Bucket list experience:
Snowdonia National Park, Wales, United Kingdom (UK)
Harlech Castle
This group of late 13th-century castles is more than a set of medieval fortifications — it’s a metaphor for the military might of King Edward I.
The so-called ‘Iron Ring’ of four castles – Conwy, Caernarfon, Harlech and Beaumaris – were built to crush the Welsh rebellion, led by Llywelyn the Last, as the English King drove his troops across North Wales with brutal efficiency. Llywelyn was captured and executed in 1282 but the castles remained, a statement of a turning point in Welsh history.
Today this group of castles forms one of the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Wales.
Want more recommendations in this destination?
Destination Guide >The castles are all managed by Cadw, the Welsh equivalent of English Heritage, with tours available to book online and volunteer greeters often in place to orientate visitors.
The castles are best visited independently, so be aware of pre-booking and avoid peak periods to make the most of your visit.
The castles are open seven days a week, all year round. Summer days can be particularly busy with coach-tour visitors and school groups, so consider going early or later in the day for a crowd-free to soak up the ambiance.
Snowdonia National Park, Wales, United Kingdom (UK)
The last and most elaborate of the four, Beaumaris is a castle designer’s dream with its concentric design of a castle within a castle. Although unfinished, it represents a dramatic landmark and the gateway to the visitor-hub town of Anglesey.
Best for ages: 4+ | £8
Snowdonia National Park, Wales, United Kingdom (UK)
This imposing medieval fortress was originally built in the 11th century, then enhanced by King Edward I at the end of the 13th century. The scene of many a siege and sacking, and then increasingly unnecessary, it fell into disrepair so that only the shell walls remain today.
Best for ages: 4+ | £11
Snowdonia National Park, Wales, United Kingdom (UK)
Built by the English King Edward I during his 13th-century – one of the so-called ‘Ring-of-Iron’ castles – Conwy remained a refuge of kings and usurpers until it was ruined in 1665 by the English government to prevent further revolt. An evocative complex with all the castle ingredients – keeps, moats, towers and battlements you can walk around.
Best for ages: 4+ | £11
Snowdonia National Park, Wales, United Kingdom (UK)
Picture-postcard Harlech is most fairytale of the four castles, its imposing towers set atop a 200ft rocky outcrop overlooking the Cambrian coastline. An exhibition in the visitor centre explores the story of the castle’s military history.
Best for ages: 4+ | £8
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Snowdonia National Park, Wales, United Kingdom (UK)
Stylish stays and sea salt treatments are de rigueur at this contemporary hotel, located within the grounds of Adventure Parc Snowdonia. Families and surf dues will feel equally at home with activities aplenty on the doorstep.
Official star rating:
Snowdonia National Park, Wales, United Kingdom (UK)
Homely, cosy and fuelled by local produce, Olif is a rare find in an area besieged by coach trippers come high summer. Adults only.
Official star rating:
Snowdonia National Park, Wales, United Kingdom (UK)
A grand Victorian mansion, set in its own country-estate grounds, this is a family-run bolthole with a welcoming, cosy ambiance. Located towards the quieter southern end of the Snowdonia National Park, it’s a rural haven.
Official star rating:
Snowdonia National Park, Wales, United Kingdom (UK)
An elegant country house hotel, located between the mountains and the sea, Plas Dinas is underpinned by a timeless love story of a Royal princess. Expect genteel surrounds and elegant nostalgia from the new Judge’s Room to the Gunroom Restaurant.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Wales, United Kingdom (UK)
Snowdonia’s national park is the rural heartland of North Wales — think mountains, glacial valleys, and sparkling waterfalls. But there’s also plenty here for families, history buffs and Sunday strollers.
