--- title: 'South Snowdonia & Llŷn Peninsula Day Tour | CELTICOS' url: 'https://www.celticos.com/tours/south-snowdonia-llyn-peninsula' description: 'A private day tour of the Llŷn Peninsula and south Snowdonia, collected from your hotel: Portmeirion, Harlech and Criccieth castles, and Nant Gwrtheyrn.' type: article site_name: Celticos locale: en_GB author: Celticos published: '2017-11-29T00:00:00+00:00' modified: '2026-09-17T19:01:57+00:00' image: 'https://www.celticos.com/img/asset/YXNzZXRzL2ZlYXR1cmVkLWltYWdlcy9iNGYyNTEwYWJlNTI1YTRhMjA3MmRjOGQ5NTk5OGEzZi10b3Bhei1saWdodGluZy11cHNjYWxlLTJ4X3Jlc2l6ZWQuanBn/b4f2510abe525a4a2072dc8d95998a3f-topaz-lighting-upscale-2x_resized.jpg?w=1200&h=630&fm=jpg&fit=crop&q=80&s=70603bbc83efb69a5e5b3bf9613c0df8' --- # South Snowdonia & Llŷn Peninsula Day Tour | CELTICOS ![Criccieth Castle](https://www.celticos.com/img/asset/YXNzZXRzL2ZlYXR1cmVkLWltYWdlcy9iNGYyNTEwYWJlNTI1YTRhMjA3MmRjOGQ5NTk5OGEzZi10b3Bhei1saWdodGluZy11cHNjYWxlLTJ4X3Jlc2l6ZWQuanBn/b4f2510abe525a4a2072dc8d95998a3f-topaz-lighting-upscale-2x_resized.jpg?w=1440&fm=webp&q=65&s=ebba0af01eb21cd9525adb925d384ed4) Criccieth Castle # South Snowdonia & Llŷn Peninsula Day Tour Castles on the shore, and the coast beyond them 1 Day Tour - [Overview](#overview) - [Itinerary](#itinerary) - [Reviews](#reviews) - [FAQs](#faqs) [Enquire](#contact) ## Overview Three builders on one stretch of coast, and only one of them was building for pleasure. Edward I raised Harlech on its rock to hold Cardigan Bay, and it stands quieter than the other three, so you can picture holding it. Llywelyn the Great put Criccieth on its headland between two beaches, and Glyndŵr's men burned it in 1404. From 1925 to 1975 Clough Williams-Ellis built Portmeirion, an Italian village on a Welsh estuary, its streets turned so each corner opens onto the sea or the mountains. It was the Village in The Prisoner. The day ends out on the Llŷn at Nant Gwrtheyrn, a quarry village where people now come to learn Welsh. Duration 1 day 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 - Coast & beaches The route this tour takes, drawn day by day. South Snowdonia & Llŷn Peninsula Day Tour Castles on the shore, and the coast beyond them 1 Day Tour [Enquire](#contact) ## Itinerary ### Castles on the shore Morning in Portmeirion's piazzas and gardens. Then Harlech, the castle that gave Wales 'Men of Harlech', and Criccieth's twin-towered gatehouse above the bay. Porthmadog is the harbour slate built, at the foot of the Ffestiniog line, and the last stop is down the steep road to Nant Gwrtheyrn, alone in its valley above the sea. 1. ![Portmeirion](https://www.celticos.com/img/asset/YXNzZXRzL3BsYWNlcy9wb3J0bWVpcmlvbi5qcGc/portmeirion.jpg?w=360&h=270&fm=webp&fit=crop&q=55&s=aae4cb351aae807052ce937ee9ad8809) #### Portmeirion Clough Williams-Ellis's Italianate fantasy village on the estuary Clough Williams-Ellis wanted to show that a beautiful site could be built on without spoiling it. He looked for twenty years, then in 1925 bought the Aber Iâ estate on the Dwyryd estuary near his home and spent the next fifty building Portmeirion: an Italianate village of towers, colonnades and painted facades, its streets turned so that each corner opens onto the estuary or the mountains, with woodland gardens behind. It was the Village in The Prisoner. A hotel, restaurants and shops. 2. ![Harlech Castle](https://www.celticos.com/img/asset/YXNzZXRzL3BsYWNlcy9oYXJsZWNoX2Nhc3RsZV9wYW5vcmFtaWMuanBn/harlech_castle_panoramic.jpg?w=360&h=270&fm=webp&fit=crop&q=55&s=a944804fe8aaeef73f36b016847b690c) #### Harlech Castle 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. 3. ![Criccieth Castle](https://www.celticos.com/img/asset/YXNzZXRzL3BsYWNlcy9jcmljY2lldGgtY2FzdGxlLmpwZw/criccieth-castle.jpg?w=360&h=270&fm=webp&fit=crop&q=55&s=e88481d3bd1d5de16d26bdd520cabf60) #### Criccieth Castle 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. 