Caernarfon Castle is an enormous medieval fortress and palace, with iconic polygonal towers, built from the late 13th century on the orders of Edward I as part of his strategy to subjugate the Welsh. It was constructed on the banks of the River Seiont on the site of an earlier Norman castle and close to
The longest place name in Britain, and possibly in Europe, is Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwiiiiantysiligogogoch, a village above the Menai Strait, next to the Britannia Bridge, on Anglesey (Ynys Môn) in North Wales. To save you counting, it has 58 letters. The name means “Saint Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool
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Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is a mountain in the Snowdonia National Park (Eyri) in North Wales. It has a height of 3,560 feet (1,085 metres), is the highest mountain in Wales and the second highest in Britain after Ben Nevis in Scotland. It is a designated nature reserve, but also one of the most popular mountains
Tintern Abbey is a famously romantic ruin of a Cistercian house, founded in 1131. It was dissolved in 1536, the abbey roof was removed and it fell into decay. By the 18th century, it had become a tourist attraction, was painted by JMW Turner and admired by none other than the poet Wordsworth: “I have
An avenue of ancient Yew Trees (Taxus Baccata), believed to be some 700 years old, flank the path leading to Nevern’s church of St Brynach. One of these is known as the bleeding yew, because it secretes a blood-red sap, and has done so for – apparently – as long as anyone can remember. Sap
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Caerphilly Castle is simply enormous. Huge. It is the largest castle in Wales and the second-largest in Britain, after Windsor. It covers a 30-acre site and is a mass of concentric defensive walls, surrounded by moats and artificial lakes. It was built by the Norman Gilbert de Clare, known as Gilbert the Red for his
Foel Drygarn (aka Foel Trigarn) is a famous multivallate Iron Age hillfort and landmark in the east of the Preseli Hills. Experts have identified 3 main enclosures as well as at least 227, possibly 270, sites of Iron Age dwellings. Ditches can be clearly made out by a layman. Though Foel Drygarn is thought to
Pembrokeshire’s Witches’ Cauldron (or Witch’s Cauldron?) is one of many sea caves in Wales and a noted attraction in Pembrokeshire. It is impossible to miss and can be found right on the Wales Coastal Path about a mile south from Ceibwr Bay. Pwll y Wrach (Witches’ Cauldron) is a collapsed sea cave. Only accessible via
First a Roman fort, then a late 11th century Norman castle, Cardiff Castle became a medieval fortress involved in the Anglo-Norman wars against the native Welsh. It was held by both Royalist and Parliamentary forces during the Civil War and managed to escape the destruction meted out on many of its contemporaries. Eventually, in 1766,
Dinas Mawr (Great Fort) by Pwllderi Cottages is a promontory fort reckoned to date from the Iron Age and was probably a stronghold of a clan leader. It is situated on the west of the Pencaer Peninsula, generally known as Strumble Head, jutting out into the Irish Sea. The location is stunning, but not for
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Carew Castle was built by the Norman Gerald de Windsor, constable of Pembroke Castle, on the site of an Iron Age fortification. Gerald had married the renowned beauty, Princess Ness, and the manor of Carew was part of her dowry. Gerald’s son assumed the name de Carew and he and his descendants enlarged the castle.
Bedd Arthur, Beddarthur (Arthur’s Grave) is one of many sites in Britain associated with the burial of the legendary King Arthur. It is thought to be a small stone circle – actually vaguely elliptical in shape – now comprising 13 upright stones and 2 fallen ones. It is an unimpressive sight unless you are an