Cardigan Bay are the reasons to climb it. -
Edward I's clifftop fortress above Cardigan Bay, a World Heritage Site
Edward I's castle on its rock above Cardigan Bay, built to the concentric plan in only twelve years, 1283 to 1295, by nearly a thousand craftsmen and labourers. The sea once came to the foot of the rock. A siege in the Wars of the Roses, when a small garrison held out for seven years, is said to be the origin of 'Men of Harlech'. A World Heritage Site.
What guests say
Our experience with John Pritchard and Celticos was absolutely spectacular, giving us a lifetime of wonderful memories. I was interested in setting up three days of touring North Wales, returning each day to Llandudno which was our base of lodging. I gave John a list of the things we most wanted to do, specifically the castles of the "Iron Ring"... he took our list and quadrupled it with amazing places to visit such as Penmon Point, that village with the insanely long name, the Nant Gwrtheyrn Welsh cultural center, Snowdonia National Park... the list goes on, and even though they were event-filled days, we never once felt rushed or harried by the schedule. We had time to explore at our leisure, including some wonderful little places for lunch. All the while John kept up the pleasant banter with historical information and cultural references, including how to say some basic, PG-approved Welsh terms. The only negative is that the trip had to end at some point!
We are very grateful to John for his expertise, his congeniality and superior driving skills. I look forward to touring with him again in the future and would give 10 stars if I could!
We used Celticos for two days of touring North Wales. It was a phenomenal experience. We're a family of four (kids were ages 9 and 11 at the time of our tour). John, the tour guide, was friendly, engaging, and very informative. He customized our days to fit our broad plans and helped guide us towards restaurants and other sightseeing spots that we hadn't identified in advance. Our main goals were to see castles including Beaumaris, Conwy, and Harlech. We did Beaumaris and Conwy in one day, with John showing us around Conwy and pointing us to a great lunch spot. The second day we drove to Harlech, stopping at a site of Roman ruins on the way. After Harlech, John suggested a drive through the scenic Snowdonia region including lunch in an amazing mountain town. He dropped us off at the Bangor train station at the end of the day so we could catch a train to our next destination. Additionally, John was very communicative in advance of our trip, even helping to coordinate a taxi for us from Bangor to Caernarfon, where we were staying. I cannot recommend John and Celticos tours enough. It was the best way to see North Wales and a true highlight of our trip to the UK.
Frequently asked questions
- Can this castles tour be done in one day, or in three?
The castles listed need two days. We can build a shorter one-day version around fewer of them, or add a third day to take in Flint, Rhuddlan and Denbigh.
- Will we see the scenery as well as the castles?
Yes. The road between the castles runs through Snowdonia and across Anglesey, so the scenery comes with it.
- Can we change the itinerary?
Yes. Every tour we run is customised, so treat this itinerary as a starting point. Tell us what interests you and we will build the days around it.
- Can this tour be combined with other tours, or made longer or shorter?
Yes. A day tour can be built into a multi-day tour, and a multi-day tour can be shortened, extended or joined to another. Tell us how many days you have and we will plan around them.
- Are admission fees included?
No. Entry to castles, gardens and other attractions is paid on the day, where a fee applies. Many of the castles are cared for by Cadw, and we can advise on the best-value tickets when you book.
- Is food included?
No. As we tour we will suggest eating places that our guests have enjoyed.
- What should we wear and bring?
Sensible footwear for some light walking, and a rain jacket, just in case.
- How much walking is involved?
Some, and none of it strenuous: the walk from the car to a castle gate or a viewpoint. If walking is a concern, tell us and we will plan the stops accordingly.
- Where should we stay?
Somewhere central, so that touring time is not spent driving to the start. Our accommodation advice lists places our guests have used, and we are happy to suggest a base for your tour.
