A place of history Conwy

The town of Conwy is a popular tourist destination in North Wales, primarily for one major reason: it is home to the rather impressive stone structure that is Conwy Castle, as well as the town walls that accompany it.

The town itself is found on the estuary of the River Conwy, right on the northern edge of Wales, just a little to the south of Llandudno. It is a lovely town to visit in itself, a busy market town filled with wonderful shops and beautiful architecture.

The castle  and the walls were built towards the end of the 13th century under the instruction of King Edward I. During his conquest of Wales, it was put up as a show of English military might, in an attempt to ward off a retaliation by remaining Welsh forces.

The fortress is impressive, considered by UNESCO (who designated it as a World Heritage Site) as one of the finest examples of late 13th-century military architecture in Europe. It is built on a ridge so that it overlooks the town and an important river crossing point, and it commands respect and awe from visitors to this day.

You have to cross a bridge to reach it, something which made it a truly impenetrable fortress, and this seeming invulnerability was only amplified further by the twin barbicans and the huge towers, of which there are no fewer than eight.

Easily one of the most impressive of the Welsh castles, Conwy is a spectacular sight. It is in a remarkably good state of preservation, with its medieval royal chambers worth the entrance fee alone.

As for the walls, these encircle the town completely. They make for a pleasant and mostly unchallenging walk, though certain sections are steep enough to prohibit wheelchair and pushchair access. The views are breath-taking, especially from one of the 21 towers. Look out to the west to take in another regal and imposing sight: Conwy Mountain.

Conwy is more than just a large castle, however. It is also home to a very small house – the smallest house in Britain, in fact! The Quay House is predictably tiny, measuring 10’ high and 6’ wide, and is painted in a lurid red. Sadly, due to structural damage, visitors are unable to walk about on the first floor; nevertheless, due to it not being a very tall building, the top floor is fully visible from a step ladder!

You’ll also find Plas Mawr (the “Great Hall”) in Conwy. This Elizabethan townhouse is a real gem, built in 1585 and is in incredibly good condition more than 400 years later. It has been extensively restored, with beautiful Renaissance gardens outside and pristine ornamental plasterwork inside. The only modern thing about the house is the touchscreen technology; this is here to teach you a little more about Plas Mawr’s fascinating history.

We’ve barely scratched the surface of Conwy’s myriad attraction, so here’s a quick list of some more: the lush Bodnant Gardens, the bountiful RSPB Nature Reserve, the medieval Aberconwy House, the marina, and the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art gallery. There are also a series of events throughout the year including the Food Festival, Pirate Festival, Honey Fair and Bluegrass Festival.

As a popular destination for visitors and locals there are a large number of places to eat and drink. Watsons Bistro has been a favourite for many years, the Castle Hotel, The Midland tapas bar and Signatures (just outside Conwy, near the marina) are just a few of the many on offer.

For something less formal try the Archway Fish and Chips or Parisella's ice cream parlour. If you are in selfcatering accomodation there's a good range of local shops including Edwards butchers, Tan Lan bakery or Isaac Simeon Artisan Patisserie. 

North Wales Holiday Cottages have a great range of holiday cottages in Conwy and the surrounding area which is the perdect way to explore this lovely part of North Wales.