Day 1 in Caernarfon

Welcome to Caernarfon, a beautiful town in north Wales where the Menai Strait meets the River Seiont. Some of you will be self-driving, and others will be visiting by train or regional bus. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is a lot for you to see and do!

Start in Castle Square, the main square in town. Briefly visit the Castle Square Presbyterian Church on the right side of the square; dating from the late 19th century, it is the main Calvinistic church in Caernarfon. With about 10% of the population in Wales belonging to a `nonconformist` church, you will find this religious tradition the most alive and well in the northern part of Wales like in Caernarfon.

Head to the entrance of Caernarfon Castle, the town`s most popular attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, deemed one of `the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe`. Caernarfon Castle is one of the largest castles built by the English after their conquest of Wales in the 13th century. Inside the castle, make sure you take some time to visit the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, the most comprehensive museum dedicated to this historic army regiment. Outside you will see a statue of David Lloyd George, who represented Caernarfon for fifty years as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons in London. The castle and the town walls, the remnants of which you can see nearby at Cei Banc above High Street, were built on the orders of King Edward I. Afterward, visit Victoria Dock, a National Trust-preserved dockland that has existed in the area since the 1860s. Adjacent to the old dock, you will find one of the largest and most modern marinas on the Menai Strait.

In the evening, stroll the streets north of Caernarfon Castle and south of High Street so you can find a place to eat and perhaps a bar or pub to visit and have a drink or two. Return to your accommodations at the end of the evening.

Day 2 in Caernarfon

Wake up early and explore the Roman ruins of Segontium, situated just outside of town on Constantine Road. Founded in 77 CE, this military base flourished until the end of the Roman occupation in the fourth century, and was the most important militarized area by the Romans in what is now north Wales. Next to Segontium is the Medieval Church of St. Peblig, dating from the 14th century and built on the site of the old Roman Mithraeum.

If you are not self-driving, head back into town and find a bus or taxi that will take you seven miles away to Llanberis, a town situated on the lake Llyn Padarn. While you`re there, visit Dolbadarn Castle, which predated the English`s conquest of Wales. Llywelyn the Great, the King of Gwynedd, built this castle in the early 13th century. The ruins of this once-mighty castle once served as inspiration for the Picturesque artistic movement of the 18th and 19th centuries.

If you are self-driving, go to Llanberis and visit Dolbadarn Castle. Afterward, take the A4086 motorway and leisurely stop at any of the charming villages of Snowdonia National Park that you see fit. On the A4086, past Llanberis you will pass through Gwastadnant, Pen-y-Pass (where you will get a good view of Wales`s highest peak, Mount Snowdon, from one window, and Glyder Fawr, the fifth-highest mountain in Wales with its iconic spiky summit, from the other window), and Capel Curig. In Capel Curig, you will head east on the A5 motorway, passing through such charming villages and towns as Pont Cyfyng, Glyn, Pentre Du, and finally one of the largest tourist towns in Snowdonia, Betws-y-Coed. You can find out more about Snowdonia National Park when you visit the Information Centre at Royal Oak Stables, across the street from Betws-y-Coed train station. You have more options for food and drink in Betws-y-Coed than in most towns so use this time to have lunch or grab snacks before heading back toward Llanberis.

If you are not self-driving and you are planning on taking The Snowdon Sherpa bus route from Llanberis, head to the Interchange bus station next to the Llanberis Community Centre on the A4086 motorway. Buy a ticket for The Snowdon Sherpa from that route`s bus driver; it is an experience that can be customized into a hop-on, hop-off tour of Snowdonia National Park. Buy the day pass (£5 return/£2.50 one way) and you can pick and choose where to get off. The bus picks up in Llanberis and takes people to Nant Peris, Pen-y-Pass, Pen-y-Gwryd, Capel Curig, Rhaeadr Ewynnol/Swallow Falls, Betws-y-Coed, and Llanrwst. You may very well be able to see more of the highlights of Snowdonia by taking the Sherpa bus as opposed to self-driving.

Once you have returned to Llanberis, if you have time, visit the National Slate Museum, situated on the opposite side of Llyn Padarn from the bus station and within walking distance from there. Wales is a country that`s as equally rural as it is industrial, and the slate quarries that once existed at this site are a great example of Welsh industry set amidst a beautiful backdrop in Snowdonia. The Dinorwic slate quarry was open here nearly a century, from 1870 to 1969, and is open to the public today as a museum showcasing Welsh industry.

Return to Caernarfon, explore High Street and streets below for food and drink options, and return to your accommodations at the end of the evening.

Additional Days in Caernarfon

If you are self-driving, use additional days to explore both the southern coast of the Isle of Anglesey as well as Snowdonia National Park, ideally one extra day for each. If you are not self-driving, try to use additional days to visit most of the sights that self-drivers will get to see, including Bangor and Snowdonia.

For those who are self-driving, take one day to explore Anglesey by driving out of Caernarfon on the North Wales Expressway and getting off the expressway at Exit 9, near Parc Menai and Capel-y-graig, and take some time to explore the picturesque towns of Bangor and Menai Bridge, located just across the Menai Strait. The A5 motorway connects Menai Strait with the amusingly-named Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, a shortened form of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, which literally means in Welsh `the church of St. Mary of the pool of the white hazels, near the fierce whirlpool and the church of St. Tysilio of the red cave`. It is the longest place name in Europe, and has become a kitschy tourist attraction for that reason alone. If you want to explore south Anglesey further, take the A5 to either the A4080 or B4119/4121 roads to get to Newborough Forest, which is home to a beautiful stretch of beach and a red squirrel conservation area.

For those not self-driving, take advantage of bus routes that connect Caernarfon with areas such as Snowdonia National Park, like The Snowdon Sherpa, where you can use extra days to get close enough to hike near, or up, mountains such as Mount Snowdon and Carnedd Llewelyn; or bus routes that visit interesting towns further up the Menai Strait and North Wales coast, such as Bangor, Conwy, and Llandudno. Everyone should try to ride the Snowdon Mountain Railway which takes visitors through beautiful Snowdonia from the station at Victoria Terrace in Llanberis.

Your Last Day in Caernarfon

Depart your hotel and head to your next destination. We hope you enjoyed the sights of Caernarfon and Snowdonia National Park!