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| Discover the legends and myths of Wales on our day out |
Wales has more
castles per square mile than any other country in western Europe. And what’s more there’s Welsh
legend and myth, too, the most famous being that of Arthur Pendragon, whose bravery and supernatural powers are said to have fought off the Saxons and the forces of darkness around 500AD. North Wales has museums, too, which relate aspects of local history.
1. Caernarfon airpark
aviation museum
• From Caernarfon, take the A487 towards Porthmadog, then bear right on the A499 (Pwllheli). Turn right for Dinas (at 5.4 miles) and follow the coast road to the air museum (8 miles).
Caernarfon Aviation Museum was once the home of the RAF Mountain Rescue Service. The collection is a potted history of the aircraft used in operations since the end of WWII including Westland Whirlwind
helicopters which served in the Suez crisis of 1956, and a Hawker Sea Hawk which saw combat over Egypt. Many exhibits are inter-active, allowing visitors to sit at the controls, in the cockpit.
2. Caernarfon Castle
• Zero the car’s trip meter and return to one of the many car parks dotted around the perimeter of the Caernarfon’s castle walls.
Caernarfon Castle stands on the shoreline of the Menai Strait, and is the most famous and attractive
castle Wales has to offer. Building began in 1284, at the behest of Edward I, as a military stronghold and royal palace. Take a walk along the fortress’ ramparts, beneath the twin-towered gatehouse and browse the exhibits housed within the towers.
3. Conwy Castle
• Leave Caernarfon on the A487, towards Bangor. At 15.5 miles join the A55 towards Conwy. At 32.6 miles take the A456 to Deganwy. Turn left at the roundabout. Take the first exit for Deganwy/A456.
At the next roundabout take the second exit, cross the bridge and turn left at the larger traffic island (33.5 miles). Turn left again at the next island and pass through the archway in Conwy’s walled town. Park in the car park on the right.
Conwy Castle is a remarkable fortress with eight, great drum
towers and more than 20
semi-circular towers, in the shadow of the Snowdonian skyline. Like Caernarfon this, too, was built by Edward I towards the end of the 13th century. The perimeter of the town is still marked by its walls. It’s possible to walk the half mile around the 15ft-thick walls, built in the shape of a Welsh harp.
Almost as fascinating are the bridges that cross the river Conwy to meet the castle. Telford’s
iron-wrought suspension bridge is flanked by Robert Stephenson’s tubular pedestrian bridge on one side and the road bridge on the other.
4. Bodelwyddan Castle
• Returning to the A55 continue east. Turn left at 47.8 miles to Castel Bodellwyddan. Turn left at the next traffic island, then take the second left at the following island.
Bodelwyddan Castle, with its limestone turrets and battlements, is certainly striking. Unlike its medieval counterparts, Conwy and Caernarfon, it was built in the 19th century based on a conversion of a Jacobean house. A tour of the rooms shows that many of its
original features have been restored. The castle also houses many artworks from the National Portrait Gallery, and a number of pieces of furniture from the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Parents need not worry that their children will become bored as there’s a section called Techniquest in which there’s loads of hands-on activities as well as Victorian games and inventions with which to toy.
5. take a break for lunch
• Return to the A55 and head west, to Conwy. At 60.6 miles, before entering Conwy, turn off left onto the A470 for Betws-y-Coed. At 75.2 miles turn left onto the A5 then right onto the A470, towards Blaenau Ffestiniog. Continue through Blaenau Ffestiniog, then turn left at 75.6 miles, towards Dolgellau.
The Tynycornel Hotel is at Talyllyn, on the B4405 off the A487 south of Dolgellau, and is set amongst some stunning scenery. Opposite soars the 892-metre peak of Cader Idris and you can gaze at the calm surface of lake Tal-y-llyn. The food here is reasonably priced.
6. At King Arthur's court
• Turn right onto the A487 (95 miles) to Machynlleth. Turn
right into King Arthur’s Labyrinth (101 miles).
King Arthur’s Labyrinth re-tells the legend of King Arthur as you explore a maze of tunnels and
caverns scored deep inside the
mountains. Arthur’s last battle was said to be at the nearby Pass of the Arrows. This and other tales, of Merlin, the Battle of Camlon, and Avalon are told as you take a boat ride along pretty, underground river passes, then through the great waterfall and into the labyrinth.
7. The Celtica museum
• Continue south on the A470 to Machynlleth (105 miles). Drive half a mile past the town monument and through a series of
mini-roundabouts. Turn off left and follow the signs for Celtica.
This is an interactive museum which celebrates a Celtic past,
present and future. You can learn here about the origins of the Celts, learn how the advance of the Roman Empire forced the Celts to surrender much of their lands, and sample life in a Celtic Iron Age
village. The main exhibit, an
audio-visual experience, explores Celtic history, culture and beliefs.
• Return to the A487. Follow the A470 to Porthmadog. Cross the toll bridge and return to Caernarfon on the A487 arriving at 162 miles.
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Distance 162 miles.
Time 10 hours.
Start/Finish Caernarfon Airpark
Aviation Museum.
Suitable for All the family.
REFRESHMENTS
Tynycornel Hotel
at Talyllyn. Tel 01654 782282
Tafarn Pencei Cafe Bar, Keyside, Porthmadog.
Tel 01766 514959
Unicorn Inn, Smithfield Square, Dolgellau. Tel 01341 422742
ATTRACTIONS
Bodelwyddan Castle.
Tel 01745 584060
Caernarfon Airpark Aviation Museum.
Tel 01286 830800
Caernarfon Castle.
Tel 01286 677617
Celtica. Tel 01654 702702
Conwy Castle.
Tel 01492592358
King Arthur’s Labyrinth. Tel 01654 761584
TIP
• For information on other
castles in the area, and the Segontium Roman Fort, visit the CADW website CLICK HERE
• Plas Mawr, in Conwy, is worth a look. It is widely held to be the finest surviving Elizabethan-gentry town house in Britain.
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