The sight of Conwy Castle across the Conwy Estuary is unforgettable. Conwy is one of Britain’s few remaining walled towns and its castle, which is part of the defences, is magnificent and absolutely massive. One of English King Edward I’s ‘iron ring’ of fortresses designed to keep the Welsh under control, it was his most expensive, and it was built between 1283 and 1289. By the 17th century, though, it was in a poor state. It was occupied by Royalist forces during the Civil War, but fell to Parliament and subsequently intentionally damaged to put it beyond military use. Its owner then stripped it of useful materials.
Conwy Castle, along with Beaumaris, Caernarfon, and Harlech Castles, and their town walls, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.