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North Wales Castles
Drive along the A55 North Wales expressway and it is impossible to miss the array of defensive turrets and imposing towers which take pride of place in the hillsides, from Rhuddlan Castle on the northern coast to Criccieth Castle, south of Snowdonia.
North Wales castles include some of the finest surviving medieval forts in Europe. At Conway Castle, offering dramatic views across the Conway estuary, it is still possible to recognise individual rooms, like the great hall, the kitchen and royal chapel.
Caernarfon Castle, overlooking the Menai Strait, attracts tourists all year and even today is the scene of many important ceremonial and fun events in North Wales.
Beaumaris Castle built from 1295 was the last and largest of the castles to be built by King Edward I in Wales and is said to be the best example of medieval military architecture in Britain. Other castle ruins can be found at Ewloe, Dolbadarn, Dolwyddelan, Deganwy, Caergwrle and Denbigh, with Flint Castle once painted by Turner, and Harlech Castle the scene of the siege which inspired the song Men of Harlech.
Penrhyn Castle is home to an industrial railway museum and dolls museum, while the National Trust run Chirk Castle features award winning gardens.
Several North Wales castles are now thriving luxury hotels, including Bodelwyddan Castle, set in 260 acres and the site of yearly North Wales festivals and country fairs. Ruthin Castle is also a popular hotel catering for weddings, parties and medieval banquets.
At Castell Deudraeth, Portmeirion, visitors can dine like lords on ham hock terrine with plum and apple chutney. Tyr Graig Castle is also now unique country hotel, a short walk from Barmouth town centre on the borders of Snowdonia National Park.
Anyone wanting to rent a castle in North Wales might like Capel Maentwrog, Porthmadog, an early 19th century Calvinistic Chapel, with a castle style facade, combined with spiral staircases leading to luxurious rooms all now kept snug with modern under floor heating.
The 500-year-old Hen Wrych Hall Tower, Abergele, meanwhile, was once home to the poet Felicia Hemans who wrote The Boy Stood On The Burning Deck. This unusual self-catering property is set into the original boundary wall of Gwyrch Castle, has an open fireplace and carved four-poster bed.
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