4. ![Porthmadog](https://www.celticos.com/img/asset/YXNzZXRzL3BsYWNlcy9wb3J0aG1hZG9nLWhhcmJvdXItMi5qcGc/porthmadog-harbour-2.jpg?w=360&h=270&fm=webp&fit=crop&q=55&s=d5fac1b44578ab44ff23591fc2a40ce1) #### Porthmadog A harbour town built on slate, and the terminus of two heritage railways Porthmadog was built to ship slate from Blaenau Ffestiniog, brought down to the quay by the Ffestiniog Railway. The harbour is now a marina, and the town is the terminus for both the Ffestiniog Railway and the Welsh Highland Railway, along with a third short line at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. 5. ![Nant Gwrtheyrn](https://www.celticos.com/img/asset/YXNzZXRzL3BsYWNlcy9uYW50LWd3cnRoZXlybi5qcGc/nant-gwrtheyrn.jpg?w=360&h=270&fm=webp&fit=crop&q=55&s=a6872a019c260d5fcc72347ea660601c) #### Nant Gwrtheyrn Restored quarry village, now a Welsh language and heritage centre A beautifully restored Victorian quarry village set on a 200-acre site in a secluded wooded valley overlooking Porthdinllaen Bay on the Llyn Peninsula. Transformed into a Welsh language and cultural centre, Nant Gwrtheyrn is a wonderful spot to enjoy stunning coastal scenery and learn about Welsh culture and heritage. ## What guests say ★★★★★ October 2023 ### Snowdonia with blue sky and a great guide. John took us on a great day tour: we had always wanted to visit Portmeirion. Such a great drive through beautiful valleys and green pastures. Views of Snowdonia and we were blessed with good weather too! Would recommend without hesitation. Great knowledge, good company, considerate and thoughtful. Thank you John and Celticos. Elaine T Kent, United Kingdom [TripAdvisor](https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g186431-d11661165-r922947404-Celticos-Caernarfon_Gwynedd_North_Wales_Wales.html "View the original review on TripAdvisor") ★★★★★ May 2025 ### Wales With John Well guided tour of North Wales. Talking history about the country. Visited former Welsh castles which were conquered by the Norman invaders. Visits to quaint villages and sampled local cuisine. We deviated from our itinerary to the recommended destinations of John, our highly educated driver and tour guide. Kenneth F Ashburn, Virginia [TripAdvisor](https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g186442-d27989087-r1009294102-Shore_Excursions_Bespoke_Day_Tour_of_North_Wales-Anglesey_North_Wales_Wales.html "View the original review on TripAdvisor") [Read all reviews](https://www.celticos.com/reviews) ## Frequently asked questions 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. What time do we start and finish? Usually around 9am to 5pm, but we are flexible. What matters most is that you have a good time, so if starting earlier or finishing later makes for a better day, that is what we will do. How many of us can come? Up to 7 guests, travelling together in our Mercedes V-Class. For a party of 8 or more, get in touch and we will make special arrangements. Can children come? Children over 12 years old are welcome. Not every tour suits children, so tell us their ages when you get in touch and we will plan the day around them. We are not able to accommodate infants and babies. 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. Most of the castles are maintained by Cadw, part of the Welsh Government. Please visit [cadw.gov.wales](https://cadw.gov.wales). We can advise you on the best deals when you book your tour with us. 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](https://www.celticos.com/information/accommodation-advice-north-wales) lists places our guests have used, and we are happy to suggest a base for your tour. ## Ready to start planning your perfect tour of Wales? ### How it works 1. Send a message and we'll quickly confirm date availability and answer any initial questions. 2. If you're happy to proceed, we continue to discuss and plan your tour in detail. 3. Once we've crafted the perfect itinerary, we'll send our quotation for you to review. 4. Upon receipt of the deposit, we'll confirm your secured booking — and the countdown to Wales begins! Contact form didn't load? 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