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Details
Spectacular coastal castle built – and destroyed – by powerful Welsh princes
Criccieth 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 Glyndwr.
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 Glyndwr. Without a garrison to protect it, the town became entirely Welsh once more.
Opening details
4 November - 31 March 2021 Monday & Tuesday Closed, Wednesday - Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm, Sunday 11.00am - 4.00pm.
Closed 24, 25, 26 Dec and 1 Jan.
Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Prices
Prices from April 2020 - March 2021:
Adults £6.00
Family (2 adults and up to 3 children) £17.10
Seniors £4.80
Juniors (Aged 5–17) / NUS / Armed Forces and Veterans - £3.70
Children under 5 - Free
Address
Criccieth,
Gwynedd,
LL52 0DP
Directions
Map reference: SH 500378 Lat: 52.91692 Long: -4.23205
A497 to Criccieth from Porthmadog or Pwllheli.
Parking: free
Accessible by Public Transport: 0.4 miles from Criccieth station
Nearby
Facilities
Coach parties accepted
Credit cards accepted (no fee)
Gift shop
Public toilets
Regional Tourist Board Member
Accepts groups
Children welcome
Dogs accepted
Smoking not allowed
Facilities for hearing impaired